GBR: 2014 D-One Inland Championship

The breeze was blowing SW'ly 12-15kts all day which made for a nice beat up the long length of the lake and a blast back down to the club house with the kite up. With the wind blowing up over the bank at the southern end of the lake there were some huge shifts and changes in wind strength the closer you got to the windward mark which kept the fleet on their toes and for some on their centre boards.  Those that successfully navigated the shifts upwind and hooked into the bands of "uber" pressure downwind were victorious. Simon Heusen and Tim Garvin sailed fast upwind all day taking race wins in Race 2 & 3 respectively but it was Nick Simmons who sailed consistently well downwind to pull himself through the fleet to lead overnight.

Sunday dawned with slightly more breeze and the plan of action was for 2 longer races. One in the morning followed by a hot lunch back ashore and then back out for the second.  Very civilised!

Nick Orman having scored consistently well on Saturday was fast out the blocks in Race 5 rounding the top mark clear ahead of the fleet and applying the pressure on Garvin for 2nd overall. Simmons managed to pull through downwind again and take the race win with Garvin taking an unfortunate swim and finishing down the fleet. The boats came ashore with Garvin and Orman tied on 10 points for 2nd and 3rd overall. 

After an athlete’s lunch of Pasty, Chips and Beans the fleet re-launched for the last race of the weekend in a slightly increased wind strength with some seriously spicy gusts now blowing down the pond. Orman and Garvin were both quick up the beat rounding 1 and 2 and engaged in their own personal battle. Heusen, the speed machine, seemed to sail 5 degrees closer to wind than anyone else and dealt with the shifts and gusts perfectly pulling through to the front and never looking back. With Simmons safe for the overall title he decided to take the time to practice his butterfly kick leaving Garvin and Orman locked in battle for second overall. Orman sailed well gradually reeling Garvin in and passing him on the last beat to secure 2nd overall with a disappointed Garvin rounding out the top 3.

Thanks to the Race Officer for laying on an exciting race format with no faff and the galley staff for serving up the hot lunch.

The Inlands marked the end of the travelling season for the D-One class. 2014 was another great year with the class steadily growing to a 25 boat nationals and more new boats being delivered regularly throughout the year.  The circuit is currently being confirmed for 2015 with Highcliffe SC Nationals, Travemunde Week Gold Cup and a return to Riva del Garda for the Europeans already booked in.