J24 Northern Championships 2005

Report by Ben Williamson

The UK J24 circuit for 2005 commenced over the weekend 16-17 April with the Northern Championships held in Bridlington under the flag of the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club.

Five windward / leeward races were sailed in 8-10 knots of breeze over the weekend. Race 1 began with the wind shifting left just before the start. Several boats failed to lay the pin end of the line and were forced to tack across to the unfavourable right hand side of the course. Stouche (S Jardine) and Jelignite (P Waine) got away cleanly and to the left, locking into the shift and taking a considerable lead. With Jelignite close on their heels, Stouche held on for the first win.

Rumble (B Williamson) made best start in race 2 to get into a 5 length lead at the windward mark, Stouche was second and Jelignite followed in third. A comedy of errors followed as Justrite pushed Mojo, RSJ and themselves outside the finish line all having to drop their kites and beat back round to finish correctly.

Stouche took race 3 with RSJ (T Edwards) making big gains down the left hand side of the final run to take second. Rumble got off to a good start by the committee boat to take race 4, with a very quick and improving Mojo (P Wheldon) taking a well deserved second place.

The final race saw Rumble leading all the way round to the final windward mark with Stouche in close pursuit. Stouche gybed first whilst Rumble delayed looking for a higher angle into the finish. However, Stouche found slightly better breeze to the left and edged ahead to take the final race and the event. Stuart Jardine adding the Northern Area title to his long list of successes.