UK Nationals Day One
Eleven Tornado's have turned out for the annual UK national championships, some old faces have also returned which include NACRA dealer Grant Piggot who has borrowed a boat for the weekend. Two Australian teams also make the journey from the European championships up to the UK to compete for the title.
This year's National championships are part of Reg Fest, a regatta celebrating all boats sailed and built by Reg White. The event is also being supported by two Tornado builders, the White family and Graham Eeles.
We knew day one was going to be breezy and the weather man delivered with gusts hitting 35 knots towards the end of racing.
Race One started and the breeze was building throughout the race, there was only one boat over the line but they returned. The fleet quickly made their way up the course towards the windward mark with Ryan Duffield and Thilo Keller taking an early lead on their Windrush Tornado. Just behind them were Grant Piggot and Robby Jon-Garka followed by Kyle Stoneham and Lewis Crawford.
It was close at the top mark with the majority of boats cross tacking each other and rounding the mark together. The racing was steady on the downwind leg but Ryan Duffield increased his lead ahead of Grant Piggot.
Over the laps the fleet spread out with some battles between teams on every tack and gybe, good close racing for the competitors.
There were a few close calls for some sailors with heavy gusts coming across the race course.
The inside of the course seemed to pay slightly throughout the race with smaller waves and a steady breeze.
Ryan Duffield returned to the fleet after last year's Forts Race victory holding onto his lead to take victory - he is also currently UK Hurricane champion. Can he hold onto the lead to take the Tornado prize as well?
Ryan was on fire today, could it be his nice new set of shiny Ullman One Design Sails?
Race two was started but abandoned before the teams made the windward mark due to heavy weather conditions coming in.
Peter Gibb commented on today's racing saying "Conditions were absolutely ideal at the start of today's first race for the Tornado class at around 15-18 knots. Everyone was sailing fast and twin trapezing with plenty of speed downwind also. The racing was very enjoyable but the water was too cold (not as warm as Darwin, Australia)."
Nicky Davy was out as usual competing with Barry Arnison. Nicky is no ordinary Tornado crew, she is completely blind and sails just from the feel of the boat. It's fantastic to see her enjoying the boat and the close racing. She would challenge any lady to come and have a go on a Tornado.
