News

February 6, 2007

This weekend saw a small but dedicated fleet take to the water for the Weston Multihull Warm-up. Conditions were Spring like with bright sun and fickle offshore winds. The first race on Saturday saw everyone having their moments of glory in the unstable offshore winds, with big differences in pressure and angle. It went to Grant Piggott and Greg Windle (Tornado Sport) with Stuart Gummar and Ellen Forshaw(F18 Capricorn) coming in sencond place. The second race of the day saw, much closer racing as all contestants got better at handling the 40 degree wind shifts and 5 knot differences in wind speed. It was all change for the second race with Hugh Styles borrowing Paul Butler’s new Nacra Infusion F18 with Luke Butler aboard as crew, coming first. Hugh commented about sailing the Nacra Infusion for the first time “The Nacra shows a great deal of potential, we found ourselves a bit head down in side the boat today as we got used to sailing the boat. Im looking forward to the worlds and the chance to train more in the boat and learn its handling properties better.” The Tornados got away from him but not far enough to “trouble the scorer,” with Grant and Greg gaining second place. So at the end of the first day, Grant and Geg settled for their first and second giving them the overnight lead.



Sunday conditions were similar with perhaps even less wind, and the spectators well wrapped up, watched from the Weston patio in glorious Spring sunshine. James and Gillian Power scored their first bullet (F18 Capricorn), with the Hurricane of Paul Butler and Spitfire of Sproaty in the chocolates. They sailed a great race clinging onto theheels of the F18’s round the race course to get into the top three for this race. The last race had it all to play for with four 3 boats tied on points going into it. The course had been changed for the wind shift over the lunch break, unfortunately this had just made it a very skewed race course. This put massive priority on the start and sailing in clear wind on the first fetch. Styles and Butler in their Nacra Infusion made a jump clear at the start. This made it a Tornado to Nacra battle for the overall title of the weekend. But Styles and Butler were getting more and more from their steed, and Grant Piggott couldn’t draw away from the advances of the F18. At the finish Styles and Butler (Nacra Infusion F18) took the honours, and in doing so the overall event on count back from Grant,Piggott and Greg Windle (Tornado) with more wins to their credit. James and Gillian Power (Capricorn F18) were third and Stuart Gummer (Capricorn F18) fourth.

The next event for the F18 sailors is the 2007 Worlds in Australia in 2 weeks time. Hugh Styles will be representing Great Britain sailing a Nacra Infusion, with 4 other UK teams competing at the event on the eastern seaboard of Australia at a location called Yeppoon just north of Brisbane. It should be a great event with good winds forecast and warm temperatures.

Thanks to all of those who made the Weston Warm up event happen. Also to the sponsors and supporters of Team Hugh Styles.