RS200 Winter Warmer at Itchenor Sailing Club

Itchenor RS200 Winter Warmer © George Yeoman

This weekend we finally managed to kick off the inaugural Itchenor Sailing Club RS200 Winter Warmer.

Whilst Saturday was a blow out with gusts of nearly 40 knots and a tide that came well over the jetty, Sunday proved to be a perfect 12-16 knots with a strong tide. RO Roger Yeoman managed to fit in 4 back to back 20 minute races in a corner by Rookwood for the 8 boats.

In the 1st race it was slightly pin end bias and Ben Palmer & Lucy Preston went of winning that end. However it was not enough to get across the midline starters and it was George Yeoman & Sophie Ormsby who led at the top mark followed by Ben & Lucy. By lap 3 Tim Saxton & Holly Scott had managed to pull through to 2nd place and Ben & Lucy finished 3rd.

Boom cam video from race 1:

Race 2 again was slightly pin end bias and this time George & Sophie who won the pin however could not quite get across the starboard tackers again. So it was Ben & Lucy at the top mark 1st but George & Sophie just managed to squeeze inside to block the tack, however ended up hitting the mark after misjudging the tide. This meant Ben & Lucy led from James Rusden & Will Rusden, followed by Tim & Holly. On the run the Rusdens managed to squeeze past Ben & Lucy to take the lead which they extended till the finish.

Boom cam video from race 2:

Race 3 was starboard end bias and George & Sophie managed to come in late and squeeze out Nick Charles at the boat end. After a bit of a tacking dual up the beat it was George & Sophie followed by Nick and this stayed the way the whole way round the course with a bit of elastic keeping them together. While a close race between the Rusdens, Tim & Holly and Ben & Lucy rounded off the top 5.

Boom cam video from race 3:

Race 4 was a fairly square line with Tim & Holly winning the pin and George & Sophie winning the boat end. Tim & Holly decided to tack early and duck the Rusdens and George & Sophie and this ended paying off as they came in on the starboard lay line to lead at the top mark. A tacking match up the next few beats led to Tim & Holly held on to their lead whilst being closely followed by George & Sophie. The Rusdens finished 3rd.

Boom cam video from race 4:

Overall Results:

1st George & Sophie 1, 5, 1, 2 = 9pts
2nd Tim & Holly 2, 3, 4, 1 = 10pts
3rd James & Will 5, 1, 3, 3 = 12pts

Next weekend is the 1/2 March hopefully we will see you all then!

For more info please see the Itchenor RS200 facebook group or the event page.