Staunton Harold SC hosted the inland championship last weekend – the last major Mirror event before the world championship in Ostersund, Sweden.

Most of the boats that are going to Sweden came for some inland practice and that is what they got. The weather was cloudy with a Force 2-3 south-westerly breeze blowing down the lake. After feasting on bacon and sausage rolls the sailing started at midday. Pete Elver, the race officer set some testing courses all weekend which with the variable winds made for constant place changing . Anna Mackenzie and Holly Scott showed their inland pedigree and won race 1 with Josh Rumbold and Tom Lovesey beating new national champions Hector and Ben Cisernos for second.

Race 2 saw the fleet get stretched out with big gaps between small groups, who engaged in close tactical battles at every mark Peter Gray and Rachel Williamson lead for most of the race but lost out to Josh and Tom at the finish with Hector and Ben third again.

The third race saw the fleet stay much closer together and so the opportunity to gain and lose places was far greater. Peter and Rachel duelled with Shaun Mason and Emma Spruce but Kate Macgregor and Alice Courage put in a charge to the front after two mid fleet results, the international judge on the water Martin Smethers decided that some turns were in order and this dropped them to third. However, up the next beat they found a favourable shift and moved into a comfortable lead which they held to the finish with Peter and Rachel closing. Craig and Mitchell Bond claiming third.

Racing started on Sunday at 10am with a good breeze much as Saturday. Josh and Tom got away well with Emma Houlihan and Emily Mackenzie for company. Down the reaches Peter and Rachel closed up and passed them on a tricky run close to the clubhouse shore, with a steadier wind they opened up a good lead and held it from Josh and Tom with Houlihan and Mackenzie third.

Race five was held back to back and was won by Mackenzie and Scott came out on top after tussling with Hector and Ben and Eloise and Kayleigh Hansen.

Going into the last race after lunch only Peter or Josh could still win. At the windward mark they went round one and two and went down the reaches nose to tail. At the end of the lap they were so busy racing each other that Josh lead them round the mark the wrong way. Peter was first to react and unwind staying ahead of the group behind. Up the beat a large backer caused Peter and Rachel to nearly capsize and fill up allowing the group to pass and Josh to catch up the race was on again. Hector and Anna were battling for third and when the race was shortened Shaun and Emma slipped past Hector to take the gun . Young Edward Fitzgerald and Harry Richardson taking third having challenged the front boats all race long. Peter and Rachel finished in front of Josh and Tom but level on points, they only won overall on countback,.

Overall Results

1 Gold 70347 Peter Gray Rachel Williamson SHSC 15pts

2 Gold 70263 Josh Rumbold Tom Lovesey Poole YC/Warsash 15 pts

3 Gold 69912 Hector Cisneros Ben Cisneros Reading SC 17 pts

4 Gold 70172 Anna Mackenzie Holly Scott RWYC/Shustoke 18 pts

5 Gold 70281 (70007) Craig Bond Mitchell Bond Brightlingsea 29 pts

6 Gold 70274 William Kalderon Rebecca Kalderon Itchenor 37 pts

7 Gold 70333 Juliet Long Richard Long Plymouth YC 37 pts

8 Gold 70055 Shaun Mason Emma Spruce Hill Head SC 38 pts

9 Gold 70222 John Clementson Jamis Clementson Chipstead 38 pts

10 Gold 70346 Emma Houlihan Emily Mackenzie RWYC 39 pts