Nine boats turned out for this year’s Channel Race. Competitors choose their own start time aiming to round the half way mark, Denny Isle off Portishead, at high tide. Although light winds were predicted the race was held in fairly steady force 3 to 4 breeze from the North East. First away, almost 2 hours before HW was Martin White and Tony Cherry (Vision) followed after by the Firefly of Richard White and his daughter Kelly. They were soon joined by the faster Phantom of Phil Isaac and the Taser of Ian and Sarah Hotchkiss.
After long beat against the wind the Firefly was first to round the Isle about 30 mins
earlier than anticipated. Isaac and Paul Hield (Contender) overhauled slower boats starting before them round the Isle next. Stuart and Jack Butter (Lark) were last to start and last to round just behind visitors Mike Burke and Lou (Kestrel) from Sutton Bingham SC
The return leg was a long run enabling the faster boats to surf down the waves. Despite 2 capsizes conditions suited the Laser of Martin Gibson who completed the course in 2 hours 30mins, slightly slower than Isaac at 2 hours 24mins and Hield at 2 hours 28mins. The slowest boat took 3 hours 6mins to complete the course.
Results
(corrected to handicaps)
1st - Martin Gibson
2nd - Richard and Kelly White
3rd (joint) - Stuart Turner and Trevor Baker
3rd (joint) - Phil Isaac