World Championship Racing at Gosport

Gosport Model Yacht & Boat Club were proud hosts of the 2005 Radio Controlled International A Class World Championships.
The event was raced from Saturday 9th July 2005 to Thursday 14th July 2005 inclusive. Reception and preliminary measuring were completed over Friday 8th and Saturday 9th and racing started shortly after 2-30 p.m. on Saturday.

Follow the story of the championships through the pictures which follow. If you require copies of the high resolution versions of the pictures via e-mail, please use the mail form contact option and quote the picture ref you require.
Pictures commencing with 'a' or 'b' references taken by John Smith and those commencing with a 'd' reference taken by Doug Johnson

It is hoped that a presentation, perhaps in MS Powerpoint will be produce in time which will contain these images and maybe even more, except that they will be in their original levels of resolution, which have been reduced for reproduction here.

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So what was all the fuss about then??? Something going on down at Walpole Lakes??

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So whose fault was this then and who the heck organised it?

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So just who was there then? Looks like Chris, Val and Eric?

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Doesn't look to be very many apart from all those flags and just a few people sitting around!

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Oh I see they stick the competitors on the wall!

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Ah it makes a bit of difference if you point the camera in the right direction! Not only are there people but there are boats laying about.

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Is this one of those A boats then? Well No actually it's John Dowd's beautiful model schooner. He was sailing it during the day before official racing started. A super model.

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Robert Hobbs, Club Commodore points out one of the Gosport member's boats. Particularly fitting as the Mayor is the club President and was surely hoping for a local winner!

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Robert Hobbs welcomes the Mayor, Mayoress and Father Ian Booth as well as the competitors.

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Graham Burgess, Mayor of Gosport welcomes competitors and visitors to Gosport.

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Father Ian Booth conducts service to bless the boats before the start of racing.

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David Coode, Principal Race Officer (yellow jumper) gives his first event briefing.

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Ah so this is what it's all about - Yacht Racing!!

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For those of you familiar with the aspect of Walpole Lakes, the flags indicate a Northerly breeze. It's not the temperature that worries people in these conditions but with the wind direction effectively straight across the lake course setting can be very difficult.

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Whilst the weather on day 1 of racing is fine, the sun is in and out. Skies are sometimes blue but occasionally grey and cloudy.

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The leader at the end of day 1 crosses the line. Peter Wiles (92)

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The table at the end of day 1

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If we continue to get racing as close as this, it will turn out to be a splendid competition. Derek Morland (89) just pips Gerry Gray (50), Ken Binks (77 obscured) and Derek Priestley (67) at the finishing line.

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Day 2 dawns bright but with the Northerly breeze persisting.

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Our first glimpse of two of our Australian competitors. Lisa Blackwood (35) leads John Cole-Cook (12) as they head for the next mark.

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By the time they are close to the mark, John (12) is making up distance on Lisa (35) but Linda Munro (195) is keeping a close eye out for any mistakes.

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This just shows how fortunes can change as by the time they are now approaching the finish it is Jhon (12) who has taken the lead from Lisa (35)

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As the day progresses, the sea breeze kicks in and the direction changes. This brings a requirement for Mick Thomas and Arnie Peace to get the rescue boat out on the water to move the marks for david to set a new course.

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Just look at the distance that John has managed to hold off Lisa by as (her bow just coming into picture) they come through the line.

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The impact of the sea breeze can be clearly seen by the change of direction of the flags.

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As day 2 comes to a close we have a new leader in Graham Bantock (95). Here we see Graham crossing the finishing line and although you can't see the concentration on his face in this shot, look at the concentration in those fingers on the control transmitter.

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The table at the end of day 2

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The table at the end of Day 3

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BLOOD !! Trimming your sails takes on a slightly different meaning if like Chris Durant you manage to cut your finger on the edge of them!

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SWEAT !! - Well the weather was hot but it takes its toll even if the racing is exciting!

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And TEARS !! - of Joy of course. No less than 6 Gosport skippers in B Fleet including the Commodore - whateve next?

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The table at the end of Day 4

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The table by the end of Day 5

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The trophies laid out on the table prior to the dinner and presentation.

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Just in case you couldn't make it, this is what we sat down to at the event Prize-Giving Dinner at The Explosion Museum

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In 36th Place - from Australia - Sail Number 25 - Allan Edward

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In 35th Place - from Holland - Sail Number 72 - Val Provoost

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In 34th Place - from UK - Sail Number 99 - Chaz Jordan

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In 33rd Place - from UK - Sail Number 78 - Robert Hobbs

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In 32nd Place - from UK - Sail Number 45 - Bill Green

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In 31st Place - from UK - Sail Number 150 - Stephen Ehlers

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In 30th Place - fromUK - Sail Number 84 - Brian Leighton

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In 29th Place - from UK - Sail Number 82 - Lynne Rowcroft

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In 28th Place - from UK - Sail Number 02 - Derek Barratt

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In 27th Place - from UK - Sail Number 15 - Mike Nichols

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In 26th Place - from UK - Sail Number 195 - Linda Munro

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In 25th Place - from UK - Sail Number 93 - Clive Tappenden

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In 24th Place - from UK - Sail Number 62 - Martin Dovey

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In 23rd Place - from UK - Sail Number 43 - Pete Pritchard

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In 22nd Place - from UK - Sail Number 19 - John White

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In 21st Place - from Australia - Sail Number 06 - Rob Guyatt

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In 20th Place - from UK - Sail Number 180 - David Munro

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In 19th Place - from UK - Sail Number 90 - John Hayston

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In 18th Place - from UK - Sail Number 29 - Neil Baxter

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In 17th Place - from UK - Sail Number 74 - Mike Tattersall

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In 16th Place - from Australia - Sail Number 91 - Julian Frayne

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In 15th Place - from UK - Sail Number 85 - Neil Rothwell

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In 14th Place - from UK - Sail Number 97 - Robbie Nevitt

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In 13th Place - from UK - Sail Number 36 - Vernon Appleton

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In 12th Place - from UK - Sail Number 11 - Chris Durant

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In 11th Place - from UK - Sail Number 50 - Gerry Gray

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In 10th Place - from UK - Sail Number 47 - Martin Raishbrook

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In 9th Place - from UK - Sail Number 136 - Lester Gilbert

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In 8th Place - from UK - Sail Number 96 - Peter Fothergill

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In 7th Place - from UK - Sail Number 89 - Derek Morland

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In 6th Place - from Australia - Sail Number 12 - John Cole-Cook

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In 5th Place - from Australia - Sail Number 35 - Lisa Blackwood

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In 4th Place - from UK - Sail Number 67 - Derek Priestley

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In 3rd Place - from Poole, UK - Sail Number 92 - Peter Wiles

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In 2nd Place - from Eastbourne, UK - Sail Number 77 - Ken Binks

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In 1st Place - from Chelmsford, UK - Sail Number 95 - the 2005 RA Class World Champion - Graham Bantock