University sailors from all over the UK gathered at Rutland for the BUSA National Match Race Finals at Rutland Water this weekend (26-28 March 2004). Experienced match racers were pitted against others who had never match raced before resulting in fascinating battles as the less experienced were on steep learning curves and picking up the art of match racing fast.
To reach the finals the university teams had to attend one of 2 qualifiers ? both held at Rutland Water. The first teams through were those from Southampton Institute, Exeter, Nottingham and 3 teams from Southampton University (the defending champions) ? the event having been held a few weeks ago in good match racing conditions. The second qualifier had to be postponed due to last weekend?s gales so the first task this weekend was to sort out the second batch of qualifiers. In the light winds on Friday London, Cambridge, Bath and 2 teams from Warwick all went through.
This left the stage set for the final. Following confusion over the rearranged qualifier Durham joined in and Nottingham didn?t arrive. Saturday morning greeted the teams with mirror like conditions and many thoughts drifted towards the day?s rugby internationals. However, a light fickle wind appeared at lunchtime and the race organisers started a 2 group round robin which they managed to complete by early evening. Group B went first, the 5 boat round robin ended in a 5 way unbreakable tie with each team winning 2 and losing 2 races. Group A was clearer. Southampton University 1 (helmed by Andrew Cornah) and Bath University (helmed by newcomer Matthew Greenfield) both were on 3 wins when their battle for group honours commenced. Greenfield won but the race was deemed unfair as the wind shifted to a one tack beat and a re-sail the following morning resulted in Cornah winning. These teams went through to a Gold league along with the team from Southampton Institute (helmed by Mike Henning).
The following morning a better wind was blowing, still light but much steadier. The first task of the day was to sort out Group B and a sudden death tie-break was sailed. This put London University (Mark Lees), Warwick A (Ed Mockridge) and Cambridge (Gemma Farrell) through to the Gold fleet round robin.
The Gold fleet round robin was then sailed with more experienced teams putting their match racing skills to good use. Bath found themselves out manoeuvred more than once but were learning fast. Cambridge picked up several penalties during prestarts. London were on fighting form and Warwick battled hard but the top of the group were Southampton, followed by the Institute and then London and Bath. The top 2 sailed the final and the next 2 sailed the 3/4 place decider. These, first to 2 point finals, were good races but the results remained the same. Southampton had won again ? the victorious team of Andrew Cornah, Ben Field, Matt Radmore, Jo Bailey and Orwin Murray were delighted.
Overall
1. Southampton University;
2. Southampton Institute
3. London University
4. Bath University
5. Cambridge University
6. Warwick University
By Jenny Campbell-James