RS100 class in the POSH Regatta at Paignton Sailing Club

David 'Comeback Kid' Smart (left) and overall winner Huw 'Mr Consistent' Powell at the POSH Regatta © PSC

The English Riviera provided perfect conditions for a memorable weekend at the POSH regatta (Paignton Open Single Handers). The RS100 fleet shared their start with the D Ones. An interesting experience for everyone given the similarities of the boats, with the D One being generally sailed by shall we say the more physically developed.

Race 1 - On a slightly port biased start line, Al, The Pin, Hall went for his favoured pin end start, but didn't quite make it stick. However Mark Harrison and local lad Shane Hughes sailed a blinder, finding all the shifts to lead not only the 100s but also all bar one of the D Ones round the first mark. However Shane got over-excited with his lead and took the submariner's route to put paid to his good start. Huw Powell had found himself well down the pack, but picked his way through to finish 2nd behind the speedy Harrison. David Smart had made his way through to third, but an infringement on Al Hall saw them both swimming with Greg Booth laughing as he passed to take third.

Race 2 - After a few beers, nobody at the bar could remember what happened in race 2, but all agreed that it was jolly good fun! The results showed that Huw Powell won with Greg Booth second.

Race 3 The fleet then went off to massage and bingo before donning slippers and an early bed.

Overnight leader was Huw Powell, followed by Mark Harrison with Greg Booth taking the final podium spot.

Sunday dawned with a lighter force 3 from the South West that backed southerly during the first race. Would the lighter breeze favour some different names at the front or would the leading trio have things all their own way?

Race 4 - With the wind backing, it paid to go left. Al Hall, Greg Booth and David Smart all headed left and led round the first mark. The run was now very one-sided, but that didn't stop Hall and Booth coming together at the bottom mark with lots of exchanges of views carrying on up the beat.

The distractions of their conversation allowed Smart to get past Hall. On the water the result was Booth then Smart from Hall and the fast finishing Powell. The protest committee later in the afternoon concluded that Booth had infringed, giving Smart the win from Powell. Booth would later try to claim the win since he had loaned Smart a spare shroud for the day.

Race 5 - Smart (and Booth's shroud) was starting to find his mojo again and led off the line with Powell fighting for the lead yet again. They were followed by Booth and Hall, but Booth decided that he likes a fight so clashed with a D One and had to take his medicine. On the last run, Smart gybed late and found some pressure to take the battle to Powell, but Powell held on for another bullet with Smart second, Hall third and Booth fourth.

Race 6 - Powell and Hall were OCS at the pin while Smart powered off the centre of the line to lead round top mark. Powell adopted his Comeback Kid persona and battled his way impressivley through the fleet to lie second behind Smart with one lap to go. At the final leeward mark the wind died, Powell tacked left into a header having seen some pressure left. Smart made a schoolboy error in not covering so when they tacked back Powell was 25m in front and never looked back. Cunningham was enjoying himself again and finished third with Booth fourth.

Overall Powell proved he is the one to beat. Harrison's great day on Saturday had turned into a nightmare on Sunday but Smart had done the opposite, making his way from seventh overnight to take second spot on the podium with consistent sailing on Sunday. However Booth insisted on having his lucky shroud back. Hall rounded off the podium in third place having put in a consistent series. Booth deserved more and would have finished second but for that protest. He returned home to Wales to lick his wounds and work on his next assault on the Southerners

The event was managed with slick efficiency 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 beach.

The fleet will next meet in Carnac from 23 to 26 May for the European Championships.

Overall Results: