Pentewan Sands Sailing Club: Nationals
Sunday 23rd - Tuesday 25th August 2009

Pictures by Mike Ward and Pentewan Sailing Club Report by: Keith Newnham

Pentewan Sands Sailing Club in Cornwall hosted the 2009 Sprint 15 national championships, this was the 8th time that the class has chosen this venue to stage their annual showdown, and with 60 boats entered the promise of an exciting 3 days racing was assured.

With overcast skies and a steady force 3 breeze the practice race got underway on the Sunday morning, just a single lap to get the feel of what was to come, after which the fleet came ashore for lunch in preparation of the afternoons sailing.

Race 1.
The afternoon racing was of a back to back nature, with race 1 starting with an increased wind speed of 3-4 and with a very lumpy sea-state, Kyle Stoneham from Thorpe Bay Yacht Club seemed to revel in the conditions and he won with Robin Newbold from Carsington Sailing Club second and Steve Sawford of Rutland Water Sailing Club third.

Race 2.
The second race of the day saw Thomas Sandal from Grafham Water Sailing Club take the winning spot, with Kyle Stoneham second and Kevin Morris also of Grafham third.
Getting back to the shore early was a big incentive to doing well in the race, the first ones there got the help in getting up that gently sloping beach, which certainly did nothing to help maintain a slowly beating heart, necessary in winding down after the event. First ones back also got to the changing room quickly and managed to get access to “the gigantic shower”, one competitor, who shall remain nameless was heard to say that “he found it difficult to turn around in it, as his shoulders were just to wide” (he finished 8th overall)

Race 3.
Monday saw a decrease in wind speed but still with the lumpy sea-state making the beat to windward more difficult; it was once again Kyle Stoneham taking the first spot, with Keith Newnham from Shanklin Sailing Club second and Thomas Sandal third.

Race 4.
By the afternoon the wind had increased to a possible force 4 and the start line had a slight port tack bias and so saw some brave souls attempting port tack starts. But, with the 60 strong fleet accelerating away from the line, the problems of how to break through were always present, but the returns could be worthwhile when achieved. Those on port sailed across the waves, towards the shore and into the calmer water, while those on starboard had to contend with the lumpy sea state for much longer. Kyle Stoneham was first, Robin Newbold second and Martyn Ellis from Thorpe Bay Yacht Club third.

Race 5.
Race 5 was sailed back to back with race 4, Kyle Stoneham once again taking the honours, Thomas Sandal second and Chris Black from Grafham Water Sailing Club third.
Mondays racing was akin to the cricket matches from a few years ago, streakers would always be charging across the pitch, we also had a so-called interloper on the course, but I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more of him in future events. <* see note below>

Race 6.
Tuesday started with the sun shinning and a wind strength about force 2, but as the fleet waited for the committee boat to take station black clouds started looming and the wind increased to maybe force 4. The fleet got away first time but quickly spread out, first was Keith Newnham from Shanklin, with Thomas Sandal from Grafham second and John Postlethwaite from Beaver Sailing Club third.

Race 7.
Once again there was a slight port tack bias and a very gradual wind shift heading the fleet away from the line, 3 boats rounded the windward mark with about a 50 meter lead, after rounding mark 4 the wind decreased to a force 3 and there was another shift which allowed the following boats to fetch the windward mark, and at the end of the lap the race officer wisely shortened the course and finished the race, which was won by Mark Aldridge of Grafham Water Sailing Club, second was Neil Parkhurst from Beaver Sailing Club and third was John Manning also from Beaver.

The prizes for this years championships were presented by Roger Lewsey, commodore of Pentewan Sands Sailing Club; first was Kyle Stoneham from Thorpe Bay Yacht Club with Thomas Sandal of Grafham Water Sailing Club second and Keith Newnham from Shanklin Sailing Club third, Robin Newbold of Carsington was forth and Steve Sawford from Rutland fifth.

The Most Improved Award was tastefully won by Erling Holmberg, with Charles and Elenya Watson second and Stuart Pierce third. The Team Prize was this year quietly won by Shanklin Sailing Club with Grafham Water Sailing Club runners up (but retaining the cup as they had forgotten to bring it with them). The Pro-Am championship was won by Keith Newnham and Steve Petts with Robert England and John Manning second and Frank Sandells and Dave Turnbull third. Keith Ball won the Heavyweights Trophy with Stuart Pierce second and Dave Turnbull third.

