Less than a week to go

Spring is well and truly upon us so start the season at the Shustoke Gauntlet

Created in 1999, the Shustoke Gauntlet was the focal sailing event at the conclusion of the NEC Boat Leisure & Life Show.  Shustoke, along with a number of other Midlands clubs, used the week long show to attract new people to sailing by offering sail training and to encourage the race fraternity to come and challenge their resident competitors – hence 'the Gauntlet' was thrown down.   The event has been set in the Shustoke calendar ever since.  At about 100 acres the club rules allow the fastest boat to be the Merlin Rocket and the entry limit for the event is 60 boats.

Specific to the Shustoke Gauntlet amongst other winter events is the focus on the non-trapeze dinghy, enabling the event to be raced in all wind directions and conditions.  Entry is restricted between the Mirror at 1385 and the Merlin Rocket at 990 - one of the enduring and dominant racing fleets of the Midland lakes and reservoirs.  Trapezes are not permitted though entry to trapeze boats is not refused (such as the 420) with the restriction that they sail without it.

The 2014 edition was won by Stuart Hydon in his Solo with GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series stalwart Craig Williamson in second and the Phantom of Adriam Padro in third.

10/3/2015 09:50