Llandegfedd Inland Championships 2010
The Asymmetric Canoe fleet started it's first event of 2010 at Llandegfedd S.C. to compete for the Cooke and Arkwright sponsored Open Meeting. 
Steve Clarke's 'Jet' attracting considerable interest from other visiting classes was finally launched under a shower of Champagne. Steve's various prototype controls and systems brought out many comments and questions and all appreciated the huge effort that had gone into this production. Unfortunately, as with a lot of prototype work 'Jet'suffered rudder failure and had to withdraw from the event though Steve had enough time on the water to appreciate a responsive performance at some 15kgs lighter than the standard AC. A light but developing southerly breeze got the fleet off to the first of eight races over the weekend. Charlie Chandler demonstrated excellent tactical and boat handling skills that gave him four bullets for Saturday.Dave Timpson, Maurice Clarke and Steve Bowen lead at various stages of racing but Charlie was on a mission! Certainly, the freshening southerly that produced unstable pressure and direction forced crews to work hard and left most in a fairly tired state on Saturday night. Sunday reproduced a similar wind pattern that gradually veered more westerly with considerable gusts that made some windward mark approaches challenging tactically and then with very full on kite legs off the end of the seat. 
Dave and Steve Bowen extracted a first apiece from Charlie's dominence but this had little impact on a thoroughly well deserved overall victory by Mr. Chandler---incidentally sailing the oldest AC, 'Outlaw' built by Rob Michael in 1998 ! Says a lot for current construction methods and the need to look after and maintain your investment. 
Though the weekend resulted in a lot of weary limbs, muscles and bruises the end result was a great success and all who attended would have benefited enormously for further 2010 racing. Results: 1st Charlie Chandler Tewekesbury SC 2nd Dave Timpson Llandegfedd SC 3rd Steve Bowen Llandegfedd SC 4th Maurice Clarke Corus SC 5th Bob Clements Oxford SC Steve Bowen |
th freedom to vary, foils, rig sails, fittings and deck layout within specified limits. The main rig is limited to 10 square metres but the asymmetric spinnaker size is unlimited. Most have setled on 23 square metres as being the maximum practical size.
