Blues Sailing It is not often that the British weather is obliging towards
sporting events. However, the sun shone and a perfect ten knot
breeze blew as over 200 competitors arrived at Chew Valley lake
for the 2004 British University Sailing Association Team Racing
championships. The event, involving vast numbers of University
crews was hosted this year by Bristol University. It is the high
point in the university sailing calendar. and the three days of
racing is some of the most competitive team racing in the
country. Inland Oxford may perhaps not be able to boast such easy
access to open water as some of its opponents, yet this year
three Oxford teams qualified for the event: two mixed teams and
one ladies team. Led by captain of sailing Nikki Catt (Keble)
represented the University proudly. The first day began with threeleagues, and a round robin in
each league. Oxford 1, with a high seeding of sixth working to
their advantage, fought hard and performed excellently on the
first day. They beat all in their league, only falling victim to
first seed Southampton 1. This took them through to the Gold league the next day. The
lower seeding of Oxford 2 meant they had much to do on the first
day, but led by Captain Rob Grieg-Gran, performed excellently,
securing victories against first and second teams and they also
went through to a second day of racing. The favourable weather conditions held for day two, and racing
in the gold league began with warm sunshine and a strengthening
fifteen knot breeze, which built through the day, leading to cut
down sails being called for. Racing at this higher level was very
competitive, with the second, third and fourth placed teams from
each league coming together to fight it out for the remaining
places in the quarter finals. Oxford 2 continued to show their
best form of the season, winning three out of the eight races,
and worrying many more senior teams. Unfortunately, important losses against Southampton 2 and a
very tight loss to Loughborough 1 led to Oxford 2’s exit
from the competition at the end of day two, coming tenth overall.
Meanwhile Oxford 1’s greater experience showed through and
after winning the all important grudge matches against Cambridge
1 and Oxford 2 made it to through the play-offs to the last
quarter final spot. Day Three dawned with very light winds, and
after a short delay racing got under way, albeit frustratingly
slowly. Oxford 1 took their quarterfinal to a nail biting third race
after the first rounds ended one a piece. Eventually, however,
they lost to Bristol 1. Southampton 1 went on to win the event,
defending their title. In the ladies racing Oxford Ladies
performed well on all three days, reaching the semi-finals, but
did not make it beyond this stage.ARCHIVE: 0th week TT 2004
Championship Crews Far from Blue
