Crewsaver RS500 End of Season Championship at Datchet Water
by RS Class Association 14 Nov 2013 19:43 GMT
9-10 November 2013
Crewsaver RS500 End of Season Championship at Datchet Water © Anthony York /
www.chunkypics.co.uk
Six RS500 teams joined the other fleets at Datchet Water Sailing Club last weekend for the End of Season Championships. Starts were shared with the RS400 fleet which introduced a bit more a challenge to get off the line cleanly.
Race 1 was postponed ashore due to lack of wind and excess of rain and cold, but when it did get away in very light breeze, it was David and Fiona Sayce from Hayling Island who got out in front on the first leg, and went on to hold the lead until the finish in a rapidly backing wind and highly congested race course.
Race two saw an equally light wind, and again the Sayces were fastest upwind, but were caught and just overtaken on the final downwind leg by Chris Tuckett and Tim Wilkins from Hickling Broad SC. Alec Mumford and Jacob Elson from Ardliegh in Essex posted third in both races.
Day two saw bright sunshine and a more appealing force three with enough wind in the gusts to get the crews wiring downwind.
In the four short races sailed, upwind legs were often close between David and Fiona, and Chris and Tim, but it was Chris and Tim who were able to make gains downwind and take the win in the first three races before retiring for an early hot shower. Alec and Jacob maintained their consistency getting third in every race, while local sailors Mike Clapp and Tim Williams leapfrogged into second place in the last race.
Altogether, despite a challenging first day, the second day's sailing proved to be a perfect way to round off the season. Many thanks to Datchet Water SC for hosting and Crewsaver for sponsoring.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 625 | Chris Tuckett | Tim Wilkins | | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | (DNC) | 6 |
| 2nd | 1038 | David Sayce | Fiona Sayce | Hayling Island | 1 | ‑2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 3rd | 517 | Alec Mumford | Jacob Elson | ardleigh sc | ‑3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 |
| 4th | 826 | Mike Clapp | Tim Williams | Datchet | 4 | ‑5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 18 |
| 5th | 1022 | John Corney | Ben Corney | HBSC | 5 | ‑6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 24 |
| 6th | 1037 | Max Gurassa | Conrad Bannister | Queen Mary SC | 6 | 4 | (DNC) | 6 | 6 | 5 | 27 |
| 7th | 659 | Peter Curtis | Harry Phelps | Island Barn Reservoir SC | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 40 |