West Riding Sailing Club, Wakefield, Yorkshire | 2010 FINN NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIPS

2010 FINN NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIPS

A small but content fleet of eight Finns took part in the 2010 Finn Northern Championships at West Riding SC on Saturday 27^th March. A bright breezy day with the wind swinging between west and northwest produced demanding conditions and some good racing. The fleet included three boats from the home club where the seeds of Finn sailing in the North have been sown.

There was plenty of place changing in the first race. John Greenwood’s first lap lead was overturned by Keith Fedi, who came through from 4^th place to lead for a couple of laps before Greenwood regained the initiative to win on the last lap. Soren Vonsild showed good speed after a slow start to improve from 6^th place to 3^rd by the finish, ahead of David Potter in 4^th.

After lunch the wind picked up for the start of the second race and the Finns headed up the first beat into water covered with grinning white caps. Potter and John Mackie led round the first lap but both retired with damage. Greenwood, after a slow first lap took the lead to the end from the steady Fedi with Vonsild again 3^rd, ahead of home clubmate Nick Turley.

The sting had gone from the wind for the final start and it progressively died as the race progressed. This suited Vonsild who trailed Greenwood for the first lap before taking the lead on the second and extending it to the end. With the championship already won, Greenwood retired from the race allowing Paul Brown to follow Vonsild home from Turley and Mike Woodhead.

Overall Greenwood won convincingly from Vonsild, Fedi and Brown