The Royal Southern Yacht Club and Southampton Institute hosted a 28 strong fleet of Sunsail 37’s for the 2005 BUSA Student Yachting National.
Southampton Institute has proven to be a dominant force in the student yachting scene winning the last three student yachting nationals. This year, however, the job of organising and the event for the first time while attempting to defend the title proved to be their downfall. This time it was the turn of their city neighbour, Southampton University 2, to win the title.
The University, under the helm of Nick Cherry, dominated what proved to be a very tight competition from start to finish.
This was the last event to be run in these boats before the new fleet are brought into service. Day one saw a strong breeze dropping off during the day providing some tough conditions for new crews. There was close racing throughout the fleet with boat handling mistakes causing most of the place swapping.
Southampton University 1, Andy Cornah, shot off to a massive early lead in race one, but Southampton Institute 1, Mike Henning, reeled them in, eventually taking the race. Simon Berry’s Southampton Institute 2 also made an impressive start to the regatta taking the second race, carrying on the institutes’ dominance of previous years.
Volvo Keelboat Squad member Nick Cherry had the most consistent day scoring two 3rds leaving them in second overall on equal points with Institute 2 in 1st place.
Day two again proved a blustery day with winds gusting 26knts. Cherry and his team had an outstanding day winning all three races. Berry would not let them out of sight, scoring two 2nds and a 3rd place keeping firmly in touch with the leaders. The rest of the fleet was very tight with many place changes.
The long inshore race took place on day 3. This was a non discardable race. With the scores so close a poor result could have spelt disaster even for the regatta leaders. The race committee set a lengthy round the cans course lasting 5 hours. Cambridge took an early lead with Cardiff close behind, both tacking well inshore to avoid the tide. Southampton Institute 2 and Southampton Uni 2 were close behind follow round the windward mark in 3rd and 4th respectively.
Southampton Uni made mistake with the course, dropping their kite and heading to the wrong mark. They quickly realised their mistake and joined back in the race losing 2 places. Cambridge, meanwhile, establish a good lead. The next beat proved the turning point of the race. The fleet divided, with the leaders, choosing to cheat the tide using a bank and cross the channel at the top of the beat. Southampton 2 lead a small group up the right of the beat choosing to cross the tide early taking advantage of the shallower water on the Island shore. As the fleet came together at the windward mark the right proved the correct choice as Southampton 2 rounded the windward mark 5 minutes clear of the rest of the fleet. Durham and Southampton 4 also chose the right side of the beat and rounded in 2nd and 3rd place. Southampton Institute were a little further down the pack but with a further 3 hours of racing to go there was plenty of time for catch up.
The fleet battled round the rest of the course with Cherry’s team extending their lead. Southampton 4 managed to hold Southampton Institute 2 off on the finish line to get a valuable 2nd place.
Two windward leeward races on day 4 decided the championship. Southampton Uni 2 needed one top 3 result to take the title. With so much to play for throughout the fleet the 1st start proved tense and resulted in a general recall. The Committee put the I and Z flags up for start two. Nerves rattled the fleet again with Southampton uni and Southampton Institute 2 being one of many boats called OCS. Both teams made good progress through the fleet finishing in 9th and 12th respectively both with ZFP’s. Institute 1 and London sailed well finishing in 1st and 2nd. The race was still on.
The tension increased in the final race with another general recall. This time the committee went straight for the black flag however this did not stop some boats being OCS at start time.
Southampton Uni 2 and Southampton Institute 2 both made conservative starts. Southampton Institute 2 worked their way through the fleet on the 1st beat establishing a lead. Southampton Uni 2 had to finish 7th or higher to win the week. Institute 1 proceeded to cover tack Uni 2 from their first tack off the start line throughout the race. Cover was tight enough to cause the Uni to gybe out of the cover on the last beat to make the finish line. Despite this cherry’s team managed to finish 6th in the race, enough for them to win. Institute 1 were eventually given a DND score for there covering tactics on Uni 2, who were given redress resulting in a 4th place finish.
Cherry and his crew of James Roche, Katie Archer, both fellow Volvo Keelboat squad members, George Cooper, Ed Males, Katie Vincent, Anthony Richards and Oscar Hellstrom will now represent English Universities at the Student Yachting World Cup held by the French in Mumm 30’s in October, along with the defending Champions, Southampton Institute.
Thanks to the Royal Southern Yacht Club for some brilliant race management and Southampton Institute for hosting a great social program.
1st Southampton University 2 (14 pts)
2nd Southampton Institute 2 (17 pts)
3rd Southampton University 4 (33 pts)
[If you have any pictures from the event that you would like to add to the site, please e-mail them to BUSA busa@rya.org.uk]