U.K. Cherub Nationals 1991

Lee on Solent

The Cherub fleet went to Lee-On-Solent, which has a long association with the class for its National Championship from August 1st to 4th. The weather was kind throughout the four days, though the general feeling was that more wind would have been welcome for these asymmetric powered machines. The Race Officer, Chris Watts, however , remained patient, and each day postponed until the sea breeze filled in, and thus ensured an absorbing and successful series.

Thursday

The first race started, after a two hour delay, in about 10 knots which tended to increase slightly. First to show were the Cruickshank Brothers, but they were to find that their conventional spinnakers were no match more the bowsprit brigade and they finished in 10th place. In fact the light winds actually allowed those with conventional spinnakers some hope as the deeper runs and reaches could be negotiated in a straight line, but as soon as there was a gust the newer rigs were long gone. Bob Clements and Alan Attlebury won this race with Will Perret and Martyn Clark second, and Graham and Owen Dickenson 3rd, all three in asymmetric equipped Bistros.

Friday

Similar conditions prevailed on Friday, when a long postponement was thoroughly justified as two races sailed back-to back were managed in a respectable breeze that peaked at around 18 knots. Race two was again won by Bob and Alan, as the leaders, Dave Roe and Wendy Barclay, knotted their kite on the last hoist but survived in second place, with Will third. In Race three Dave & Wendy started to show some form with a win, while Will & Martyn remained consistent with a second, their rather smaller asymmetric proving fast in the tight reaches in particular.

Saturday

On Saturday the Solent suddenly came alive with the first day of Cowes week. However the wind failed to reach even the modest proportins of the previous days, which certainly did not disappoint Mike and Kay Brown in their new Bistro, or Claire Butler and Simon Roberts in Simon's new design, the Dog. Bob and Will, the later suffering from the small kite, faded from the picture. The order in Race 4 was Dave, Claire, Mike Brown, and in Race 5 Dave, Mike, and then Guy Lewington in Flat Stanley.

Sunday

The Cowes fleets - especially the Sigmas - were in very close attendance for the sixth race on Sunday, but everyone behaved themselves and there were no incidents. There were some close encounters as the Cherubs converged on the gate set across the beats and runs, weaving with 3 sails through the massed ranks of Sigmas.
The Browns won the morning race from Dave, with Claire third. For the final race in a building and backing breeze, Dave and Wendy sewed up the title with a 4th win while Claire and mike swapped places behind. Will took 4th, enabling him to pip the early leader, Bob, for third overall with newcomers Mike & Kay Brown taking an impressive second overall on results that improved throughout the series.

Will Perret (first printed Yachts and Yachting)

1	Dave Roe	Wendy Barclay	2637	Italian Bistro	Lee on Solent S.C.	23	2	0.75	0.75	0.75	2	0.75	5
2	Mike Brown	Kay Brown	2643	Italian Bistro		5	6	9	3	2	0.75	3	13.75
3	Will Perret	Martin Clark	2646	Italian Bistro	Lee on Solent S.C.	2	3	2	15	10	5	4	16
4	Bob Clements	Alan Webster	2642	Italian Bistro	Queen Mary S.C.	0.75	0.75	3	7	9	12	7	18.5
5	Graham	Owen Dickenson	2647	Italian Bistro	Llangorse S.C.	3	4	4	14	7	4	5	20
6	Clare Butler	Simon Roberts	2645	Dog	Lee on Solent S.C.	6	21	23	2	8	3	2	21
7	Guy Lewington	Alex Windsor	2705	Mod. Murray	Frensham Pond S.C.	4	5	5	11	3	6	6	23
8	Steve Fisher	Darren Fisher	2628	Robinson 4		8	7	7	4	6	8	8	32
9	David Babcock	Ben Babcock	2550	DBS		7	9	6	8	4	13	10	34
10	Brian Cruickshank	Peter Cruickshank	2634	Fartpants		9	11	12	5	5	11	13	41
11	Danny Johnson	Jim Champ	2641	Italian Bistro	Datchet S.C.	12	8	8	13	11	16	12	51
12	Richard Butler	Joe Barker	2601	Paterson 2		10	12	13	9	13	10	11	52
13	John Lobb	Martin Harrison	2639	Deeley 6	Royal Victoria Y.C.	14	13	21	10	14	7	9	53
14	Andrew Horton	Kate Horton	2644	Bistro		11	10	11	12	12	9	23	53
15	Nick Spens	Claire Spens	2547	Forman 8		14	23	14	6	15	17	14	63
16	Adrian Scott	Sandy Colclough	722			15	15	15	18	17	19	21	80
17	Tom Low	Chris Tolstrom	2522	Easter Beagle	Tamesis S.C.	23	21	23	21	16	14	15	87
18	Alex Corey	Robin Russell	25xx			21	21	23	16	21	15	16	89
19	Nick Mason	Simon Baker	2567	Murray	Emsworth Slipper SC	21	14	10	23	23	23	23	91
20	Keith Lewry	Graeme Lowe	2415			21	21	21	17	23	18	17	94