Over the weekend of 26-27 June 2004 CCSC was host to the Contender Travellers circuit and attracted a fleet of 26 boats, including seven from CCSC. Conditions over the weekend where
ideal with winds 20knots plus and even brilliant sunshine on the Sunday. To top it all Barry Grant and his race team put on some excellent racing so it was smiles all round. I have received many compliments from within the travelling fleet so a big thanks to all those who helped over the weekend.
To make racing more interesting for all on the open circuit the Contenders run three sub fleets within the main competition and congratulation go to CCSC sailor Paul Horlock in GBR 635 for winning the Bronze fleet. Overall results for the event are posted on the CCSC Webb site.
With the excitement of the home open meeting behind us, four CCSC Contenders (GBR 634, 635, 636 & 700) are now preparing to make the big trip south to the 2004 World Championships hosted
by Fraglia della Vela at the northern tip of Lake Garda, Italy between 31 July & 6 August. With upward of 40 British Contenders set to make the trip southward and with pre –registered entries already topping 150, including competitors from Australia and the USA as well as seven different
European countries, this promises to be a truly international World Championship.
The UK fleet is currently going from strength to strength and there are several British competitors who have a good chance of glory. These include Current UK National and past World Champion Stuart Jones and 2003 National Champion Neil Wilson, who has been training hard north of the border. Also keen to improve on two consecutive second places at the World Championships in Melbourne and the UK will be Tim Holden (Winner of the CCSC Open).
Defending Champion Andrea Bonezzi will be going flat out to keeping the crown for Italy but with the last few Championships all being settled on the last day there promises to be some good battles in store.
Progress of the Championships can be followed on www.fragliavelariva.com/public_new/Calendar.asp.
For more information on the UK Contender scene go to www.sailingsource.com/contender/gbr/ .
See you on the water
Nick Grace
GBR 700