Thirteen boats made the long treck north to Kiel in north Germany for the Kielerwoche regatta. Most of the boats were there preparing for the Worlds in Hayling. The signs were encouraging: Laurie Fitzjohn Sykes and Jonny Frazer were second overall with Sam Carter and Dave Steed third and six of the other GBR winning races too.
The180 strong 420 fleet is divided every day into 4 different groups, each of which races several races during that day. The format means that each sailor may or may not race all the others at some stage. However there are enough good people so that luck evens out and the winner always sails well. (Nick Asher won last year from the 2002 world champion, this years winner has subsequently won the worlds in Hayling). The course is laid just outside the marina entrance so that the spectators can see four 420 races running at any one time
Coach Tom Saunt�s training on Friday afternoon was delayed until 4pm because of strong winds, but a slight lull allowed 8 boats on the water to get the feel of the venue. Saturday was nearly a repeat. With strong winds keeping all the fleets ashore until finally the 420s were allowed afloat in late afternoon.� The wind fell off to 15 knots allowing every one to sail two good races. Callum Macdonald and Haakon Karlsen set the pace with two 1st places with Stuart Bithell and Jonny McGovern taking a 1st and 2nd, and Luke Patience and Adam Wagner and Alison Martin and special guest crew Ian Martin also taking a race each.
Sunday was very different. The wind hardly rose above 7 knots and was very shifty. However it always came back to the same direction so the race officer kept starting races and everyone sailed 3 or 4 races. Consistency was difficult. Laurie and Jonny and Sam and Dave managed to stay in single figures, making ground on the other competitors. Others had a mixture of good results poor results and black flags. The other fleets on the other courses had a long sail to their start, sailed only 2 races and were sent home. The 420s had the best of the day again.
In contrast on Monday the wind was onshore at 10-12 knots. The results were very consistent. Laurie and Jonny scored three first places, though one was removed for not having a boom black band, Alison and Ian scored two first places to add to their two from the previous days, as did Joanne Macdonald and Laurie Marsden. Spaniard Ruiz and Sam and Dave kept up the pressure with steady top 3 placings. Racing seemed to stop unnecessarily early on all courses. That was until soon after packing up the boats a huge squall came down the Fjorde justifying the caution.
The final day was back to strong winds again. Laurie and Sam needed to make a few points on Ruiz, but he sailed well in both his races to take the trophy. Athol King and Tom Mapplebeck, Ben Ainsworh and Tom Heywood and Stuart and Jonny all got going to win a race each. The other classes didn�t sail. It was too windy.
Overall this was a great regatta. The Olympic centre has all facilities including the camping in walking distance to the boats. And being on the course by the marina the 420s have the best sailing of all boats at the Regatta.