Navigators & General Mirror Europeans - Day 5

There were deceptively sunny conditions in the boat park on day five of the Navigators & General Mirror European championships at Brixham Yacht Club. On arriving at the racecourse the competitors were greeted by black rain clouds and the first precipitation of the week!

A number of big shifts under the clouds resulted in the first 2 starts being postponed within the final minute. The fleet were too keen in start 3 with a general recall, so it was in the fourth start, under a black flag, that the fleet finally got away for the first race of the day.

The first beat was relatively square with the leaders coming from both sides of the course. Eleanor Keers & Izzy Pugh extended a massive lead to win from Celia Hansell & Jasper Ewart-Smith, whilst a third for Rachel Grayson, with substitute crew Alexander Baird, was enough to win the regatta with a race to spare.

A couple of last-minute left shifts meant AP in the start for race 2 which got away second time with Gemma Keers & Imogen Bellfield crossing the fleet following a brave pin-end start on port. Angus & Fraser Hemmings won the first beat pulling out a huge lead, followed by Esther Bowdler & Scarlett Crago with Gemma and Imogen in third. On the second beat the wind went very light for the leaders, but Esther & Scarlett read the shifts right to overtake the Hemmings and take the race win.

Rachel Grayson & Gemma Francis-Burnett sailed a great series and were deserving winners. While Rachel & Gemma had some spare capacity by winning with a race to spare the positions behind them were closely fought. The Irish fleet brought experience and a sharpness across the Irish Sea which made the UK boats sit up and focus but 2 Irish boats in the top 4 showed that they were on the pace. Tiaman Dickson & Luke Groake Donagh from Lough Rea YC were second overall and Gemma Keers & Imogen Bellfield from Itchenor SC were third and first Juniors.

On accepting their prizes Rachel thanked Brixham Yacht Club for running a good series of races in challenging conditions during both the National and European Championships. She also praised Gemma for continuing to crew until the end of the last race yesterday despite a torn calf muscle - an awesome and brave performance from an 11 year old!

The sponsorship from Navigators & General has been much appreciated in supporting both events and helping to maintain the development of Junior and Youth sailing in UK and Ireland.

A small seclection of photos from day 5 - photos © Gareth Fudge used with permission

All photos taken by Gareth from Day 5 are on www.boatographic.co.uk here http://gdjfudge.zenfolio.com/p851799586 , from where they can be purchased.

Overall results Mirror Europeans 2014

Entries: 34      Races Sailed: 13      Discard: 2

Overall Results also at: http://www.brixhamyachtclub.com/racing/2014/results/mirroreuroos.html