Tag: Barracuda Bay

Zippy Zero goes rogue at the Nationals

Hello folks,

Guess what?

I had a whopping good time at the Nationals in Brixham last week. It was the ultimate D-Zero heavy weather event, with winds clocked as gusting over 40 knots on the second day.

The Owners planned to do some racing against eachother, but we boats knew that it was really the 2022 International D-Zero Freestyle Championships, with special awards for the fastest capsize, deepest nosedive, highest jump and wettest spraychute. We had even hired photographer Georgie Altham as our judge and she produced some excellent photos of our athletic efforts.

The first day saw the race team put on two races on a huge quadrilateral course. Most of us boats played nicely at first, although the wind was already over 20 knots in the first race. Big Niel Ritchie took an early swim on the downwind leg, chasing leader Nick Craig. His capsize scored too low in points, so he sped past us whilst we were in 5th place, to try some other tricks.

Poster Boy Tom Southwell had his boat too tightly under control to do any dump moves, which gave him a second place in the Owner’s Race, but null points on the whacky freestyle scoreboard.

My Owner failed to release my kicker on the final reach, so I put in a boom- end-wave-drag, which, with a nice Owner archback, can score quite highly, especially if the Owner can then be ejected into the water on the cockpit side, allowing plenty of time for a decent turtle. I did this full trick, opting for some extra points by retracting my daggerboard for a streamline look. Her Ownership spoilt the finish by hauling out over my transom like a drunken seal and kneeling over my near-empty dagger slot, shouting “hello” down it. Null points.

The day’s capsize category was won by Billy McCarlie, who scored a 15th and 9th in the Human Race and a gold medal in the aforementioned archback capsize, with extra points awarded for the long drawn out sequence and terrific facial expressions plus token extra weight hand overboard to assist possible recovery.

The overnight leader, Nick Craig, scored two straight wins and did not allow his boat to compete in the freestyle event.

Overnight runner-up was Jon Bassett from Largs, whose boat practiced hard in the Submarine category; qualifying for the finals in this popular underwater event which would be hotly contested the next day. Billy McCarlie’s boat also performed well in this category.

The following day, the wind had freshened. It was a long squally run to the start area and a much reduced fleet gathered at the start boat.

With less than a minute to go, Owner ground on my downhaul, only to see my mainsail slide a foot down the track. After several failed frantic attempts at re-hoisting and locking it off, she tied the halyard tail off on my mast track and set off in pursuit of the departed fleet with my peculiar reef in place.

My boom was low, we were last boat on the course and faced a perilous run in big seas with no kicker. Owner was gibbering a lot of rubbish about not gybing in case her head came off, so I withdrew from the freestyle head splattering category, which was won by Gordon Stewart with a meaty forehead cut and black eye on the sail home.

Elsewhere, Jon’s Bassett’s boat was still trying to win the Submarine category and in a wonderfully opportune moment, its tiller extension departed company downwind. Jon’s boat performed a magnificent pitchpole, in which it dislodged all of its mast chocks (extra points) before capsizing. 

The daring boat won double gold for highest jump and best free-dive and was captured on film by Georgie. Remarkably, cool Jon recovered his chocks, righted the boat, sorted out the mess and went on to finish 5th in that race.

At the other end of the fleet and after 3 laps of low-sail mode cruising in a gale, the RIB kindly whisky-flagged  me, meaning I could count my last place and relax to watch the leading boats of Nick, Tom, Niel and Darren Williams come in to the finish line.

Meanwhile, Owner was trying to balance on my tiny foredeck in her own personal freestyle competition. She attempted to jury rig my sail by strapping the useless halyard onto the boom. This was quite challenging in the large seas and fierce winds, wedging the tiller over with a foot and working over a raised daggerboard. The end result was a sail raised to 4” below the masthead, with half kicker but no downhaul available. Thus we raced for the rest of the day.

The following two races were dominated by Nick, Tom and Niel. David Valentine refused to let his boat heel, so he came third in the spray category, second in the submarine group and finished 5th overall in the Owner’s Race, with a consistent set of results and very wet and rusty tin sailing gear.

In 6th at his first DZero Nationals was Willie Todd from Largs, finishing with an impressive 4th place in the final race.

Another worthy mention must go to Martin Walker of Shoreham SC, who won the Lanterne Rouge, showing great endeavour in completing all the races. His boat also performed well in the archback capsize category.

So ended our feisty Nationals. No boats broken and everyone got out alive. Owner and I managed our best Nationals result in tenth place, so I’ll keep her for another year.

Congratulations Nick Craig, for a well-deserved win and well done to everyone who went out and to those that didn’t. You all made it a great Nationals. Also thank you to our sponsors, Barracuda Bay.

Lastly, thank you Brixham Yacht Club – you were superb!

Zippy Zero 333

D-Zero Nationals Report – wild and windy at Brixham

The 2022 D-Zero Nationals at Brixham Yacht Club, kindly supported by Barracuda Bay beachwear, kicked off on Thursday evening with everyone searching for a forecast they liked but one thing was for sure, it was going to blow!

Several early-birds got there in plenty of time, and some sailors were out Wednesday & Thursday practicing in the bay, with the hope of getting ahead of the pack, though winds were light and very few waves. Others sampled the local foods and refreshments.

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Racing started on Friday with the long run out from the shelter of the harbour into the full force of the wind and building waves. The brave and foolhardy made it to the racecourse with gusts into the mid 30knts pushing the limits on the gybes. The leading pack was quickly established, lead convincingly by supremo Nick Craig with Tom Southwell, Niel Ritchie, Jon Bassett and David Valentine troubling his transom.

The trapezoid course allowed close competition on the uphill, some awesome reaching to a wild bearaway and downhill playing in the waves, rewarded by another fun reach to complete a lap, and with at least 3 laps to challenge everyone and allow close racing.

The second race brought even more wind and the D-Zero showed just how well it could cope with the confused waves and sea. Most of the fleet went left and was surprised by those coming in from the right with Jon Bassett leading Nick Craig for the first lap until order was restored and Nick Craig powered away. Two races of around an hour were enough and the fleet enjoyed the long beat back against the waves so that stories of battles fought could begin in the bar.

One thing for certain was the sailors were, despite their tiredness, still managing to have a happy grin on their faces, and pleased to have the Brixham team helping recovery on the slipway, led by the Commodore in his wetsuit greeting everyone in the water.

Boats were checked over, with a few ropes being replaced, though otherwise only tired limbs were apparent.

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After an excellent fish n chips at the club and sticky toffee pud or ice cream sundaes, day two arrived with sunshine, a little more breeze and three races scheduled. Another long run to the race area and the fleet was starting to master the conditions. Race 3 saw Jon Bassett leading round the windward mark but getting to know the wet stuff when he remembered the lack of tape on the tiller extension. Tom Southwell, Niel Ritchie and Darren Williams pushed Nick Craig all the way round the course and started to make it all look easy. A tight fleet and true one design class made mistakes costly and gave close racing for everyone.

Race 4 and there was no let up in the wind with gusts of 42knts recorded across the course. Liz Potter put in a stunning performance after a poorly rigged halyard slipped in race 3 she sailed the rest of the day with no downhaul, still claiming and 8th and 11th in race 5. David Valentine had a great last leg battle with Darren Williams and Willie Todd, though managed to hang out further and pip them at the line after a very fast reach with seconds between them at the gun.

Very few capsizes even in some super gusts, with the D-Zero helping the sailors to keep sunny side up, and creating some fantastic shots for Georgie Altham @ Photoboat as everyone scorched round the course.

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Race 5 and Nick Craig was a clear winner with Tom Southwell and Niel Ritchie fighting for silver and Jon Bassett and David Valentine scrapping for 4th. Willie Todd after a good series made his presence felt with 4th and the ever-present Darren Williams was again in the mix. Three races and we were done. The upwind beat home in the rain and disappearing coastline pushed sailors to the end, though again the fun and chat as we crossed each other was superb and cheerful, and clearly everyone was having a great weekend.

It has been interesting to see a variety of sailors over the weekend dealing with the conditions, and again, no ultimate height or weight was recorded with the Top 10 sailors ranging between 5ft 6in and 6ft 4, male and female, and 65kg to 100kg; though all had the same grin when they came back in…

Day 3 and the wind had built again. The Race Officer made the call to abandon racing on a wise safety reasoning though probably to everyone’s relief (apart from Nick Craig who was keen to go “I just love sailing”) and that was the Championships. 

After 5 punishing and challenging races the D-Zero had once again shown what a fantastic, fast and well-built boat it was with no breakages in the entire fleet. Fastest sailor was Gordon Stewart who was clocked at just under 17 knots carving through the chop, though was also a snorkel diver at one point as he charged through the waves not being able to see where he was going through the spray.

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Special mention for Simon Boylin, whom after deciding enough was enough, took the yacht he was staying aboard out to the course with a number of other sailors to watch the action, along with crab sandwiches and beers.

Final scores: 

1st & 2022 National Champion – Nick Craig
2nd Tom Southwell
3rd Niel Ritchie
4th Jon Bassett
5th David Valentine

1st Lady: Liz Potter

Full results can be found by clicking here.

Georgie Althams photos can be found by clicking here.

Lantern Rouge (most points without a DNS/RTD etc.): Martin Walker

Thanks go to the sponsors Barracuda Bay, Principal Race Officer Peter Lytton, Commodore Richard Spreckley leading his team all over the weekend and for being in the water to assist recovery on the narrow slip, plus everyone at Brixham Yacht Club, and our UK dealer dzero.co.uk who supported with splicing and spares as necessary.

