The annual finale of the Regatta Sailing Academy Club championships was held on the 11th May 2018 from the academy base in Katara.
The annual club championships is a three race series consisting of the National Day regatta in December, the National Sports day regatta in February and the club summer champs in May, with the overall champion being crowned at the end of the summer event.
Coming into the event any number of 5 different sailors could take the overall title with the final event being non discardable.
With the wind building to 15+ knots the course was set as a big reaching triangle between Katara and the Pearl, Qatar.
The fleet got off to a clear start to begin lap one of the three lap course. Overall contender Charles was seen completing a penalty 720 degree turn at the first mark and then continuing shortly after.
After lap one the Spanish entry Jose had a solid lead but with the breeze increasing and the burning legs starting to kick in the rest of the fleet was far from done.
Lap two saw junior entry Liliann pushing into second right up with the adults Aaron and Charles who had recovered from his penalty turns.
Lap three saw the fatigue start to really kick in and the junior lightweight Liliann conceded some ground to the heavier competitors and found herself in a fight for 4th place with newcomer Jessica. Up ahead Aaron and Charles were locking horns for 2nd place whilst Jose positioned himself perfectly to cover the fleet upwind and then stretch his lead on the waves along the reach.
The final upwind approach to the finish found Jose comfortably coming through for the win followed by Charles who had slipped ahead of Aaron who came through in 3rd on the line.
The fleet returned to the beach, everyone running the calculations in their heads as to whom may have done enough to take the final overall title.
Regatta Sailing Academy chief instructor thanked the fleet for their support of the Academy and congratulated them on a fantastic final third race in testing conditions. The titles of overall club champion, Female division went to Liliann and she also went on to take the title of Junior club champion 2018.
The overall club champion 2018 title went to Jose who followed his 2nd place back in December with a solid win in May to take the overall title by two points from Aaron.
Regatta Sailing Academy wants to congratulate Jose on his fantastic and well earned Club champion title and thank everyone who has competed in the overall club championships series this season, the biggest overall attendance ever!
Full results can be found here – http://regattasailingacademy.com/index.php/race-results/club-championship-2018/