Final Day of the Blithfield Barrel 2024-2025 Series
Woolly Hats and Balaclavas Required!
This Sunday marked the grand finale of the legendary Blithfield Barrel series, with Round 4 drawing in 26 stalwarts, all braving a biting easterly wind. A steady 10 knots, gusting up to 17, swept across the dam, sending the wind chill plummeting. The sun was absent, but at least the rain held off—small mercies on a day like this.
The course for the day stretched the full length of the reservoir, featuring two long beats, three reaches, and a run—offering a little something for everyone.
A Brisk Start
Despite a generously long start line, the fleet had its first general recall of the entire series. The second attempt, this time under the black flag, saw a clean getaway—though no one held back, with the fleet still packed tightly along the line.
With the wind coming from the east, conventional wisdom suggested that the Clubhouse shore would be the favoured route. However, that strategy didn’t yield the expected rewards, with a sweet spot emerging just west of centre. The long beats, filled with frequent wind shifts, turned the race into a tacking masterclass.
A notorious feature of Blithfield—Mark 1—played its usual tricks. Any course that includes this mark demands caution, as competitors approaching the northeastern corner often find themselves suddenly slowing to a near standstill. One moment, you’re fetching the mark with ease; the next, you’re pinching desperately trying to keep moving.
The gusts had enough punch to keep everyone on their toes, with a couple of capsizes adding to the drama. Thankfully, no damage was done.
With two laps completed, Race 1 saw Charles Chandler and Owen Mills take line honors in their 505, followed by Andy Davis and Ollie Hateley in their Merlin, with Pete and Rach Gray’s 470 rounding out the top three.
A Much-Needed Break
For both racers and safety crews, the lunch break was a welcome chance to thaw out. The fortifying combo of baked potatoes and the chef’s special chili, followed by a much-needed carb boost in the form of apple crumble and custard (or sauce anglaise, as the chef insists on calling it), was just what was needed before heading back onto the water.
Afternoon Racing
The 2:00 PM start saw no change in the wind’s direction, strength, or unpredictability. The course remained the same, and this time, the black flag was shown from the outset—there was simply no appetite for delays in the cold.
By the second lap, a shift to the north turned the run into more of a reach, adding another layer of tactical complexity. Boats could be seen scattered across all legs of the course, with tight battles playing out at every stage. Once again, all competitors completed two laps without major incident.
Prizegiving & Reflections
As the series wrapped up, there was a real sense of achievement. Across all four race days, sailors had faced a mix of challenging wind speeds, ice on the water, and bone-chilling temperatures—but none of it had dampened spirits. If anything, the conditions were embraced, adding to the competitive edge.
The overall series winners were Charles Chandler and Owen Mills, followed by Samuel Bailey and Holly Evans in their Lark, with Adam Froggatt’s Phantom taking third place.
This year also saw the introduction of a new junior award—the Dave Pawlak Memorial Shield—in honour of a much-missed Blithfield Sailing Club member. The inaugural recipients were Ollie Green and Lara Griffith, recognized for their outstanding performance throughout the series.
And with that, another Blithfield Barrel came to a close, tested by the elements, challenged by the competition, and no doubt, already looking forward to the next series starting in November.
Words by Alastair Reid
Pictures by Keith Walker
https://youtu.be/7AEPvTFNPiY - link to 'video of the day'
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