2005 National Championships

Stone Sailing Club

1-5 August 2005

A fleet of 9 Unicorns met for their Nationals as part of the Stone Week Regatta, hosted by the Stone Sailing Club on the Blackwater River. Four stunning Piper built boats were among the fleet and while ‘wood is good’ the glass built boats featured strongly all week.

The week proved to provide a great range of sailing conditions, from a light F2 to a heavy F5 with races around the club marks and committee boat starts with ‘P’ and Olympic courses. Races were run for 1h15m to 1h 30m.

RACE NO. 1 – CLUB MARKS WIND FORCE 3+ E

• First beat against the tide was closely contested by Piper (1098) and Toft (1074), with Piper finally coming out in front at the first mark. The remainder of the fleet was closely bunched, led by Wade (1092), Dorks (1073) and Taylor (1088). The following 2 exhilarating reaching legs saw Piper extend his lead over Toft and the rest of the fleet, the position he held for the next 2 complete laps of the course. Meanwhile a close battle for third position between Wade and Dorks saw them both eventually pass Toft on the penultimate reach. Piper held his lead to take the winning gun ahead of Dorks 2^nd and Wade 3^rd .

RACE NO. 2 – CLUB MARKS WIND FORCE 3+ SE

• The start was marred by a sudden wind shift, which left the entire fleet marooned 50 meters from the line in the middle of moored boats with the tide taking them further up river. When the wind re-established itself in strength and direction the fleet struggled across the line led by Piper, closely followed by Dorks, Taylor and Wade. These positions were maintained to the first windward mark, but on the next two reaching legs Piper again excelled in these conditions and extended his lead to about 100 metres. He maintained this position for the next 2 laps of the course while the main battle took place for the next 4 places between Dorks, Wade, Taylor and Toft with many changes in position on different sailing legs. Piper’s, lead was eventually reduced to a few boat lengths at the finish followed by Wade 2^nd and Dorks 3^rd.

RACE NO. 3 –‘P’ COURSE WIND FORCE 2+ SW

• A good start was made by Dorks who then used his experience and local river knowledge to reach the first windward mark clear of the next 4 boats led by Piper, Toft, Taylor and Wade. The course had very long legs that tested the strength of the contestants to the limit. After 3 complete laps Piper eventually overhauled Dorks to take the lead, which he maintained, to the end of a long 6-lap race.  Wade, Toft and Taylor battled over the remaining places and finished in that order but were never able to challenge the two leading boats

RACE NO. 4 –‘P’ COURSE WIND FORCE 1 / 2 variable S

• With light variable winds it was difficult to set a course but finally a start was made.  Dorks again used his local knowledge to good effect by tacking early on a slight wind shift and gain ground to the windward mark which he rounded first. The remainder of the fleet eventually followed led by Taylor, Piper, Wade, Rogers (1086) and Toft. The light winds and strong tide tested the skills of the helmsmen and concentration to maintain boat speed. Dorks continued to lead the fleet ahead of Piper for the next 4 laps of the course with Wade, Taylor and Toft again closely contesting 3rd place. As the wind became lighter Toft eventually established a clear 3^rd position but the race was won by Piper 1^st who overtook Dorks 2^nd on the final short beat to the line with a favourable windshift and regatta traffic.

RACE NO. 5 –‘OLYMPIC’ COURSE WIND FORCE 3+ W

• Wind against tide with waves up to one metre and overcast skies made some challenging conditions for the race. The fleet made a good start and with a long true windward first leg the competitors tacked at different points, but the mark was again rounded first by Dorks, closely followed by Piper, Wade, Toft and Taylor. The next 2 fast reaches did not change any of the positions, but on the next beat Toft moved into 3^rd place. On the following sausage leg of the course the leading 5 boats split on different banks of the river. Those on the North bank found more wind and at the downwind mark Piper was ahead of Dorks and Wade to lead the fleet. These positions were held for the next 2 laps with Wade closing to within 5s of Dorks at the finish.

RACE NO. 6-–‘OLYMPIC’ COURSE WIND FORCE 2 W

• With lightening winds and beating against the tide the skill and concentration of the helms was fully tested. Dorks again led at the windward mark closely followed by Piper, Wade and Toft. The remainder of the fleet suffered an unfavourable windshift, which caused problems rounding the mark. A close and exciting battle ensured between the 4 leading boats, with Piper managing to pass Dorks on the final windward leg and take the winning gun. Dorks was also just passed by Wade on the line for 2^nd place but held off the challenge from Toft to secure 3^rd place.

RACE NO. 7 – CLUB MARKS WIND FORCE 4 W

• Under storm threatening clouds the race started with a hotly contested first beat to the windward mark with Piper rounding just ahead of Toft, Dorks and Wade. With some very fast sailing these positions were maintained throughout the duration of the 1.25 hour race over 4 laps of the course with less than 50 metres separating the boats. Piper completed his 7^th win of the series to secure an unbeatable champion position. Toft secured his first 2^nd position followed by Dorks 3^rd.

RACE NO. 8 – CLUB MARKS WIND FORCE 5 NW

• With increasing strength wind and wave conditions only 4 boats made the start line. Toft made an excellent start and led Dorks, Wade and Rogers at the first mark. Toft maintained his lead over the next 2 reaching legs but Dorks used the tide to better advantage on the downwind leg to take a narrow lead. A close battle then ensured in very fast top limit sailing conditions over the next 2 reaching legs. At the turning mark Dorks broke his tiller extension and had to retire allowing Toft to sail clear. During the next windward leg two sailing barges obstructed the course allowing Wade to close on Toft. At the end of the next leg Toft stalled during his tack and Wade came alongside. Wade required a win to secure 2nd place in the championship and in the excitement during the next reach a capsized boat obstructed the course which unfortunately Wade hit and had to retire. This allowed Toft to complete the remainder of the course without mishap to take the winning gun. Rogers also sailed well to complete the course and finish 2^nd.

 

GENERAL – Congratulations to Gary Piper on being the 2005 National Unicorn Champion. To have 7 wins out of 7 races sailed shows his skill, consistency and overall boat speed in all sailing conditions. With only 4 points separating the next 3 places illustrates the close and exciting racing experienced throughout the week over well planned courses in good wind conditions. Bob Dorks continually beat Gary to the first windward mark and held him off for large parts of each race but was it boat speed or physical age, which failed him in the end to retain his title? John Wade has improved his overall speed with the new boat and justly deserves his 3rd place especially after breaking his leg (again!!) in last year’s downhill mountain biking accident. Welcome to two new Unicorn members Iain Rogers (to be know as ‘3 boat Rogers’ !!!) and Geoff Moss who both experienced some problems but learned a great deal about the boats from the friendly Unicorn regulars. The Unicorn Association wish to express their thanks and admiration to the Stone Sailing Club and all the organisers of this very fine Regatta. It is always a hit both on and off the water.

Name	Boat	Club	Points	Position
Gary Piper	1098	Stokes Bay SC	7	1
Bob Dorks	1073	Stone SC	14	2
John Wade	1092	Weymouth & Portland SA	17	3
Peter Toft	1074	Stone SC	18	4
Richard Taylor	1088	Stokes Bay SC	29	5
Iain Rogers	1084	Weston SC	32	6
Paul Conway	1085	Stone SC	47	7
Geoff Moss	1075	Stone SC	49	8
David Taylor	1067	Stone SC	62	9

Peter Toft - Unicorn 1074

 

John Wade 1092 Race 8

Peter Toft 1074 Race 8

Gary Piper 1098 Race 5

Richard Taylor 1088 Race 4

Paul Conway Race 4