Lowrider International Moth UK National Championship 2024 at Weymouth - Day 3
by Dougal Henshall 29 Jul 04:56 NZST
26-28 July 2024
Lowrider International Moth UK National Championship day 3 © Dougal Henshall
"What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours"
When the Lowrider Moths finally hauled themselves back up the beat to the entrance of the Olympic Centre Marina, there was a full 25kt down on the harbour wall away to the east.
However, Day 3 dawned and it quickly became apparent that the local knowledge aboard the Committee Boat, that had asked the question the day before as to the interest in a fifth race on the day, had been well considered. Portland Harbour was glassy smooth with just a few fickly catspaws coming in from the east, with the signs being that this was very localised.
At the Race Team briefing the Ian Kelly, the RO for the event made it clear that after two days of cracking sailing, he wasn't going to compromise the event by ending on a Mickey Mouse race low. His determination was rewarded with a light but reasonably steady south -easterly breeze and with the minimum of delay the marks were being laid and a start sequence was called.
This shows the all round nature of the Lowriders, their foiling cousins wouldn't even have taken their covers off yet racing didn't only take place, but the fleet were rewarded with some of the closest duels yet.
There were those who questioned how Martin Harrison, who had already wrapped up the event, would go in the light stuff as his Axeman design is not known as a light airs platform and Martin himself isn't the lightest of crews out there. It didn't make any difference, he was (almost) as dominant in 5 kts as he had been in 25 as he stretched away for yet another on the water win.
He was far from having things his own way as one of the younger sailors in the fleet, George Edwards, was constantly all over his transom. George had a few wobbles, sailing a super narrow Hungry Tiger in light winds which ultimately saw Martin winning again, but the action that would matter now was focused on the handicap fleet where David Balkwill in his Duflos was mixing it with the modern boats again, but the real eye catcher was Ian Marshall who found the light airs so much to his liking that he chose NOT to capsize for the camera.
Race Two saw very similar conditions, a breeze of 5-6 kt just south of East and again it was the blue Axeman of Harrison out front as he aimed for yet another win, if only he could shake off the closely following George Edwards. At least George didn't have to worry about his father John, who for the final day had forsaken his Hungry Tiger in favour of David Balkwill's spare Duflos. Interestingly John enjoyed the experience and was certainly making the boat go despite the smaller rig, but he'll be glad to get back into his own boat when the wind returns.
Once again there would be a surprise package, this time with Lyndon Beasley who would be not just leading Div 2 boat but mixing it right up with the main front runners. This is just yet more reinforcement of the wisdom in selecting the Magnum 6 as being the correct boat for boatbuilder Ian Ridge to create a set of tooling as the Magnum, although far from an easy boat is, with a bit of practice well accessible and has shown itself to be a great all rounder.
However, even as Lyndon finished not far behind the transoms of the faster Div 1 boats, coming down the leg behind him was the pale blue Duflos with the French sail number. Now it would all depend on the handicaps and once these were worked out it was clear that Martin had made the most of his dominance to win both on the water and on PY.
His three wins were matched by a similar performance from David Balkwill, but the vulnerability of the Duflos in the big breezes would relegate him down the rankings, instead it would be the Magnum 6s of Ian Marshall and Lyndon Beasley who would fill the other podium places.
Going to the Academy at Weymouth and Portland had been a something of a risk for the Lowriders, but the spot on Race Management and friendly support from everyone in the centre all worked together to make this a great Championships: that the weather gave everyone a chance to shine has merely made the attractions of the Lowrider fleet even stronger as they look ahead to an exciting time to come with a supply of new boats.
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