Magic Marine RS300 Spring Championship at Stewartby

by Steve Bolland 22 Mar 2016 13:49 GMT 19-20 March 2016

Startline during the Magic Marine RS300 Spring Championship at Stewartby Water © Jon Finch

In and over during the Magic Marine RS300 Spring Championship at Stewartby Water © Jon Finch

I remember when the season used to kick-off in February with the Winter Championship. I also remember it was usually too cold to sail. Over the years the season's opener has sensibly slipped back so it was renamed the Magic Marine Spring Championship this year. It certainly seemed to work, enticing 28 RS300 sailors out of Winter hibernation. Unfortunately the weather gods had failed to take note as there was still a sprightly and chilly Northerly to contend with, but at least you could still feel your fingers.

We were warmed up by the welcome from Stewartby though – tea and bacon sandwiches included in the entry fee and the prospect of home-cooked chilli later.

Dave Acres (Emsworth & Thorney Island), National Champion, brought his brand new boat up country and it was almost inevitable that he would have a coming together with Steve Bolland (Bristol Corinthian), in his clapped out old body boat, at some point. They always want claim the same bit of water at the same time. It happened sooner than anyone thought, vying for first place at the end of the second beat in race 1. Acres came off best, bullying Bolland to the extent of having to go back ashore to re-fix his pintles (after having got upright again). Martin Harrison (Royal Victoria) gained the most, going on to win from Rich Le Mare (Bartley).

After two more races it was looking good for the Midland boys with Bartley sailors Sam Knight and Le Mare holding first and second overall. We all thought they'd been practising all winter until Sam depressed us all by noting that this was the first time back in the boat since winning the Inlands in October.

Back ashore by 3.30pm we sensibly eschewed the open bar until very nearly 4 o'clock – it was clearly going to be a long night, but we're all grown up and sensible now so there were only a few of the youngsters partaking of the almost obligatory round of rums at closing time.

Half of the fleet assembled at the Little Chef for an Olympic breakfast on Sunday morning; I haven't had one of those for years but I can thoroughly recommend them as part of a calorie uncontrolled diet. Meanwhile, Alistair 'Storky' McLaughlin puts so much sugar in his coffee it will soon be attracting sugar tax at the higher rate. Back at the club it was apparent that the breeze had dropped a notch from Saturday and there was definitely more warmth in the air (just more warmth, still not actually warm).

Sam Knight started where he left off on Saturday and took the first bullet of the day and a nice lead overall. However, with Luke Pepper (Hykeham) taking a win in race 5 from Bolland and with Knight collecting a discard there was still all to play for going into the final race.

Fleet upwind during the Magic Marine RS300 Spring Championship at Stewartby Water - photo © Bill Strange

A 40 degree windshift delayed the start of the final race as the course was reset. What didn't change was the tactical genius of Bolland and Acres who repeated their feat of the previous race on the first beat by going hard left, holding on, holding on, keeping their nerve and waiting and waiting and waiting for the header (just in time) and reaching into the top mark and hoping there was a gap (there was!).

Most of the final race was a battle between Bolland, 'Storky' McLaughlin (Prestwick) and Don 'The Godfather' Skinner (Aldenham). Storky was caught out on the final beat by an outrageous shift and The Godfather took the lead when it matters, just before the finish for his first ever race win.

Many thanks to all at Stewartby involved with running a great event with a terrific turnout hosted by a most amenable club. Next stop is the Magic Marine Sprint Championship at Rutland on 23-24 June. The fleet is repairing to the Wheatsheaf for Saturday night food so go along to the RS300 Facebook Group here if you want to be included in the order.

Champion Steve Bolland with the Commodore's wife Sue Howcroft at the Magic Marine RS300 Spring Championship at Stewartby Water - photo © Dan Treloar

Overall Results:

Pos	Helm	Sail No	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Pts
1	Steve Bolland	411	Bristol Corinthian YC	29	3	1	3	2	2	11
2	Sam Knight	335	Bartley SC	4	1	2	1	6	6	14
3	Luke Pepper	518	Hykeham SC	3	6	6	12	1	7	23
4	David Acres	544	Emsworth and Thorney	7	4	4	5	3	9	23
5	Steve Sallis	476	Hykeham SC	5	29	3	4	8	8	28
6	Pete Ellis	500	Stewartby WSC	6	5	7	8	10	5	31
7	Dan Skinner	379	Aldenham SC	8	8	10	7	9	1	33
8	Alistair McLaughlin	490	Prestwick SC	13	29	5	6	7	3	34
9	Rich Le Mare	540	Bartley SC	2	2	8	14	20	29	46
10	Martin Harrison	481	Royal Victoria YC	1	7	16	11	16	18	51
11	Paul Watson	337	Bowmoor SC	17	9	9	10	12	14	54
12	Mark Newton	354	West Lancs YC	14	13	15	15	4	10	56
13	Rich Hargreaves	373	Stewartby WSC	21	11	18	9	11	12	61
14	Rob Jones	480	Warsash SC	9	10	12	18	24	16	65
15	Harry McVicar	523	Draycote	29	29	29	2	5	4	69
16	Julian Gunnell	479	Stewartby WSC	20	16	17	13	14	15	75
17	Alastair Wood	422	Bough Beech SC	16	15	29	16	19	11	77
18	Ben Green	315	Highcliffe SC	12	12	13	27	15	25	77
19	Ian Clark	527	Warsash SC	11	19	11	19	18	19	78
20	Dan Treloar	417	Stewartby WSC	19	17	14	21	21	13	84
21	Dan Cowin	347	Burghfield SC	10	21	21	17	26	22	91
22	Robin Jones	415	Hykeham SC	18	18	23	20	13	29	92
23	John Charles	384	Leigh‑on‑Sea SC	15	14	22	22	22	21	94
24	John Peters	515	Hykeham SC	24	22	20	24	25	17	107
25	Mark Taylor	336	Prestwick SC	22	20	19	25	23	23	107
26	Jimmy Ruddiman	426	Glossop SC	23	29	29	26	17	20	115
27	Alan Edwards	356	Hawley Lake	29	29	29	23	27	24	132
28	Marcus Flint	530	Aldenham SC	29	29	24	29	29	29	140