T15 NORTH ZONE – EVENT 2
This report just in from our Northern Correspondents, Chloe and Joe Bennett
The weekend started off on Friday night with some us camping at the local campsite in Wansbeck and the rest of the team joining us on Saturday, when we all descended on Duridge Bay for a spot of windsurfing (in between the football and the sea mist that very rapidly came upon us). Whilst the big boys were in watching the match we commandeered some of their extremely bigger tan we are used to sails – with my brother, myself & Abi taking out a 7.5m!!!! After a very filling bar-b-q and log fire with toasted marshmallows courtesy of Kate, Matt’s mum and bacon sarnies Sunday morning the team were eager to get to the Bay for the race. We all followed my mum up and parked by the front, with the weather looking pretty good for the day, with sunshine, warmth and light breeze (a bit different to when we stopped at Covenham). This event saw yet again a full team from us the Pirates (plus extra supporters), a full team from Covenham, ,plus Halifax Hurricanes, Coquet Crushers (home team) and Surfstore Allstars). We registered, set up kit and listened ready for the first race. It started off with a combination of the 5.5m & 6.8m fleet ( a mega 21 of us) racing a windward course leg which tested some of us. We had Josh in the 6.8m and Chloe, Matt (a move up from the 4.5m for this event), Nick & Abi in the 5.5m. In the 4.5m fleet they had to do 2 laps round a crosswind figure-of-8 course. Joe who took out a 4.5m sail (instead of the 4.0m which earnt him a 3rd at the 1st event) bettered his consistent third placings from event 1 and took the lead, which he maintained, for the duration of the race. Ellis, Mark and Ryan (who all over the course of the day came 3rd at some point which made all of their days) were constantly chasing his tail, with Hannah (from Covenham) keeping them all in check with consistent 2nd places.
The 3.5m fleet raced across the lake and back, were set a challenge yet again by chasing the Covenham Cyclones. Luke came in 3rd followed closely by Emma in 4th (who christened her brand new Tushingham Dino rig). They were followed closely by Tom (who, along with Joel, Jacob & Nicola only started windsurfing towards the end of last year), Joel, Jacob, Nicola, Kathryn & Kai.
The next few races for the 5.5 and 6.8’s saw a variety of results between the competitors with Nick bringing home a 3rd place in one of the races. In the 4.5’s Joe and Hannah (Cyclones) took another first and second in race 2 with Mark in 4th. In the 3.5m fleet Luke gained his first 2nd place in the event. With the weather holding out it was decided to fit in another couple of races before lunch. The wind began to speed up slightly with a hint of a sea breeze on its way with the positions in the 3.5 & 4.5 fleets staying pretty much the same with Joe holding on to his consistent firsts with Ellis, Ryan and Mark vying for the following positions; and with Emma gained on her 2 4th places to get a 3rd.
During lunch the course was rearranged as the sea breeze was beginning to get stronger. The 6.8 & 5.5 fleets were now split to sail a cross-wind figure-of-8 course and a down-wind slalom course for the 4.5m (which proved a bit of a challneg in the up wind leg of the course, especially when the wind dropped and the direction changed). This resulted in a fair bit of pumping for us in order for us to finish. Again the places between Chloe, Matt, Abi & Nick (who came a great 3rd straight after lunch) continually changing. Josh, not using his Techno this time came in with a brilliant 2nd place after lunch. Chloe took the first Techno prize and a special mention for Abigail who finished a creditable 6th in race 6.
Joe in the 4.5m fleet showed no sign of letting up took another couple of firsts to take 1st place overall ahead of Hannah (Cyclones) in 2nd. Mark yet again took the first Techno prize, with Ellis and Ryan following in 5th & 6th places. A closely fought finish for 3rd place resulted in Luke just beating team mate Emma by 1 point. Followed by Tom, Joel, Jacob, Nicola, Kathryn and Kai.
Once again unfortunately the Covenham Cyclones took the Team prize just ahead of us, Pugneys Pirates. The next event will be held by us at Pugneys Country Park on July 16th with all welcome. Once again thanks to the host club, Coquet, Geoff and team who supplied us with VERY VERY cold drinking water and courtesy of one of the mums some delicious food. Thanks to Dave for organizing the event and all the parents for transporting us and the other teams for taking part.
From Chloe & Joe Bennett
