420 Winter Open
Carsington S C
19-20 February 2005
James Goss and Elliott Parsons won the inaugural 420 Winter Open from Tom Mallindine and James Clark at Carsington Reservoir on 19-20 February. Twenty boats travelled to the Peak District for the weekend despite a forecast of very cold weather. They were rewarded with a good weekend of sailing in bright sunshine and strong wind. On Saturday the wind was northwesterly force 3-5 and 3 hard races were completed. On Sunday the wind had moved to the north. The competitors were greeted with 23 knots and ice forming in the rescue boats. After a short postponement Race Officer Adrian Stoggall and his team of helpers and safety crews were able to start 2 races. Not all the boats finished but overall the top boats sailed extremely well to get their names in the prize list. Many thanks to Carsington for their efforts.
With a 12.00 start on Saturday all the boats were ready for the race officer to get the first start away on time. Goss and Parsons took a middle route to the first mark and arrived comfortably in first place ahead of Mallindine and Clark. Goss and Parsons stayed ahead to the finish but Mallindine and Clark were unable hold off Niki and Chris Birrell and James and Dan Ellis who were just ahead of Ally Martin And Millie Parsons for second and third places and fourth places. In race 2 a late start by Nathan Batchelor and Joe Crabb and a hitch to the left saw them take a big shift and lead at the first mark from Mallindine and Clark.� Batchelor and Crabb looked like holding on to their lead until a lay line error at the windward mark caused them to capsize letting in Mallindine and Clark for a win and Robin Stewart and Matthew Forrester into second place.
Race 3, and again a big port lift on the first beat. Goss and Parsons led at the first mark ahead of guest sailor Callum Macdonald sailing with Matt Day. As the wind became more shifty, Mallindine and Clark moved up to second with Martin and Parsons crossing for third. But a major shift tacked them and this let through Goss and Parsons again and Claire Walsh and Clare Best.
Sunday was definitely not a day for the faint hearted. In race 4 Fynn Sterritt and Matt Day and Goss and Parsons had a real fight for the win. Sterritt and Day looked to have it until the last run when a broach let Goss and Parsons through. Race 5 was a big win for Sterritt and Day who cruised around well ahead of Goss and Parsons. Mallindine and Clark gained their second third place of the day.
Alice Brotchie and Lesley Bannister managed to finish all the races finishing the last one with a eighth but were just unable to overhaul Ally Martin and Millie Parsons as top girls.
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