Although the weather was cold with a variable, shifty Force 1-3 wind throughout the day, thirteen boats, including nine visitors turned out for the first Paddle event of the 2007 season at Tamworth Sailing Club on 24th March.
In the first race last year’s Open winner Peter Coghill (Rotherham SC) was in the leading pack after rounding the windward mark for the first time. Over the next couple of laps Nick Lovell (Covenham SC/Ouse Amateur SC) overtook and went on to establish a lead with John Burgoine (Tamworth SC) and Peter Coghill following in second & third.
After the first beat of the second race, Lovell rounded the windward mark ahead, with Burgoine and Peter Tyerman (Pennine SC) chasing hard until Lovell broke away and developed a commanding lead that he held to the finish with Burgoine, Tyerman and Coghill in 2nd, 3rd & 4th respectively.
In the third and final race, having rounded the windward mark Burgoine, Ian
Whitfield (Tamworth SC), Tyerman and Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) were the first
four boats, with Lovell leading the chasing pack after he’d been forced
to do penalty turns due to a port and starboard incident. Burgoine and Whitfield
exchanged the lead several times throughout the race until on the penultimate
lap, a fast recovering Lovell got past them on the beat with Burgoine and Whitfield
following him home as he scored a third successive bullet.
This event was shared with the Laser class and both Winners thanked Tamworth
SC for holding an enjoyable open meeting.
Results Overall: 1st Nick Lovell (CovenhamSC) 2pts, 2nd John Burgoine (Tamworth SC) 4pts, 3rd Pete Tyerman (Pennine SC) 7pts, 4th Peter Cogill (Rotherham VSC) 7pts, 5th Ian Whitfield (Tamworth SC) 8pts, 6th Ian Bradley (Ouse ASC) 10pts, 7th Graham Nelson (Ouse ASC) 11pts, 8th Matthew Whitfield (Tamworth SC) 13pts, 9th Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) 16pts, 10th Andrew Francis (Girton SC) 17pts, 11th Roger Wallis (South Yorkshire SC) 21pts, 12th Brian Rennie (Girton SC) 26pts, 13th Gwyn Williams (Tamworth SC) 27pts.
