Beaver Winter Handicap 9 December 2000

The 2nd Winter D15 Catamaran event took place at Beaver S.C near Doncaster on Saturday 9th December, with a turnout of a dozen boats and visitors from Rutland and Grafham, braving the elements to enjoy 2 exciting races in blustery force 5 winds.

A figure of 8 course was set, with a short reach after the windward mark, and Steve Hanby was first to round, but initially forgot about the reach and bore off too early. Quickly realising his mistake with no-one following, he had to harden up to lay the 2nd mark and lost 2 places in the process. Newcomer Elliott Gill narrowly avoided capsizing after coming in on port, then having to quickly avoid several starboard tackers already laying the mark. So, after the initial chaos, it was George Carter who came through to lead, which he held to the finish. Behind him, Hanby finally got his act together again, and re-took John Postlethwaite to earn 2nd place.

After some sustenance and a change of course, the second race got away in similar conditions, and once again George Carter emerged at the front with the strong winds much to his liking. Behind him, Postlethwaite was seeking revenge on Hanby, and two laps from the end came through to take 2nd place from him. Behind these three, Paul Smith was sailing a comfortable 4th, but Gill was now challenging die-hard Bob Carter for 5th, and eventually pulled away from him, proving he is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with for next season.

So honours went to George Carter on the day, and the fleet now look forward to sailing round 3 at Rutland in January 2001.

Paul Smith.