D-One GBR Grand Prix at the Paignton Sailing Club POSH event
by Nick Simmons 20 May 2015 08:49 BST
9-10 May 2015
D-One GBR Grand Prix at the Paignton POSH event © Steve Cayley Photography / photography.lincom.co.uk
The weather forecasters predicted 'dogs off chains' at the start of the week running up to the 2015 POSH event (Paignton Open for Single Handers) but as the week went on, the predictions eased and on the day Torbay served up another weekend of fabulous sailing. The D-One fleet returned to this ever popular event for the 3rd time and their first open of the year sponsored in 2015 by Spinlock, supplying their new "Wing" buoyancy aid as prizes.
The D-One and RS100 classes sailed in the same fleet which worked well and made the start line a bit more exciting for all involved. On Saturday, winds were from the SW 15-20kts making for a nice sleigh ride down the run. Nick Simmons, Dave Gorringe and Simon Hawkes dominated the results on Saturday each claiming a race win and rounding out the top 3 in all of Saturday's races.
The club laid on an event meal on Saturday evening which kept us all at the club enjoying the food and local ale- perfect preparation for another sunny day on the water.
Sunday was a bit softer than Saturday with 10-15kts from the South. Simmons and Hawkes resumed battle with some close racing but Gorringe had lost his pace, possibly consumed by night before's local ale. With Gorringe slightly down the fleet, some new faces rose to the challenge. Jon Hammond sailed well in Race 5 to take 3rd behind Hawkes and new comer to the fleet Geoff Holden finished 4th.
Going into the final race of the weekend with 2 discards up for grabs Simmons, Gorringe or Hawkes could take the overall win. Nick started well leading at the end of the first run with Simon close behind and Dave in hot pursuit. Simon spotted the breeze going light on the right hand side of the course and plugged over to the left on a big header but heading to the breeze. Simmons hit the light spot and stopped. Simon slipped through at windward mark. Nick chased Simon hard down the run gybing inside to get the starboard advantage at the bottom mark but went in for a swim leaving Hawkes to take the Race 6 win. Nick recovered from the swim to clinch 2nd ahead of Gorringe.
Overall 2 points split the top 3 with Nick Simmons first, Simon Hawkes second and Dave Gorringe 3rd.
Many thanks to everyone at Paignton Sailing Club for a great effort putting on another well run event and to Spinlock for providing the D-One sponsorship.
The Next D-One event is at Grafham, 13th June, before heading to the UK national champs in Highcliffe 19th – 21st June.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 410 | Nick Simmons | LTSC | 1 | ‑3 | ‑3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 2nd | 419 | Simon Hawkes | Chew Valle | ‑3 | ‑2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 3rd | 409 | David Gorringe | Lymington | 2 | 1 | 2 | ‑5 | ‑3 | 3 | 8 |
| 4th | 9 | John Hammond | Oxford SC | ‑4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | (DNC) | 15 |
| 5th | 420 | Paul Birbeck | Wimbleball | ‑6 | ‑6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 20 |
| 6th | 48 | Geoff Holden | Northampton | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 4 | 6 | DNF | 26 |
| 7th | 105 | Roger Battersby | Sutton Bingham | 5 | 5 | (DNF) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 26 |