U.K. Cherub Nationals 1972

Teignmouth SC

Gordon Williams and Alec Hodgshon from the Royal Victoria YC, sailing their modified Forman 4c, became Cherub National Champions and winners of the Simpson Cup at Teignmouth from a fleet of forty boats.
The first race was held in the estuary due to the fact that the prevailing wind over the weekend had built up a heavy swell over the bar, making sailing to and from the course dangerous. Tickityboo made a good start and, reading the windshifts correctly, arrived at the windward mark first, a position she held throughout the race despite being challenged strongly at one point by Tony Hows in Coarctation.
Wednesday's first race was sailed at sea in a brisk force 5 and was won by Lollipop (which was travelling at quite a lick!) sailed by Brian Vincent and Frances Smith from Harwich. Next home were James Bond and Marcus Moore in Aotearoa. Coarctation and Tickityboo had capsized while in second and third places and eventually finished 20th and 9th. These results were to have a considerable effect on final placings.
After the AGM the third race was sailed in the evening, the wind having dropped and left a nasty swell. Coarctation rounded the windward mark slightly ahead of Tickityboo who took the lead on the ensuing run and sailed away to win by a handsome margin from Coarctation and Lollipop.
Two races were scheduled for Thursday and the morning race was sailed in a relatively steady force two. Coarctation again arrived at the windward mark first but this time made no mistake and sailed on to win with ease. Tickityboo rounded 5th and fought hard to finish ahead of Chris Forman and Danny Stewart in Jamstrangler, who had been sailing consistently all week.
Thursday afternoon's race was abandoned on the second leg, much to the chagrin of Bill Cooke, when the wind finally expired. Friday's race was out of the question due to sea conditions over the bar.
Thus points were calculated on the results of the four races sailed.
Overall Placings

1	Gordon Williams	Tickityboo	Forman 4c	R.V.Y.C.
2.	Brian Vincent	Lollipop	Jennifer Julian	H.T.S.C.
3.	Chris Forman	Jamstrangler	Forman 4	P.S.C.
4.	Tony Hows	Coarctation,	Caisley/Steele 3	Q.M.S.C.

Tickityboo sported a fully battened Seahorse main on a Holt mast with Anderson jib and Spinnaker. Lollipop was powered by a set of fully battened Dolphin Sails (of course) on a Proctor Mast. Jamstrangler used a loose-footed Anderson main with the addition of a Pederson chute from down under and a 17/8" Needlespar. Coarctation, the only CSIII at the Champs, had a full set of Seahorse sails on a Holt mast.

Roger Paddy