RS200 Open at Itchenor Sailing Club

Itchenor RS200 Open © Mary Pudney

Itchenor RS200 Open © Mary Pudney

This weekend 39 RS200s took part in the Itchenor open which saw contrasting conditions each to test all the sailors to the best of their ability.

Saturday greeted the sailors with 18-25 knots and with the forecast for Sunday looking poor 5 races were held pushing everyone. The first race saw a battle of the ex champs and maybe one to watch at Abersoch this summer as Matt Mee & Emma Norris and James Peters & Joanna Wright battled it out for the win with Matt & Emma eventually taking control down the run to hold to the finish. Race 2 saw George Yeoman & Sophie Ormsby manage to control the left of the beat to lead at the top and managed to keep clear to take their first bullet of the weekend. Races 3 & 4 saw Matt & Emma and George & Soph trade first places with the Dicken McLean & Hannah Young bouncing back from their OCS in R3 to take a solid 2, 1 in the last 2 races.

Overnight Matt & Emma led comfortably from Nick Charles & Alice Eyre who were putting together a consistent string of results with only 1 race outside the top 4, with George & Sophie in 3rd. The fleet settled down for a curry and drinks to get refuelled after the 5 big races. 3 to go on Sunday.

Itchenor RS200 Open - photo © Mary Pudney

Sunday's racing was postponed whilst the sea breeze filled in which allowed some of the slower risers after the night before to get themselves set for the day ahead. However, it was a day that was owned by Matt & Emma who posted consecutive and comfortable bullets to take the event with a race to spare. The battle for 2nd was a lot closer, with 2 points departing 2nd to 4th overnight it was all to play for. James & Joanna drew first blood posting a 3rd, whilst George & Sophie pipped Nick & Alice, although it was for 11th & 12th. It was then their turn to struggle as George & Sophie managed to salvage a 4th in the second last race pulling them selves clear from Nick & Alice and level after the extra discard with James & Joanna. The stage was set, there was a general recall meaning the fleet restarted under a black flag disqualification and James & Joanna, Nick & Alice and George & Sophie all won the left hand side of the beat and after the top mark James & Joanna had managed to get away. George & Sophie chased hard all race but had to settle for 2nd and therefore 3rd overall. Matt & Emma found themselves down the pack, but I don't think they cared!

Many thanks to Bruce Grant and his team who ran a fantastic series in tough conditions. Also to George Rice and Nick Griffiths for organising the event and the dinner for all of us.

Overall Results: