Volvo RS600 Nationals at Stokes Bay Sailing Club - Days 1 & 2

Day 1

I travelled down to Stokes Bay SC on Wednesday hoping to get some sneaky practice in but the wind didn't play so I had a gentle drift around for an hour or so. Thursday dawned with a bit more wind, about 10 knots.

Race one got away without mishap despite the strong tide pushing us across the line. Matt Holden led from the start and held it all the way around to take the first win. Anthony York (Chunky) was hot on his tail and Pete Nelson finished third. New face Sam Barker showed some good speed and would have had a podium place but for a capsize on the leeward mark. The tactics were to keep right up the beat in the tide and then hug the shore downwind judging when to gybe off into pressure but more tide.

Race 2 and the fleet split up the first beat. A wind shift saw the left hand side pay big dividends for a change and Chris Tilbrook leads round the windward mark followed closely by Chunky and Sam. Chunky and Sam stay inshore out of the tide on the run and overtake Chris. The final positions remain unchanged even after some close racing.Overall after day one it is Chunky first, Matt second and Pete third.

Day 2

Race 3 - A healthy force four was on the water for the start of race 3. First start was a bit messy with some of us not even present and Alan Goule has a close shave with the committee boat. After everyone settles down at the top mark it's Pete around first followed by Matt and Chunky with Sam and John Powell not far behind.

Downwind everyone fancies going right but the wind is lighter on the inside. As I was so far behind I went lefty and came in behind Chunky at the leeward mark ahead of Sam and John. Everyone then settles down but it is all very tight with no room for error. 2 laps of close racing later it ends Pete, Matt, Chunky and Chris 4th.

Race 4 - Matt was late to the start and almost becomes the second victim of the committee boat as he tacks off onto port. Chris, Chunky and Sam go hard left but when they get to the windward mark it clearly hasn't paid with around six boat crossing in front. The wind is increasing up to around 18 knots and is taking its toll as people start to fall in. We have caught up with the 300s which add a whole new dimension to keeping out of trouble. The same people find their way to the top half of the fleet and over the line it's Matt, Pete, Chunky and then John Charles grabs a 4th.

Race 5 - Due to a large number of 300s being upside down and the waves getting a bit on the large size we are sent in. After about 40 minutes we get back out again to start the last race of the day. The starts are getting very reserved in the 600 class but there was a black flag up all the same, we think this must have been for the 300s. Up the first beat Pete and Chunky go up the middle, Chris went hard left and Matt goes right. At the top mark it's Chunky round first then Pete, Matt, John and Dan Saltmarsh. On the second downwind leg Matt drops it in leaving Chris in third but after dropping down to seventh Matt then sails on a mission and gets back to third place.Overall Chunky and Matt are tied in first place with Pete third and Chris fourth.Tonight we have a curry and quiz to look forward to. So far a really good event, tomorrow's forecast is for more wind!

Results after Day 2: (five races, 1 discard)