Burghfield draws a handsome fleet for the Blaze Season Opener.

By Charlie Matthews

The traditional Blaze Class curtain raiser at Burghfield brought a strong contingent of 20 boats all ready to brush off the cobwebs ready to start an action-packed new season.

On arrival we were greeted with beautiful sunshine and a light Westerly breeze forecast to build through the day. The event brought members in from Pembrokeshire, Warrington & Torquay who all caught up and tried to remember how to rig their boats. Lee Marriott and Mark Cuthbert spending longer than some at this task!

The plan for the day was 2 morning races, lunch ashore, followed by another 2 races and to include a discard. The course used the club’s numbered marks along the length of the lake. A tricky, shifty beat, was further complicated by a couple of islets which competitors had to factor into their tactics.

It was no surprise to see the class led out the blocks in race 1 by local sailor & Blaze stalwart Mike Lyons who over the race was hauled in by the Welsh weapon, Christian Smart, and followed closely by local David Shafto in 3rd.

Race 2 saw a close-run first beat between Christian and Essex sailors Charlie Matthews & Malcolm Hutchings before Malc spotted an extra bit of breeze which gave him a decent lead round the course. The 2nd lap forced a number of the leaders, Malcy, Christian and Mike into tacking to skirt the islet with Charlie deciding to push further left into a persistent left sided shift which gave him a significant lead to the windward and then to the race win. 

It was then in for lunch which was efficiently dispensed by the brilliant Burghfield catering team. It was also the time for those sailors wanting to tinker and tweak for the elevated afternoon breeze.

Race 3 saw a host of sailors take and swap the lead but the stronger wind in the afternoon was proving testing and you could tell it was an early season event with silly mistakes and decisions across the field. Christian took advantage of this to move through the fleet and take his next win ahead of David Shafto in 2nd and Douglas Clow in 3rd.

The final race broke the mould of the usual front runners and involved a great duel between Peter Barlow and Lee Marriott who both continued to swap places throughout until Lee managed to hold out to the left hand side of the final beat and take an inside line to the Windward mark and hold on to the finish.

The final results meant a win for Christian Smart, Lee Marriott taking 2nd and Mike Lyons in 3rd.

Overall, it was a brilliant event - a good test to sharpen up th

e sailors in the class, ready for the season and we all look forward to the East Coast Championships at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club up next!