NATIONAL CHAMPIONS — Lewis Smith

707 National Champions. Ecstatic. A championship that was decided all the way down to the last race, by a point. A thoroughly enjoyable four-day regatta that was wide open for the top boats until the end. This is how it panned out.

I’m from the British Isles, so what better place to start than complaining about the weather? It’s August for crying out loud, surely complaints can be held until the depths of winter. But no, the championship was littered with good old Scottish rain with some downpours loud enough to wake you up.

Day 1

CRHU - 7 pts

SEAWORD - 13 pts

MADDOG - 15 pts

Nevertheless, we were there to sail. And who cares, you get wet anyway. We kicked day one off with a flying start. A six point lead counting 1st, 1st, 4th, 1st in the first four races. A job well done it was fair to say.

However, it wasn’t all plain sailing as Findhorn rivals ‘Swordfish’ battered in a whopping four straight race wins in a row on day two to rocket themselves into contention. A seriously impressive showing.

Meanwhile, we scored averagely in comparison on day two scoring 2nd, 2nd, OSC, 4th. We picked up our first discard - fair to say we weren’t best pleased with that one.

The championship race just turned up a notch.

Day 2

CRHU - 15 pts

SWORDFISH - 20 pts

SEAWORD - 22 pts

Day three was a tough one. A stiff 20 knot breeze and short, sharp, choppy waves on the Clyde, it was a tricky racecourse. We struggled to get our foot in and it showed in our results, ultimately picking up or second discard of the regatta. We scored 2nd, 8th, 5th, 1st. Putting us out of the lead with it all to play for on the final day

Windward mark rounding on day three with SeaWord

It wasn’t just above us that we had to think about. Among the jostle for the top spot was reigning nine-time national champions ‘SeaWord’ who were hot on the tails and just four points behind.

Day 3

SWORDFISH - 21 pts

CRHU - 23 pts

SEAWORD - 27 pts

Six points separated the top three with just two races yet to sail. The championship was far from over.

The first of the two races on the final day called for a committee boat start. Swordfish had the same idea. Fortunately for us, we executed the start well and were able force Swordfish into a poorer start.

Despite the good start from us we were caught in the mid fleet after lap one and were unable to stretch our legs into the fresh breeze.

Frustrating is an understatement.

Especially after seeing Seaword battle it out at the front of the race. It looked like a secure 2nd place finish for them which would close the gap in the overall standings.

After some dicey moves to wiggle our way through the mid fleet, and endeavouring to keep our nose clean while keeping Swordfish behind, we crossed the finish line in 4th place.

We worked out the scores. It was enough for the lead, but it was tight… two points in it kind of tight.

Final Day - Scores after the penultimate race

CRHU - 27 pts

SEAWORD - 29 pts

SWORDFISH - 31 pts

It all came down to the last race. Now only four points between the top three boats.

The race course called for a committee boat start again.

But I was hesitant.

The fleet looked to be on the same wavelength and lined up early to do their best to secure a lane at the favoured end.

I didn’t like the look of the traffic and made the decision to favour cleaner breeze and less congestion. We started below the bunch, in the middle of the line.

The start gun sounded. We were off.

After 30 seconds of being in the groove I glanced over my left shoulder to take in what had unfolded at the busy end of the line. Swordfish were stalled. They hit the committee boat and were in the middle of exonerating themselves with a penalty turn. Jackpot.

Seaword were slow off the mark too but had clean breeze and looked to be heading towards the right-hand, favoured side of the course.

We tacked to cover them.

It was apparent that the right-hand side was paying dividends as three or four boats crossed in front of our bow. Seaward was one of them and three places ahead of us. Enough of a gap to hand them the championship.

The race was on.

Seaword needed to keep climbing towards the front but keep two boats in between us. It was tight.

The downwind leg proved crucial to the championship and saw some big place changes.

Seaward sailed into first place with us weaving through the front runners to nestle just behind them in second place.

All we had to do was stay there to win. But with Seaword having such a consistent scoreline there was always the risk of them sailing us down the fleet and using up their discard to give us a bad race.

707 National Championships

CRHU - 29 pts

SEAWORD - 30 pts

SWORDFISH - 40 pts

Fortunately for us they were forced their hand as the wind swung 30 degrees to the right for the remaining legs and neutralised the racing.

It was a precession from there on and we were able to somewhat enjoy the cruise to the finish line.

What a feeling. For it to come down to the wire like that made it all the more special.

Some top racing with some brilliant sailors.

707 National Champions!