Klaus Diederichs And Julia Bailey Victorious At South Coast Championship
The International Dragon fleet's weeklong festival of sailing in Weymouth got off to a great, if slightly delayed, start today with the South Coast Championship, supported by Aberdeen Asset Management. Originally scheduled to be sailed over two days, strong winds on Sunday had forced the Race Committee to keep the boats in harbor. Fortunately today the weather gods were smiling and the 37 strong fleet enjoyed three tightly fought races in shifty westerly winds of 15-20 knots.
Overall Klaus Diederichs, crewed by Andy Beadsworth and Jamie Lea, was top performer of the regatta with a neat 1, 3, 2 score line which gave them a 9 point overall lead and the South Coast Championship Trophy. Taking second place overall and claiming the Corinthian Trophy for amateur teams was Julia Bailey, crewed by Graham Bailey, Will Heritage and Keith Tippell, and the podium was completed by Rob Campbell, sailing with Justin and Tom Waples, who also took second place in the Corinthian division.
The opening race was to be a good indicator of things to come as Klaus Diederichs put their mark on the fleet leading Julia Bailey across the line with Gavia Wilkinson-Cox, crewed by Jean Sebastien Ponce and Vicente Pinheiro De Melo third and the Australian team of Marcus Blackmore, Terry Wetton and Don Cowie fourth.
Race two initially looked to be more of the same until the race committee responded to a right shift on the first run by moving the second weather mark correspondingly right. Unfortunately, just as the boats came round the leeward gate and the time window for further mark changes closed, the sea breeze kicked taking the wind hard left and leaving the second beat completely one sided. A number of boats lost out massively with some even having to crack off for the mark. Whilst others struggled to regain ground, Germany's Marcus Brennecke, crewed by Marc Pickel and Thomas Auracher, went on to win the race in style from Rob Campbell with Klaus Diederichs third, Julia Bailey fourth and David Atkinson, crewed by Ian Turnbull and John Outhwaite fifth.
With the sea breeze now firmly established the race committee set up for the third and final race which was to be a four beat marathon testing the sailors stamina as much as their sailing skills. After a somewhat lackluster performance in the opening two races of the event where he had finished 25 and 28, reigning European Champion Jose Matoso and his team of Gustavo Lima and Frederico Melo, finally found some form and led the fleet from the first mark to the finish. Behind him the battle for the remaining top five places was fierce with Klaus Diederichs eventually claiming second from Poul Richard Hoj-Jensen, crewed by Hamish McKay and Andrew Norden, with Gavia Wilkinson-Cox fourth and Grant Gordon, sailing with Ruaridh Scott and Joost Houweling, fifth.
At the prize giving there were a number of fun awards presented alongside the main trophies including awards for the top performance by a helm under 30 which went to Jono Brown, for the furthest travelled crew which was presented by Petticrows and won by Bocci Aoyama and his team from Japan, plus some special draw prizes present by event sponsor Zhik whose happy recipients went home with new shoes, sailing smocks and salopettes.
With the South Coast Championship completed the fleet now moves into the Edinburgh Cup, for the open British Championship, which will feature up to six races over the next four days. Weymouth will also play host to the 2013 Gazprom International Dragon World Championship from 5-13 September, and so the fleet will grow to 39 teams for the Edinburgh Cup as extra boats take advantage of this opportunity to not only challenge for the prestigious Edinburgh Cup, but also to train on the World Championship race area. Among those joining the fleet for the Edinburgh Cup are defending champion Simon Brien from Northern Ireland and reigning Dragon World Champion Lawrie Smith.
Overall Top Five
1 Klaus Diederichs, GBR758, Fever - 1,3,2 = 6pts
2 Julia Bailey, GBR720, Aimee - 2,4,9 = 15pts
3 Rob Campbell, GBR766, Quicksilver - 5,2,12 = 20pts
4 Marcus Blackmore, AUS227, Hooligan - 4,11,6 = 21pts
5 Chris Hunt, GBR768, Dark and Stormy - 7,7,8 = 22pts
FULL RESULTS
PHOTOS
You can keep up with all the news and results via the 2013 Dragon Edinburgh Cup Website, at the British Dragon Association Facebook page and through the Edinburgh Cup Live Tracking. For further information about the event please contact:
Fiona Brown, BDA Press Officer
fiona.brown@fionabrown.com / +44 7711 718470
For further information about the International Dragon please visit www.intdragon.net and www.britishdragons.org.
Notes For Editors
About The International Dragon
The Dragon is one of the most beautiful and prestigious keelboat classes in the world and with more than 1400 boats racing in at least 26 countries around the globe it is also one of the largest. Designed in 1929 the Dragon quickly became a leading international class and remains a world leader.
Although an historic class the boats now being built are constructed using the very latest high technology materials and methods and around 50 new boats are launched each year. Careful class rule management has helped to ensure that a well maintained classic boat can still race competitively against its modern counterpart and all major championships include special trophies for classic Dragons. For further information about the International Dragon please visit www.intdragon.net and www.britishdragons.org.
About Aberdeen Asset Manangement
Aberdeen - simply asset management
Aberdeen is an independent asset management company. Formed out of a management buy-out in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1983, it is now a FTSE 100 company operating on-the-ground in over 23 countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Defined by a pure focus on asset management, including equities, fixed income, property and multi-asset portfolios, Aberdeen's investment solutions are driven by commitment to straightforward, transparent investment approaches that stress intensive, first-hand research and a long-term view.
As at 31 March 2013, the company manages assets of £212 billion ($322 billion/€251 billion) on behalf of institutional and private investors.
Aberdeen participates in sponsorships where it can get actively involved and make a difference to an event, individual or team. Aberdeen's current sport sponsorship portfolio includes properties across golf, sailing, rugby, hockey and rowing. The group is also involved with a number of cultural and arts sponsorships.
To find out more about Aberdeen's capabilities visit: www.aberdeen-asset.com
To find out more about Aberdeen's sponsorships visit: www.aberdeen-asset.com/aam.nsf/AboutUs/sponsorship
About Weymouth And Portland National Sailing Academy
The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) is a world class sailing venue and effectively promotes the sport of sailing to all levels of competence and ability, through courses, training and events, whilst supporting and working closely with the local community. The WPNSA was the venue for the sailing competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and Weymouth and Portland has been recognised as having some of the best boating waters on the planet. The Academy currently runs a number of high profile regattas throughout the year and boasts fantastic conference and event facilities. The WPNSA is committed to conserving the local environment winning the 2008 Sport Industry Award for Environmental Concern in Sport as well as being shortlisted for the 2010 Sport Industry Award for 'Sport Venue of the Year' and 2011 Sport Industry Award for Sport Participation Event of the Year.
WPNSA is the only sailing venue in the world to have achieved the International Standard for sustainable event management, ISO 20121 and won the PBO Green award in 2011 and the Boating Business Environmental Award in 2012.
www.wpnsa.org.uk
25/6/2013 07:58
