Graduate National Championships 2024 at Carsington Sailing Club - Overall
by Bob Murrell 29 May 06:49 NZST
25-27 May 2024
As promised, Bank Holiday Monday was windy, very windy. There was also a 90 degree wind shift which meant that the wind came over the dam and whipped down Carsington Water but as the club house was in a wind shadow the competitors were only aware of this once out on the racecourse.
With two Championship races to go Fresh & Ross were "on pole" needing a win and a second place to win whereas both John & Jamie and Bryn & Emma had to win both to have a chance.
In what was later described as survival conditions, the fifth race got under way. The crews battled their way up the beats and exhilarating reaches, not all making it to the end without either an early bath or shipping some water.
The wind gradually abated a notch towards the end of this gruelling challenge at which point Fresh & Ross crossed the line first, then came Bryn & Emma with John & Jamie making up the top three. Not far behind were Chris & Chloe and Ric & Sarah-Jane, who continued their weekend-long tussle for fourth place despite the conditions, Chris & Chloe making use of their experience on Bassenthwaite Lake to come out on top.
On to the last race: Championship race 6, still very breezy but less so than earlier. Unfortunately, Ric & Sarah-Jane got caught OCS under Flag U conditions and so fought around the course, finishing in a creditable third position only to find they had been binned.
Fresh & Ross made it a clean sweep for the morning, taking the final gun and the Championship itself in style. John & Jamie recovered after being involved in a bit of match racing with Bryn to record a second place, whilst Chris & Chloe had their best result coming in third after Ric & Sarah-Jane's elimination.
Overall results for the top three were Fresh & Ross (6) followed by John & Jamie (11) then Bryn & Emma third (11).
Sharing the event with the Miracles went very smoothly and the fleets got along very well on and off the water.
Many thanks to Ian Morgan for his very generous sponsorship of the event and also to FM sailing for their support and donation of a carbon tiller extension.
The Graduate Dinghy Association would like to thank Carsington Sailing Club for their warm welcome, excellent race organisation and friendly atmosphere.
Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Graduate nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 3020 | Richard Fresh Abendstern | Ross Southwell | Toddbrook SC | 1 | ‑2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 2nd | 3009 | John Clementson | Jamie Clementson | Chipstead SC | ‑3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
| 3rd | 3013 | Bryn Abendstern | Emma Robertson | Toddbrook SC | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | ‑4 | 11 |
| 4th | 2839 | Chris Parker | Chloe Parker | Bassenthwaite SC | 4 | ‑6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 20 |
| 5th | 3008 | Richard Lewis | Sarah‑Jane Critchley | Chipstead SC | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | (OCS) | 23 |
| 6th | 3004 | Richard Thorpe | Jane Thorpe | Toddbrook SC | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | ‑9 | 5 | 31 |
| 7th | 2750 | George Jacobs | Nellie Jacob | Toddbrook SC | ‑8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 37 |
| 8th | 30 | Ben Gregory | Jack Camman | Toddbrook SC | ‑9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 39 |
| 9th | 303 | Derrin Scott | Ruby Barber | Toddbrook SC | 10 | 11 | 10 | (OCS) | 6 | 8 | 45 |
| 10th | 3024 | David Peacock | Eliza Peacock / Meg Crawley | Chipstead SC | ‑11 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 45 |
| 11th | 3026 | Robert Murrell | Maggie Murrell | Chipstead SC | 7 | 5 | (RET) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 51 |
| 12th | 2962 | James Russ | Maggie Bolton | Chipstead SC | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | (DNC) | DNC | 58 |