British International 420 Class Open Regatta
Worlds & Junior European Selector
Report by Miles Palmer

The 420 World Championship Team selection series got underway at Bala this weekend with 6 races completed in the maximum 15 race series. 39 teams arrived on a very cold and blustery Saturday morning in Bala, following a concise briefing the fleet set a float for 2 races then a short warm-up break ashore followed by a further 2 races.

The first race got away first time under an ‘I’ flag, much to PRO Henry Wright’s surprise, however the 25-30knts certainly helped to keep the eager crews back. The fleet progressed up the 0.7nm beat in reasonable shape with only a few getting caught out by the Bala gusts which certainly made the rescue crews earn their crust. Ben Palmer and Piers Strong were leading by the second windward mark only to hoist and power off on the reach, Ben Saxton and David De-Boltz having read the course, bore away to go back down the run, followed by James Rusden and Joe Williams, Palmer/Strong then realised the errors of their ways and followed suit and they ended the race in that order. Race 2 saw Saxton/De-Boltz power off the pin end and then executed a perfect tack and put the whole fleet in his back pocket, he was chased around the windward leeward course by Owain Matthews and Tim Saxton and Matt Rainback and Simon Foskett.

After a short break ashore to warm up and make a few running repairs the fleet took to the water, with the wind dropping to about 20Knts, thankfully less activity for the rescue fleet. Race 3 was won by Rusden/Williams making their way up the right hand shore, followed by Saxton/De-Boltz and Rainback/Foskett. Race 4 saw much place changing between 4 boats and up the final beat Peter Irwin and David Kohler were just in the lead when they tried to execute a lee bow on Rusden/Williams just below the layline to the finishing line at the windward mark. Whilst these two were trying to pinch their way to the line, Saxton/De-Boltz seized their opportunity kept the speed on and took the bullet, followed by Rusden/Williams and Palmer/Strong who also kept out of the antics near the buoy. Saxton/De-Boltz lead overnight, from Rusden/Williams and Palmer/Strong. Bala provided a very pleasant supper and evening entertainment for some very tired sailors.

Day 2 was a much more sedate affair with 12-18Kts, race 5 saw the first general recall and the display of the black flag. Palmer/Strong and Rusden/Williams went right up the shore, leaving Saxton/De-Boltz marooned on the left hand side. Rusden/Williams got ahead of Palmer/Strong on the second beat and Saxton/De-Boltz worked extremely hard to make it back to third.

Race 6 with a little more breeze saw Rainback/Foskett storm off the pin end and cross the fleet to make the windward mark in the lead. However, the wind started dropping and with their rig set for strong winds they were overhauled by Rusden/Williams and Saxton/De-Boltz. Up the final beat saw two match races Rusden/Williams successfully covering Saxton/De-Boltz to take the bullet, but Rainback/Foskett were unable to hold back Palmer/Strong who came in third. With three race wins and two seconds each, Rusden/Williams won the weekend by virtue of the last race from Saxton/De-Boltz with Palmer/Strong third, Rainback/Foskett 4th and Matthews/Saxton 5th. Imogen Stanley and Kate MacGregor were 6th and first lady.

Peter Saxton (420 Sailing Sec) thanked Dave Eccles (Commodore) and Bala Sailing Club for their hospitality and PRO Henry Wright for a highly successful race weekend. The next part of the series will take place at Highcliffe on 3rd-5th May.

Results Overall
As of 14:54 on April 20th 2008