The Fifty Plus Trophy was “eventually” awarded to Frank Sandells, Gordon Goldstone was second and Eamonn Browne third. The Sixty Plus Trophy went to Keith Newnham (courtesy of his cardiac doctor), second was Erling Holmberg with Geoff Howlett third, all from blue rinse section of Shanklin Sailing Club. The Juniors Cup winner was Jack Turnbull from Seasalter Sailing Club, William Baker second and Jacob Aldridge third.

The Ladies Cup was won by Finella Miller of Marconi Sailing Club with Linda Littlejohn second. The dream team of Charles and Elenya Watson won the Two-Up Trophy (just as well really as they had also forgotten to bring it with them) with Simon and Lily Giles second and Jeremy and Sarah Britton third.

The Paul Smith Trophy Winner for the most persistant competitor was awarded to Keith Persin from Thorpe Bay Yacht Club by Carol Smith.

After the presentation of awards, the new class champion and flying ace Kyle Stoneham, thanked, (on behalf of the Sprint 15 Association and Competitors); the Pentewan Sands Sailing Club for hosting this marvelous event; the ladies of the club for the provision of food and drink during the day and the meals in the evening (how did they cater for all of us in that tiny kitchen?); the race officer Mike Ward for the excellent courses and race management and the rescue and buoy laying team out on the course. He also expressed his thanks to Brian Phipps and gang from Windsport International for all of their help in keeping the boats sailing with their supply of spares and repairs when needed, and all of the other sponsors for their help in supporting this event.

The author of this piece of drivel (sorry, article) would like to thank the ZZ Top look-a-like for those excellent pasties (or was it Father Christmas doing his summer job?), but would like to apologize for the fact that after the event all of the races seem the same, so you’ll find there could be scant regards as to the truth, but at least the names are correct to show up the guilty.
ps:- But I did have a great time! Keith Newnham

*The interloper on the Monday was Tom Phipps. He sailed the Windsport boat (1995) that had been sailed the day before by Richard Glover. The Windsport support team rotated on a daily basis to cover the various fleet and WindSport needs. It turned out that Brian Phipps arrived on the Monday (from the Dart 18 nationals) to “man the stand” and Richard Glover was back at base so Tom had a go in the boat. Despite Tom’s inexperience on a Sprint 15 he ‘gapped the fleet’ and won all 3 races he took part in. In the evening it was realized that while Richard Glover had entered and joined the Association when he entered, that Tom had not so his results did not stand. It was, however, an interesting demonstration of Tom’s sailing ability. Sadly there is no longer a RYA Tornado team for the Olympics for Tom to demonstrate his ability. Bob Carter

Kyle Stoneham National Champion
Kyle Stoneham National Champion
Race Start at Pentewan
Race Start at Pentewan
General Racing
General Racing

Results:

