The winning duo began the week on good form with a string of results in the top 10 and by the midway stage were lying in second place overall to Iain Watson and Ed Thomas. However, the turning point for Wilson seemed to come after the lay day when they notched up a first and a second. Watson and Thomas scored an 11th and a 15th which they had to count.

Going in to the last day, in the light shifty Torbay winds, Wilson and Hatfield had the upper hand but it was still possible for Watson and Thomas to snatch victory by finishing at least five places ahead.

Wilson and Hatfield took their usual conservative mid-line starting position, went right and rounded the top mark in eighth while Watson and Thomas were looking good in the top three. Wilson continued to sail a superb race and some smart tactical moves really paid off increasing her position to second over the finish line behind James Hughes and Anna Graves. Meanwhile, Watson lost a bit of focus and after a messy last beat eventually finished in 13th which was enough for Simon Lambert and David Brewer t snatch second place overall.

With a string of six first places going in to the last race, there wasn’t too much to go wrong for the Thomas Makey and James Harley in the B Fleet but there was still all to play for the minor placings. James Wade and Oliver Herve secured their second place overall and Robert Graves and Nick Johnson finished third in the last race and third overall.

In the C Fleet (the training fleet) Jonathon Moss and Sophie Dingwall were the outright winners with a scoreline of 1,2,1,1,1,1. Rebecca and Sarah Law finished second.

The winners of the sailpower.com best overall squadron went to Lymington. Each member of the team was presented with sailpower.com long sleeved T-shirt and a sailpower.com boom sticker.

Sam Carter, last year’s national, world champion and Young Sailor of the Year, who was present at the event was very impressed with the standard of competition “Everyone is working really hard and the standard at top of the fleet is excellent. Pippa and Charlie sailed a great last race and it was really good to see them climb up the fleet on the last beat – a well deserved win.”

For Sam who’s sailed Cadets and competed at the national championship for many years, it was strange to be at the event and not be competing. “Although it seems really weird,” said Carter, “it’s also very relaxing after my busy summer sailing 420s. I’ve been working here as a ‘rampy’ helping out with the launch and recovery and I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Overall Results

A Fleet

1st Pippa Wilson and Charlie Hatfield (Lymington) 17pts

2nd Simon Lambert and David Brewer (Parkstone) 26pts

3rd Iain Watson and Ed Thomas (Lymington) 31pts

4th Toby Harris and Chay Atkins (Otters) 38pts

5th James Hughes and Anna Graves (Otters) 41pts

6th David Ellis and James Wall (Torbay) 46pts

B Fleet

1st Thomas Makey and James Harley (Otters) 7pts

2nd James Wade and Oliver Herve (Otters) 25pts

3rd Robert Graves and Nick Johnson (Otters) 36pts

4th Matthew and Katherine Kimber (Stone) 36pts

5th Adam Richards and Sam Muskett (Lymington) 36pts

6th Alex Shanahan and Jamie Munroe (Otters) 52pts

C Fleet

1st Jonathon Moss and Sophie Dingwell (Fishers Green) 7pts

2nd Rebecca and Sarah Law (Parkstone) 29pts

3rd Simon Green and Lee Argent (Otters) 31pts

4th James Borg and Ben Goodrum (South Cerney) 31pts

5th Sam Brearey and Claire Proffit (Fishers Green) 35pts

6th Naomi Erskine and Zaffie Cox (South Cerney) 37pts

sailpower.com Best Squadron

Lymington

For full results click here