Northern Championship 2007 at Hartlepool

Report by Ian Holtby

The Sonata Northern Championships were held at Hartlepool on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd September. The conditions for racing on the first day could not have been better with a light off shore breeze which slowly increased through the day to about force 3, occasionally 4. Unfortunately only eight boats turned out for the day’s racing, the first race being hotly contested between Eric the Boat and Blue Tack, with Eric finally taking first place. The second race saw the first retirement in a process of attrition over the weekend with the skipper of Peg sporting a battered looking scalp following unexpected contact with the boom in the process of an inadvertent gybe. Mustard Pot was the second retirement in race three, and the four races of day one ended with Eric the Boat in the lead, followed by Blue Tack with Sonic in third place overall. The day had also seen close competition between White Magic, Storm in a G Cup and Serenity.

Day 2 (23/09/07)

Wind speeds had dramatically increased to F 6 gusting 7 and even occasionally 8 for day 2, with only five boats starting race five! This race saw Storm in a G Cup sustain a detached inner shroud immediately followed by a rather bent mast, which the crew very ably secured before retirement from competition. This race was also won by Eric the Boat who then, with the series secure, decided to call it a day. Three boats started race six and two finished, Blue Tack and Serenity. In view of the conditions and the fact that the final positions were established, it was decided to abandon the final bay race. Eric the Boat was declared overall winner, followed by Blue Tack with Sonic in third place.