Photo Credits: photoboat.co.uk Georgie Altham

The UK D-Zero Class Association – 28 June 2022

D-Zero Nationals – Wind forecast looking good

If you are still sitting on the fence then hopefully the wind forecast for the coming weekend will persuade you….

A bit lighter on the Friday but champagne conditions looking good for the rest of the weekend! Along with spot prizes from Barracuda Bay clothing and sunshine on the English Riviera, what more could you ask for?

You can find the entry form by clicking here.

D-Zero Nationals 2022 – Runner and Riders

With less than two weeks to go to the 2022 D-Zero Nationals, supported by Barracuda Bay clothing, at Brixham YC its time for the Runners and Riders List, the most accurate prediction of “form” that will no doubt fuel a frenzy of on-line betting and office sweep stakes across the nation. Before you rush to place your bets, and get excited about Euro Lottery sized windfalls  here’s the low down and options for spreading your risk.

Firstly you could look at the top of the entry list for guidance, which to me would have you risking your life savings on Paul Jefferies becoming our new National Champion, justly deserved after years of taking flak as class chairman, with Martin Latimer on the second step and “Tin Man” Dave Valentine one step down in third ……… Tim Weedon would make history by beating multiple national, european and world champion Nick Craig into fourth place. Am I on my second large whisky? …. toooo right I am. In your dreams guys ………

The fleet talent scouts, and Bet Fred stand-ins, have also been out looking to see who’s been sneaking in some pre-event training. Zippy had Liz Potter out at a winter European Training Camp (sailed in Aero’s which despite the heat didn’t melt!). Liz followed this up  with a training regime that included a sortie to the POSH regatta, other intense sailing outings and even an outward bound style 60 mile white water canoeing epic – serious stuff …. Could this be Liz’s year? The Largs bunch, ever hopeful, have been training in all sorts of weather; looking good in the heavy stuff with their San Francisco rolls perfected Billy McCarlie and Martin Latimer are looking forward to finishing some windy races with their masts upright. Jon Bassett is fast and looking confident and after a 3rd in the recent Noble Largs SC One Design D-Zero Fleet just behind a very quick, but sometimes too enthusiastic Niel Ritchie, Jon could be a top 5 contender this year. What about the Stork you might ask; well he’s entered, fit and ready to fight – he flies!

With no Dan Holman and a few top names missing this year Niel Ritchie could be a good bet for a top three and David Valentine is keen to show his windy weather pace. In the light stuff Tim Weeden could do well and Paul Jefferies is also fresh from beating up the opposition at Hunts SC. If the cameras are out “Poster Boy” Southwell will turn up the wick he can’t resist the limelight!

So with the dreaming over lets take a deeper dive into the entry list see what form says about who’ll take this year’s silverware:

Odds  on favourite has to be Nick Craig, beaten by COVID and Dan Holman last year. Nick has a record of winning numerous titles in various boats and recently took the D-One Gold Cup with 8 straight wins The smart money will be on Nick, but the odds won’t make you rich. 

Who else could give Nick a fight …. Stork in the light stuff, Niel Ritchie in heavy weather, David Valentine (if he’s doctored enough of the new boats), Tom Southwell if there’s film rights on offer … who knows?

In the mid fleet the Liz Potter, Jon Cowper, Gordon Stewart, Billy McCarlie, Martin Latimer, Mick Green (rumoured to be running a new boat and new sail) will carry on their usual battle that they all enjoy be it at Nationals, Northerns or Opens ….. if points for “being there” bring people to the front who knows what surprises they might deal out. 

So its all to play for ashore and afloat at Brixham on 24th-26th June, there’s no doubt regardless of who takes the top slots the winners will be the guys n girls of the D-Zero fleet who will no doubt have an epic event in an epic boat, fueled no doubt by a little epic socialising.

Watch this space for the real results

Roll of Honour – D-Zero National Champions

Dan Holman – 2015

Ian Morgan – 2016

George Cousins- 2017

Steve Bolland – 2018

Dan Holman- 2019

No Event – 2020

Dan Holman – 2021


Sure bet for MC Jock of the Day – David Valentine

RSK D-Zero National Championship 2021 at Largs Sailing Club - Overall
Not at Brixham to defend his 2022 Nationals title – Dan Holman

 
Nick Craig, fresh from his D-One Gold Cup win – is it his year to take the D-Zero title too?

D-Zero Class AGM – 25th June 2022 @ 19:30

The D-Zero Class Association AGM will take place on the 25th June 2022 @ 19:30 (approximately) at Brixham Yacht Club.

All D-Zero owners are invited to attend but only fully paid up Class Association members are entitled to vote.

An agenda will be published shortly, in the meantime if you have anything you would like to raise please submit it to the Class Chair by clicking here.

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