Click for: Full Results with all Sub-Competitions

OVERALL RESULTS
Competitors Races - 7 of 7 Sailed (No. of Discards: 2) Event Placings
Name Sail ClubRace 1Race 2Race 3Race 4Race 5Race 6Race 7Points Place
Kyle Stoneham1148Thorpe Bay Yacht Club1 2 1 1 1 5 61 61
Thomas Sandal1957Grafham Water Sailing Club6 1 3 4 2 2 9 122
Keith Newnham1150Shanklin Sailing Club22 4 2 5 4 1 6 163
Robin Newbold991Carsington Sailing Club2 7 31 2 8 10 12 294 ¹
Steve Sawford1733Rutland Water Sailing Club3 61 12 9 7 6 4 295 ¹
John Postlethwaite1405Beaver Sailing Club11 13 17 6 5 3 11 366 ¹
Martyn Ellis1981Thorpe Bay Yacht Club18 9 43 3 6 11 7 367 ¹
Erling Holmberg2007Shanklin Sailing Club4 8 5 12 21 30 14 438
Geoff Howlett1953Shanklin Sailing Club8 23 13 10 11 21 5 479
Mark Aldridge1522Grafham Water Sailing Club27 15 11 33 9 12 1 4810
Matt Smith1900Beaver Sailing Club12 5 38 15 16 4 29 5211
Chris Black2005Grafham Water Sailing Club7 6 28 20 3 18 31 5412
Charles Watson & Elenya Watson1237Halifax Sailing Club13 25 10 11 17 7 61 5813
Robert England1351Carsington Sailing Club30 16 4 13 18 13 19 6414
Kevin Morris1560Grafham Water Sailing Club29 3 8 23 10 28 21 6515 ¹
Frank Sandells1986Grafham Water Sailing Club25 21 58 7 13 16 8 6516 ¹
Keith Ball1937Grafham Water Sailing Club19 10 14 14 24 27 10 6717
Gordon Goldstone2004Queen Mary Sailing Club14 11 30 16 20 8 24 6918
Stuart Pierce1813Shanklin Sailing Club17 22 9 8 26 20 22 7619
David Ball1488Marconi Sailing Club9 12 25 17 15 61 61 7820
Eamonn Browne1861Marconi Sailing Club16 30 24 29 14 14 18 8621
John Manning1955Beaver Sailing Club36 29 46 18 25 15 3 9022
George Love1825Carsington Sailing Club20 17 39 25 12 33 23 9723
Dave Turnbull1259Seasalter Sailing Club42 20 16 40 28 23 13 10024
Neil Parkhurst1761Beaver Sailing Club35 44 32 39 27 9 2 10525
Nick Dewhirst2006Seasalter Sailing Club43 26 7 28 38 24 25 11026
Simon Giles & Lily Giles1944Shanklin Sailing Club23 24 47 36 19 17 28 11127
Peter Richardson1983Marconi Sailing Club10 18 40 22 34 38 61 12228
George Stephen1594Queen Mary Sailing Club28 28 26 61 31 29 15 12629
Bob Baker1926Shanklin Sailing Club26 32 27 37 23 19 37 12730
Jack Turnbull1180Seasalter Sailing Club33 52 6 34 50 39 16 12831
John Shenton1956Shanklin Sailing Club21 36 41 19 29 26 41 13132
Richard Whitelock1705Grafham Water Sailing Club24 19 52 26 30 46 33 13233
Steve Petts1934Grafham Water Sailing Club49 38 15 24 36 25 34 13434
Tom Streatfield-Jones20Restronguet Sailing Club45 34 35 32 22 44 17 14035
Gerald Sverdloff1933Thorpe Bay Yacht Club61 31 18 21 44 32 61 14636
Ray Gall1914Carsington Sailing Club34 37 36 27 46 35 20 15237
Samuel Rowell1984Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club31 41 45 31 61 31 36 17038
William Baker1704Shanklin Sailing Club61 42 19 42 40 42 30 17339
George Wood1908Grafham Water Sailing Club38 27 42 35 32 61 61 17440
Keith Bartlett1962Open Dinghy Club44 39 23 41 33 61 61 18041
Simon Rowell1843Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club46 48 49 38 43 22 32 18142
Gary Sverdloff1231Thorpe Bay Yacht Club39 54 29 61 39 45 40 19243
Jacob Aldridge1736Grafham Water Sailing Club37 40 57 45 35 43 39 19444
Charlie Pierce834Shanklin Sailing Club40 45 33 44 42 40 61 19945
Fenella Miller1579Marconi Sailing Club41 50 55 30 45 34 61 20046
Rich Glover1995Restronguet Sailing Club5 14 61 61 61 61 61 20247
Robin Gill753Beaver Sailing Club53 46 22 51 49 49 38 20448
Keith Chidwick1840Queen Mary Sailing Club61 33 51 61 47 47 27 20549
Ian Bolton1698Shanklin Sailing Club48 47 21 49 61 41 61 20650
Andrew Hannah1818Thorpe Bay Yacht Club32 49 37 52 41 61 61 21151 ¹
Daren Fitchew1642Thorpe Bay Yacht Club47 53 48 43 37 36 61 21152 ¹
Chris Read642Shanklin Sailing Club15 43 53 47 61 61 61 21953 ¹
Eamonn Quigley1715Grafham Water Sailing Club50 51 54 46 61 37 35 21954 ¹
Linda Littlejohns1887Swanage Sailing Club54 57 56 53 53 48 26 23455
Jeremy Britton & Sarah Britton1261RYA61 61 20 54 52 50 61 23756
Keith Persin1551Thorpe Bay Yacht Club52 55 44 50 51 51 42 23857
Martin Searle1331Seasalter Sailing Club51 56 50 48 48 61 61 25358
Tim Benton1274Shanklin Sailing Club61 61 34 61 61 61 61 27859
Jim Jeffery1784Sandwich Bay Sailing Club61 35 61 61 61 61 61 27960