2008 Inland Championship
Full Results	Hosted by Bassenthwaite Sailing Club, 14th/15th June	More pics from Janice Bottomley

Report by Barry Moss 23008

Saturday
Hot sun and a breezy Force 2/4 greeted 51 Enterprise dinghies as they launched from the shelter of the lee shore into the vast expanse of Bassenthwaite Lake. Within 200 yards the strength of wind and the vagaries of the swirling gusts were evident as two boats capsized on the way to the start line.

Race 1 the fleet got away first time with a slight port bias on the line and defending champion Nick Craig crewed by Toby Lewis stamped their authority over the fleet by leading at the windward mark. Second round were former champions Tim Sadler and Richard Sault followed by Tony Woods and young son Sam. The first reach saw all boats planing to the Gybe mark where Woods/Woods capsized letting through rising Midland stars Richard Adams and Martin Weatherspoon. Craig/Lewis were not challenged and finished ahead of Sadler Sault and Adams/Weatherspoon.

Race 2 provided the same exhilarating conditions but a new face at the front with Veteran Ed Pilling crewed by Dave Bousted  leading  round from Craig/Lewis and Under 21 Champion Andy Ritchie crewed by Rachel Jackson. Third round was another Veteran Graham Kirkup benefiting from the expert crewing of Katie Dolling. As Ritchie/Jackson dropped back to 8^th and Kirkup dropped back to 7^th, Sadler/Sault and Adams/Weatherspoon moved up to 2^nd and 3^rd behind winners Craig/Lewis.

Race 3 started back to back after Race 2 and Woods/Woods lead round after starting at the pin end and playing the shifts on the left hand side. Craig/Lewis had a collision on the start line but recovered well to round second. Adams/Weatherspoon rounded 5^th but lost out after a leeward mark incident and dropped back to 18^th.  Craig/Lewis passed Woods/Woods on the second reach to win his third race and Sadler/Sault got through at the last leeward mark to claim second again.

 Sunday morning and the fleet were kept waiting an hour for the wind to fill in. Race 4 started and Ges Brown crewed by Craig Wheatley held a good lead at the windward mark with Adams/Weatherspoon second and Craig/Lewis third. Nick Jackson crewed by Katherine Bradley passed Adams/Weatherspoon on the penultimate beat and Craig/Lewis passed them on the last beat. Brown/Wheatley held on to a commanding lead to win from Craig/Lewis and Jackson/Bradley.

A reluctant fleet went out for the start of the final Race 5 with very little breeze but after several postponements the fleet got away in a Force 2. Adams/Weatherspoon starting at the non favoured committee boat end tacked onto port and headed out into clear air as the fleet struggled at a crowded port end. Craig/Lewis and Brown/Wheatley headed for an early bath having been black flagged. Adams/Weatherspoon were first round the windward mark from Woods/Woods and local boat Robin Dawson and Ruth Critchley in third. Woods/Woods passed Adams/Weatherspoon on a reach during the first lap and Russell Short crewed by Kate Fry moved up to second. Adams/Weatherspoon then regained second spot and Dawson Critchley regained third at the finish. Nick Craig regained his National Inland Championship leaving the fleet asking who can prevent him winning the National Championship on the sea at Tenby in August.

 
Nick Craig & Toby Lewis being presented national championship trophy by Elaine Hunt