RS100 fleet at Paignton Sailing Club's POSH Regatta

The English Riviera provided the backdrop to the penultimate event on the RS100 circuit, POSH, and with an Easterly wind for the weekend, some fantastic waves for downwind sleigh rides to die for. The RS100s provided the largest fleet of the rescheduled event, there being excessive wind for the original date in May.

Mostyn Evans received the award for latest arrival, turning up 25 minutes before the first start. He explained that this was due to a - now former - friend having borrowed a wheel from his trailer. Mostyn had therefore had to drive to his friend's house to retrieve it, where he interrupted his friend who had other things on his mind. Coitus Interruptus was how Mostyn described it. Nobody asked for further particulars, but suffice to say Mostyn missed the first race.

Race 1

On a port biased start line, Al Hall appeared to go for the pin, but bailed. He later claimed this was his tactic, but everyone else knew better. Chris Cunningham won the deserted committee boat end. David Smart was quickly out of the blocks, getting to the first mark just ahead of a battling Cunningham and ever quick New Youth of the fleet, Huw Powell.

A capsized Blaze at the top mark caused Smart to go wide, opening the gap for Cunningham and Powell to slip through. Greg Booth has a reputation as a friendly soul, demonstrating this when Mark Harrison got in his way, requiring Harrison to do turns. Mark was angry and channelled that frustration to make his way through the fleet. Come the finish line, Powell had extended to a convincing win, followed by Harrison revelling in the big waves, then Smart, Cunningham, Booth, Hall and Jarrett, treating the race as a cameo performance.

Race 2

Another port bias, with Cunningham demonstrating a need to learn about port biased lines by winning the committee boat again. However the error may have been due to him misreading the signals from his newly whiskered face. All Hall won the pin end back, Harrison went right rounding the windward mark second behind the New Youth who disappeared into the distance, with the conditions clearly suiting the exuberant youth. The downwind reaches were great fun for all, with the only debate being when to put in the gybe while choosing the face of a big wave to gybe down.

Powell took the gun from Harrison again, with the bearded Cunningham third then Smart being chased down by the friendly Booth. That friendliness was challenged when he tried to roll over the top of Smart approaching the finish, but a Smart luff required Booth to do a penalty turn. The friendly Booth was not seen to be so friendly at this point, but he would enjoy a moment of unbridled joy in race 4.

Race 3

The wind had dropped a bit to a force 2, but the waves remained. The line was square with the fleet starting at the committee boat end, which was again won by Cunningham. The first beat was a very close affair with everyone fighting to gain an advantage in the challenging wave pattern. Powell used his powerful frame to power through the waves, with Harrison, Evans, Booth and Hall all finding moments of joy and despair as numerous port v starboard crosses shuffled the fleet. Powell led at the top mark followed by Cunningham who promptly sailed over his kite. Harrison thanked him as he flew past.

The next beat saw a big tussle between Cunningham, Harrison and Hall, who was now enjoying the conditions and showing strong downwind speed. Smart was a long way out of touch, but chose to go left down the final run and very nearly caught everyone napping. Powell rounded off a perfect day for the New Youth with another win, followed by the ever strong Grand Master Harrison, with Hall close on his heels with Booth, Cunningham and Smart finishing within one second of each other.

Sunday arrived with more wind and bigger waves crashing over the harbour wall. Harrison arrived with a sore head having slept in the garden to avoid the New Youth's sonorous snoring.

The launch and exit from the safe haven of Paignton harbour was a distinct challenge. There were a few excitable tourists enjoying the spectacle of boats capsizing in the harbour mouth.

Race 4

The waves were big and white topped, meaning that technique in the waves would prove telling. Given the conditions, nobody pushed the line too hard, but Smart took a boatlength off the fleet with good use of transits. He led halfway up the beat, with Powell and Cunningham close on his heels. By the first mark all were very close, with Powell first, closely followed by Cunningham and Smart. However Smart's bear away did not go to plan, with a windward heel and wave combining to send him for a spectacular swim while the boat surfed down a steep wave.

Booth close behind gave a great guffawing laugh as he flew past, remembering the penalty from race 2, followed soon by Harrison. Smart righted and set out to chase. Cunningham was loving the breeze and waves, using his windsurfing form to pass Powell and his beard to sniff out the shifts. However Powell's experience (for one so young) showed through and he passed Cunningham at the top of the last beat and defended aggressively to take another win from Cunningham, Booth and the fast finishing Smart.

Race 5

The wind was building and other fleets were being decimated. However the RS100s battled on manfully. Smart again gained a length off the start line and this time held on for 2 laps ahead of Powell, Harrison and Booth. Hall and Evans then decided to enjoy an early shower and Cunningham went swimming. Powell's mastery of the conditions saw him pass Smart up the third beat and with no further mistakes, he never looked back.

Race 6 was unfortunately abandoned, so the remaining sailors enjoyed the final sleigh ride back to harbour.

Overall Powell proved he is the one to beat so long as there is some breeze. Harrison's great day on Saturday had given him enough cushion to relax on Sunday and take second and Smart pulled back on Cunningham and keep Booth at bay to take third overall.

The event was managed with very slick work by the race committee, turning round the 3 fleets of the POSH regatta with remarkable efficiency. Sailors had just enough time for a drink and energy bar before the next race sequence, which was truly appreciated by the competitors, as were the boat catchers on the slipway.

The final event of the 2014 RS100 series is the Gul Inlands at Grafham over 11/12 October.

Overall Results: