2008 Reports and Results

Results table 2008

There are 4 events in the Series, with 3 to count to the overall result.

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Shadows at Grafham

The final Shadow TT event of the 2008 series sponsored by Loday White and Hyde Sails saw 11 entrants forming a large part of the Fast Single Handed Handicap fleet at Grafham last weekend (18-19th October). Thankfully there was considerably more wind than last year and all 6 races were completed in gusty 8 - 20 knot breeze.

The racing was as usual very close, not only between the Shadows but also against the F16 and slower members of the A Class fleet. Race 1 saw Ian Smith take the win followed by David Brief and Dave Lowe and Chris Pilgrim. A large number of capsizes provided rewards for those who managed to keep the mast pointing up with Graham Tomlin doing particularly well. Paul Tanner recovered from 4 in race 1 alone! Race 2 saw Phil Neal lose a commanding lead when he capsized downwind. This meant that the race long battle between Robin Leather, Dave Lowe, David Brief and Ian Smith became a battle for the win. Robin took the race from David Brief in a photo finish. Race 3 saw Robert Forrester enter the fight with Ian and Robin. Ian found a fabulous 'lifter' to get to the windward mark but lost out to Robin who chose the better side of the leeward gate to beat Ian by seconds.

Sunday started much the same as Saturday but soon changed with the gusts increasing in strength. The fourth race was won by Robin followed by Ian and Phil who began to master the conditions. Race 5 saw a few retirees as the conditions built and Phil took first place followed by Robin and Ian. By the 6th race only two Shadows were left competing with Phil securing a first and Ian having to retire. Congratulations to Robin who was the overall winner followed by Ian Smith and David Brief.

The sponsors had kindly sponsored provided a new spinnaker to raffle off. Those that entered more events had a greater chance of winning. Congratulations to Chas Bedford who now has a nice crispy kite for next year.

Shadow Nationals 2008 at Brightlingsea

The Shadow Nationals took place on 26-28^th September as part of “Reg Fest 2008”, with three of the cat classes that Reg White has produced gathered together at the home of cat sailing to help celebrate Reg’s retirement. A great turnout of 20 Shadows produced fantastic close racing and confirms the Shadow as the number one fast singlehanded cat class in the UK.

Friday provided perfect force 3-4 conditions with a big course out to sea- easy to see why this was the perfect area to develop the modern catamaran in the 1960s. Yves Loday lead from the start, chased by Olly Harris and Robin Leather. Yves broke his tiller before the last run, but still managed to win, having repaired it while blasting downwind only a little slower than normal! Race 2 saw the newer sailors getting to grips with the boat and a lot of place changing right through the fleet. Yves capsized, letting Laurie Gustar and Tim Swinburn fight for the lead. The choice between inshore or offshore was tricky in the strong tide and Carl Blenkinsop got it right, appearing at the finish to take the race and Ian Cuthberton also having a great race in 4^th. Race 3 was the windiest, with Yves back in the lead, Olly 2nd and Robin Leather 3rd plus a tight race mid fleet and a lot of very fast downwind battles going on. 

Friday evening featured Bob Fisher presenting the story of Reg’s sailing career, and the surprise appearance of his 1976 Gold Medal winning crew John Osborne, making it three gold medallists present. Race 4 on Saturday started in a light sea breeze which gradually strengthened. These conditions produced very close racing right through the fleet with Laurie beating Olly for 2^nd place and David Brief going very well in 4^th. In Race 5, Yves capsized again, earning him the prize for most capsizes, but was up in a flash and past leader Robin by the second lap. This time, Dave Lowe found more speed to come 3^rd, with a number of “photo finishes” further back. At the start of Race 6, a number of boats were OCS and the windier conditions saw the familiar order of Yves then Olly, but with Carl and Ian Smith up in 3^rd and 4^th places. From first to last, the gaps between boats were very small, showing the appeal of strict one design racing. 

Saturday night featured an amazing live band sponsored by Towergate Mardon, including a guest appearance on lead guitar and vocals from new Shadow sailor Dermot Mangan. Sunday was very light and shifty, with only one race in which the lead changed between Yves and Olly with Carl and Laurie close behind. Carl hit the final gate mark, but did his turn and still held onto 3^rd place, securing 3^rd overall on equal points with Laurie. 

Organisation and catering throughout the event was superb, including teas after racing sponsored by English Braids. Prizes were sponsored by Loday White and Hyde sails. This was a hugely successful and fun event, thanks to the efforts of Brightlingsea sailing club and the White family. The Shadows, Spitfires and Hurricanes look forward to getting together for other events and returning to Brightlingsea in the future.

 1^st        Yves Loday (5 points) CNBPP France

2^nd       Olly Harris (11 points) Weston SC

3^rd        Carl Blenkinsop (18 points) Gurnard SC

4^th        Laurie Gustar (18 points) Gurnard SC

5^th        Robin Leather (20 points) Gurnard SC

6^th        Tim Swinburn (28 points) Grafham Water SC

Most capsizes: Yves Loday

Furthest travelled: Dermot Mangan (Ireland)

Most Improved: Paul Tanner

Shadow Open Meeting at Gurnard SC
Sponsored by Hyde sails and Loday White

The RYA Club of the Year 2008 showed the travelling Shadow sailors why they won this award. Superb weather and excellent course setting from Race Officers Steve and Brian Cole made for a perfect weekend for the 11 Shadows which included the rapidly growing local fleet.

Race one was started in a light northerly with the predicted sea breeze arriving as most boats approached the windward mark on the mainland shore. Robin Leather rounded the mark first from Olly Harris and Carl Blenkinsop and these three held their positions to the finish with the fleet gaining fast from behind on a freshening wind.

With the wind now settled to a westerly the second course was set which included a stunning reach across the centre of the Solent. Olly was soon in front and showed the local boats how to really drive a Shadow downwind and pulled out a lead which he held to the end from Locals Laurie Gustar and Mike Martin.

Race three followed with an upwind downwind course. The wind now was a good force 4 and with the tide in full ebb against it, the sea was becoming lively. Again Olly worked his way to the front with Robin and Carl following close behind.

The forecast for Sunday morning was a concern for all with a very gentle northerly predicted. Thankfully the forecasters got only the direction right as a four to five was blowing across the Solent.

On Sunday, race four started in force 4-5 northerly with another beat to the mainland shore. By the time the leaders were back on the Island shore Olly again found himself ahead. He then managed to hold off the chasing Laurie and Carl for another lap of the Solent.

The final race saw Olly attempting and failing a port flyer so he had a battle starting at the rear of the pack. Robin took advantage and opened out a nice lead only to reduce it by having to re-round a mark in the correct direction. Life was made interesting by having to cope with fleets of Dragons and Darings intent on sharing part of our course. Olly kept out of trouble and made his way up into second place behind Robin with Laurie chasing closely behind.

Overall results –
1 Olly Harris (Weston SC) 1,1,1,2
2 Robin leather (Gurnard SC) 1,1,2,4
3 Laurie Gustar (Gurnard SC) 2,2,3,5
4 Carl Blenkinsop (Gurnard SC) 3,3,3,5
5 David Lowe (Rutland SC) 4,6,6,7
6 Ian Smith (Rutland SC) 8,4,8,4
7 Ed Low (Gurnard SC) 6,7,5,6
8 Mike Martin (Gurnard SC) 8,3,8,7
9 Tony Wyeth (Gurnard SC) 5,8,9,8
10 John Oswald (Gurnard SC) 6, dns,dns,dns
11 Dave Downer (Gurnard SC) dnf,dns,dns,dns

Shadows at Bala Cat Club- sponsored by Hyde sails & Loday White Ltd.

Six shadows made the trip to Bala Cat Club- one of the friendliest and also most scenic venues in the country. Saturday's racing was sailed in strong and very gusty South Easterly winds- tricky even by Bala standards. The first race saw a few capsizes and the lead swapping between Phil Neal and Olly Harris, with Phil getting away in the end and David Lowe chasing them hard. The second race beacme a tight battle between David and Phil in the wild conditions, each pushing as hard as they dare, after the others all returned to the beach. Phil won, despite sailing most of the race with only one daggerboard! Race 3 was a little less windy and this time Olly got past Phil and built a good lead, only to capsize in style on the last run - you can right a Shadow faster than most cats, but that still let Phil and David through.

Sunday started with more of the bizarre shifty condiitons, but produced a very close race with Chris Pilgrim also right up with the leaders. For races 5 & 6, Bala finally reminded everyone why we like the place- Force 4 and perfect windward - leeward racing. These were the closest yet, with Phil and Olly only metres apart for much of the race and a similar battle for 3rd place between David and Ian Smith.

Shadows also did very well in the mixed handicap fleet and Graham Tomlin won a huge bag of Pasta in the raffle- Eastbourne Sovereign members may find they have an Italian night at the club very soon!

1st Phil Neal (Rutland)
2nd Olly Harris (Weston)
3rd David Lowe (Rutland)

4^th Chris Pilgrim (Rutland)

5^th Ian Smith (Rutland)

6^th Graham Tomlin (Eatbourne)

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