There were 28 entries for the Western Area Championships held at Mount's Bay SC in Cornwall over the weekend 3rd/4th May. Forcasts for poor weather and strong to gale force southerly winds may have affected entries. On Saturday with the wind blowing 5-6 and forcast to rise to 7 during the afternoon the OOD postponed racing until Sunday scheduing 4 races. The weather on Sunday was a little better, 4-5 with some stronger gusts and a long heavy swell making things very uncomfortable afloat.
_Errol%20Edwards%20photos/2002western3.jpg "2002 Western Area Champions Guy & Joe Wilkins in 39508 'Norbert' - photo © Errol Edwards")
There was an excellent turnout of 59 Mirrors for the Western Area Championship held at Chew Valley Lake SC over the weekend 31st August & 1st September. Conditions were warm and sunny with a generally light, patchy and shifty breeze marking the blue water of the lake surface. The lush greens of the unspoilt Mendip hills formed a breathtaking backdrop to complete a picture postcard scene.
Being both a National Squad and South West Zone Squad qualifier as well as a Tasmania 2003 Worlds travel grants qualifier, the event attracted boats from as far away as Sunderland, Windermere, Penzance and Brightlingsea. The team at Chew Valley really know how to put on a good event and the race management was superb and ashore the boat parking and launching was easy and the clubhouse provided great spectating and good lunches and Saturday evening meal for both competitors and supporters. Although there was no camping on site, the local fruit farm was ideal, with a lovely secluded field with the tents and campervans all around the edge and the kids playing football in the middle and only £2 per pitch per night.
On the 8th and 9th of September force 5 to 6 winds blew down the exe estuary making testing conditions for the 30 competitors who travelled from as far as Cumbria for the weekend. This was the fourth and final selector for the National Squad and also a selector for the South West Zone Squad.
The race officer, Russell Gibbs, set "P" courses for the 5 race series. The high quality of the fleet was show by 4 different race winners. At the end of the first day, Elliot Jago and Ben Arscott shared first position with Steve and Juliet Long. The gusty winds and large swell claimed half the fleet by retirement, turning each race into more of a survival.
A record turnout for a Mirror Class Area Championship with forty Mirrors from 21 Clubs around the country attending. This was the last event in a hard fought season with the younger sailors competing for a place in the National and Regional Youth Squads as well as a last chance to gain ranking points for inclusion in the UK team for the World Championships in Ireland in August 2001. The Sunday results also counted towards the Southwest Travellers Series and for several of the SW region's younger sailors this was their first taste of the excitement of a major championship. The event was hosted by Plym Yacht Club at the impressive new Mount Batten Centre.
Beer SC were pleased to host, for the first time, a Mirror Area Championship. The excellent race organisation, hospitality and sailing conditions were appreciated by all who took part.
Under the experienced Race Officer, Colin Westlake, some very good courses were laid. With an offshore breeze of force 3-4 two back-to-back races were sailed on Saturday with a further two races on Sunday.
Twenty eight entries were received from far and wide proving that interest in Mirror racing is of a high standard.
