I found this on the Spitfire forum and didn't want to withhold it from you guys :
A small Texel 2004 report :
Originally printed on teh Spitfire forum :
http://www.spitfiresailing.org.uk/messageboard.asp?messageID=1346Spitfires at the Zwitserleven Ronde om Texel 2004
The 27th Ronde om Texel race took place on Saturday the 5th June 2004 and the increasingly popular Texel Dutch Open from the Wednesday to Friday before the big race. 4 Spitfire teams took part in the Texel Dutch Open and 5 in the Ronde om Texel Race.
Unfortunately most of the Spitfires missed the first day of the Texel Dutch Open due to delays in journeys from the UK. Stuart Gummer and Chris Rashley and Chris Sproat and Georgina Burke managed to make the 2nd race (wind force 4 NW) on Wednesday obtaining 10th and 13th positions respectively.
Thursday brought with it some fresh breeze, force 3 NW for the first race. The Spitfires were moved from the first fleet to the second fleet due to some confusion with the Texel rating. James Power and Gillian Power won the first race, followed by Sproat and Burke, however the Texel rating was later corrected and the race discarded. All teams obtained redress. The 2nd race of the day saw the wind drop off and only two teams finish. Gummer and Rashley followed by John Beech and David Harris, 9th and 15th respectively. In the afternoon the official Texel measurement team weighed and measured 3 Spitfires. Later that night the official Texel rating for the Spitfire was calculated at 1.05
On Friday morning the wind picked up to force 5 SW. In the first race Gummer and Rashley were 9th, followed by Power and Power in 11th, Sproat and Burke in 12th. The wind dropped to force 3 for the second race, Gummer and Rashley obtaining another consistent result of 10th place, followed by Sproat and Burke in 12th.
Overall Results (Texel Dutch Open)
Gummer Rashley 9th
Sproat Burke 16th
Beech Harris 17th
An early start Saturday morning, winds consistent at force 5 NNW. Getting out through the surf proved to be the first challenge of the day with Power and Power capsizing on a wave off the beach. Fortunately that wasn’t going to destroy their race and shortly afterwards, with some help from the friendly Dutch spectators, they made it through the surf.
The start was between two large boats. Most boats chose to start on port, owing to the wind direction and position of the first gate. Those who started at the pin end had the advantage of being further towards the first gate, however it was those who started in the middle of the line who were able to get stronger breeze. Gummer and Rashley had a cracking start middle of the line, got some clean air and were well up in the top bunch of boats. Matt Causon and Henry White elected to start at the pin end which initially looked like a good position, but they struggled for clean air as the bigger boats sailed over them. At the first gate it was Gummer and Rashley amongst the top 15 boats followed by Power and Power, Beech and Harris, Sproat and Burke, Causon and White.
After the first gate spinnakers were hoisted as the contestants proceeded around the top part of Texel island towards the VC buoy. Power and Power capsized after their leeward rudder popped up doing 18 knots. This allowed Beech and Harris and Sproat and Burke to pass them.
Gummer and Rashley hit a sand bank whilst double trapezing with the spinnaker up, sheared off one dagger board and split the bottom of the other wide open. Since they had a considerable lead over the rest of the Spitfires, they were able to right the boat and stay ahead.
The east side of the island saw most boats double trapezing with the spinnaker on relatively flat waters. Towards the south of the island many boats tried to sail close to the island and found that they were stopped abruptly as their dagger boards hit the sand.
Once round the bottom of the island the sea built up again, some sailors opting to head out to sea, others hugging the coast looking for a lift along the shore.
The Spitfires dominated the results of the open class, all 5 boats were in the top 10. Gummer and Rashley came 13th overall, which considering their pitch pole and missing dagger board is an excellent result.
Open Class Results (110 competitors)
Gummer Rashley 1st
Beech Harris 4th
Sproat Burke 6th
Power Power 8th
Causon White 10th
Overall Results (575 competitors)
Gummer Rashley 13th
Beech Harris 25th
Sproat Burke 28th
Power Power 43rd
Causon White 59th
--James
Posted By: James Power
