Hat trick for Exeter at the BUSA Fleet Racing Nationals

Over 300 Students arrived at the BUSA Fleet Racing Nationals hoping for a weekend of close racing, however the weather had other plans. Hosted at and , sailing venue for the 2012 London Olympics.

Saturday saw the only day of racing with all fleets competing one race before winds in excess of 25 knots and a large number of spectacular capsizes caused the race committee to abandon racing for the day, with the hope of resuming racing on Sunday.

The weather continued to get worse overnight and racing was cancelled at 10am on Sunday. The RYA advised that a minimum of three races must be completed for a full championship result to stand. Unfortunately, as only one race took place due to the extreme weather conditions BUSA points will not be awarded for this event. Medals, t-shirts and the Team prize where awarded to the sailors who won the first race.

The Handicap Fleet had a large range of boats from Albacores to RS800 and for the first time ever, a Hobie 16. After the one race the 420s led the way with Ian Dobson and Sam Maxfield from leading the way, closely followed by Warwick Universities James Goss and Robert Ozanne.

The Firefly and Lark fleets were closely contended, with Sam Rowson and Paul Connell from winning the lark fleet. gained a 1^st and 2^nd in the Firefly Fleet with Ian Mclean and Lucy Matthews winning after leading from the start.

The Laser II Fleet survived the race with few breakages with Glasgow Universities Roger Carter and Sophie Esson retaining the title. dominated this fleet gaining a 4^th and 6^th putting them in 3^rd place for the Team prize. Also sailing well in this fleet was Matt Greenfield and Liz Carrell (

) and Steven Hall and Joe Erskin () who have both improved on last years results.

Olympic hopefuls Giles Scott, Nick Thompson, Steve Powell and Charles Bailey-Strong fought it out in the Laser Fleet, but with Steven Powell, Nick Thompson and Charles Bailey Strong, all from Exeter University finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd, secured ‘s 3rd successive team victory.

Results in brief:

Laser Fleet

1 Steve Powell          Exeter University

2 Nick Thomson          Exeter University

3 Charles Baillie-Strong Exeter University

Firefly Fleet

1 Ian Maclean      Lucy Matthews Bristol University

2 Jonathan Stone Matt Pinner   Bristol University

3 Chris Dodds     Hannah Burke  Nottingham University

Handicap Fleet

1 420  Ian Dobson Sam Maxfield    Southampton University

2 420  James Goss Robert Ozanne   Warwick University

3 Finn Ed Greig                   Southampton University

Lark Fleet

1 Sam Rowson       Paul Connell         Southampton Solent

2 Mike Young       Bart Bridgen         Lancaster University

3 Laura Mitchell  Simon Downing     Swansea University

Laser II

1 Roger Carter       Sophie Esson    Glasgow University

2 Matt Greenfield Liz Carrell     Bath University

3 Steve Hall       Joe Erskin     Loughborough

Team Results

1 Exeter

2 Southampton

3 Glasgow

Dates for your diaries:

• BUSA Team Racing Championship Qualifiers: 26^th/27^th November 2005 at West Kirby SC, Grafham SC, Chew Valley Lake SC, Farmoor SC, Spinnaker SC.
  
• BUSA/RYA Match Racing Championship Qualifier 1 – 10^th/11^th December 2005 at Queen Mary SC ().
  
• BUSA/RYA Match Racing Championship Qualifier 2 – 13^th/14^th February 2006 at Queen Mary SC ().
  
• BUSA Team Racing Championship Playoffs: 25^th/26^th March 2006 at Welsh Harp ().
  
• BUSA/RYA Match Racing Championship Finals – 1^st/2^nd April 2006 at Queen Mary SC ().
  
• BUSA Team Racing Championships: 4^th/6^th April 2006 at
  SC ()
• BUSA Student Yachting Nationals: 10^th/13^th April 2006 at the Royal Southern YC ()