Tuesday, April 12, 2011

ELAN 33

Boat: ELAN 33

Builder: Elan Marine (Slovenia)

More: ELAN 33 Specifications

News:

Kestrel Winter Nationals at Stewartby Water Sailing Club


Author: Simon Fay

Seventeen Kestrels visited the traditional Winter Nationals venue to battle for the last remaining trophy of the year. The day dawned bright and a pleasant breeze settled, providing excellent conditions. There are only 2 races scheduled for this event, due to the shortage of daylight and so there is no room for error in either race.

The first start was accompanied by a bit of argy bargy at the favoured end of the line, from which Richard & Mark Hartley got away well having managed to sneak through a narrowing gap between the pin & fleet, whilst Fat Boy & Slim got tail ended and pushed the wrong side of the distance marker. The Hartleys, Dusty Miller & James Jarvey all got cleanly around the 1st mark followed by a bunch containing most of the rest of the fleet. Racing was entertaining with enough breeze to fill spinnakers, and a shifting direction making a good test of the upwind legs. After the 2nd beat Fat Boy had gathered some momentum to join in the scrap for with the 1st 3 boats, positions changing with every leg. Kate Hearsum in trusty MK1 964 leading the following group round the course. By the finish Dusty Miller & John Ellingham had grasped the lead and refused to let go, with Simon Fay & Paul Jarvey driving Fat Boy & Slim into 2nd , James Jarvey & Ian Bray holding 3rd, with Richard & Mark Hartley in 4th spot.

After a lunch break (at least for those who were able to order their lunch whilst still sailing) Race two commenced in what seemed to be slightly fresher conditions. Dusty & John got off to a great start and showed the fleet to the 1st mark. Richard & Mark, together with James & Ian were not far behind. The wind soon dropped off a little, and the race settled down with Dusty Miller maintaining his lead to the finish, James Jarvey holding 2nd, Richard managed to grab 3rd spot after a race long tussle with Simon & Paul. Again Kate Hearsum finished 5th proving that a properly sailed MK1 is still a competitive machine.

Choosing as he did to fly in the face of recent convention Dusty Miller as current National Champion lifted the Winter Nationals trophy. With James Jarvey taking 2nd spot. Your author being 3rd and Richard Hartley 4th.


See also: ELAN 31 for sale