Nick Cherry and his Southampton University team battled against not only strong competition but also strong winds to become BUSA RYA Match Racing Champions for 2007 at Queen Mary Reservoir last weekend (17-18 March).
With a weekend of wild winds forecasted, the race committee where keen to get as many flights in as possible on Saturday, eventually managing 10 flights, with all teams racing at least four matches. The overnight leader was Cherry (Southampton) with six wins and no losses. He was closely followed by Robbie Allam (Cardiff) with 4 wins and 1 loss, Jon Pinner with 4 ½ wins and 1 loss (having been docked ½ a point for damage) and Stephen Powell (Exeter 1) with 5 wins and 2 losses.
As the teams rigged the boats and prepared to go afloat on Sunday, the committee boat was already on the water measuring gusts of over 30 knots! Even with reefed sails the two teams that attempted to sail struggled in the building breeze and racing was postponed and all crews sent ashore.
After 3 hours of waiting the wind still continued to build and racing was abandoned for the day. As a full round robin was not completed the results where taken from the percentage of wins.
Cherry and Allam have been invited to attend the RYA National Match Racing Finals at Weymouth on the 12-14 October 2007.
The next major BUSA event is the BUSA Student Yachting Nationals from 2-5 April at the Royal Southern Yacht Club.
Will Southampton win another title, or will Southampton Solent retain their title? Watch this space!
Results below.