SNIPES AT BLUE CIRCLE

Twenty Snipe crews gathered for the first event in the UK Snipe circuit at
Blue Circle Sailing Club on 10/11 May.

Winds ranged from 15 to 25mph and some gusts were ferocious causing many
capsizes.  In fact sailing had to be abandoned on Sunday as the wind
increased to well over the SCIRA limit.

In the first race, national champions Peter Wolstenholme and Alan Williams
worked their way to the front and had a comfortable lead but were unlucky
to bend their aluminium tiller extension and were forced to retire.

This left a dog fight for fist and second between Maldon's Iain and Phil
Marshall and Ricky Sadzik, who had 1983 Open champion David Jones as crew. 
Jones's experience and physique was ideal for the tricky conditions and
they powered their way to a maiden Open event victory for Sadzik.

Marshall was second and the Antonelli's from Budworth SC took third after
both Richard/Nicky Lambert and Patrick Biddulph/Nick Lett surrendered to
the force of the wind and capsized.

In the second race Wolstenholme, sailing with a broom handle inserted
inside his tiller extension, powered away early on to win comfortably.  The
Lambert's again squandered a good position succumbing at the gybe mark. 
This left Biddulph with a clear cushion to defend in second and Antonelli
was able to fend off Marshall to claim another third.

Seasoned stalwarts of the fleet Brian Gregory and John White negotiated the
triangular courses with great skill, finishing both races.  Keith Butler
was consistent in his hastily reassembled Devoti and showed remarkable all
round speed, sailing with Lightning 365 specialist Dennis Surridge.

Sunday's blow out spoilt an otherwise enjoyable event - which was graced on
Saturday night by magnificent Thai cuisine served up by the Black Bull pub
and restaurant.

With five different clubs represented in the top six, it is clear that each
fleet has highly capable crews, making for competitive sailing all over the
the UK.

The talented 20 year old Sadzik, who has benefited from experiences at
Snipe Junior European and World Championships has finally fulfilled the
potential he so often shown and was a very popular winner of his first Open
event.

Report by Richard Lambert



POS	NO	    HELM/ CREW	                  CLUB	            R1     R2    PTS	
1	24152	    Ricky Sadzik/ David Jones	    Blue Circle SC	     0.75	5      5.75	
2	20323	    Mark/ Sue Antonelli	           Budworth SC	     3 	3	6	
3	20558	    Iain/ Phil Marshall(J)	           Maldon YC	            2	       4	6	
4	20641	    Brian Gregory/ Henryk Sadzik	    Erith YC	            5	       6      11	
5	27329	    John White/ George Mees		    Maldon YC	            6	       8	14	
6	26671	    Peter Wolstenholme/ Alan Williams BewlValley SC         RTD      0.75   14.75	
7	29163	    Keith Butler/ Denis Surridge      Rutland SC            4        RTD    15	
8	28385	    Patrick Biddulph/ Nick Lett(J)    Highcliffe SC	     RTD   14         16	
9	20557	    Liz Crouch/ Luke Tharp(J)         Blue Circle SC        RTD     7	21	
10 =	27871	   Jonathan Simpson/ Ian Sinclair	   Maldon YC	            RTD   RTD      25	
10 =	28451	   Richard/ Nicky Lambert	          Blue Circle SC         RTD  RTD       25	
12 	10070	   Graham Campbell/ Jerry Desmond	   Erith YC               RTD  DNC      34	
12 =	19328	   Alan/ Janet Hoy(J)	          Maldon YC	            RTD  DNC       34	
12 =	23626     Anthony Paine(J)/ Tom Sherkington(J) Broadstairs SC      RTD  DNC      34	
15 =	19893	   Dave Handley/ Jan Knox	          Broadstairs SC         DNC DNC       40	
15 =	22471	   Peter Wibroe/ Paul Fairman        Blue Circle SC          DNC DNC       40	
15 =	23003	   Ian Varney/ Paul Neal	          Maldon YC	             DNC  DNC      40	
15 =	23980	   Henryk Sadzik/ Jacub Sadzik(J)     Blue Circle	      DNC  DNC      40	
15 =	26090	   Robin Desmond(J)/ Steve Scott(J)   Erith YC	             DNC  DNC     40	
15 =	28639	   Nick Westbrook/ George Bailey	   Blue Circle SC          DNC  DNC    40	

Boat Specifications
                  Hull                  Mast                Sails
Sadzik        Skipper            Sidewinder       Sobstad SD
Antonelli     Skipper            Proctor            Ullman UK
Marshall     Skipper            Sidewinder       Hyde UK
Gregory      Skipper            Proctor            Hood Esp
White         ITSA Marine    Holt-Allen        Hood Esp
Wolstenholme  McLaughlin    Sidewinder    North Arg
Butler        Devoti               Holt-Allen         Hood Esp
Biddulph    Persson             Sidewinder       Hood Esp
Crouch      Skipper             Sidewinder       Hood Esp
Simpson    ITSA Marine     Holt-Allen        Sobstad SD
Lambert    Persson              Proctor            Sobstad SD
Campbell  Home Construction  Proctor       Hood Esp
Hoy          Skipper              Skipper            Hood Esp
Paine        Martin Skipper   Holt-Allen        Hood Esp