RS Feva open meeting at Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club

Niamh and Rowan Baker at the RS Feva open at Island Barn Reservoir © Jim Champ

An interesting day for the Feva Open: it started off almost windless, but the breeze filled in adequately for the first race, and it got better thereafter. Courses were windward leeward with a spreader at the top and a gate at the bottom. A rather disappointing attendance, but everyone did get some competitive racing in.

Race one looked like a very big win for Joe Slipper and Téa Sirolla from Queen Mary, but sadly they'd misinterpreted the sailing intructions and sailed the course incorrectly. Ching Wong and Elinor O'Leary from the home club gratefully accepted the kind gift, and took the win, with Tom Williamson and Maisie Bristow, also from the home club, second. Charlie Harris and Robert Pleasance, also from Queen Mary, took third place.

In race 2 Joe & Téa made no navigation errors and won quite handily, whilst Ching and Elinor took second place after a tight battle with Tom & Maisie and Niamh Baker and Rowen Baker from Silver Wing. This race saw especial drama and multiple unforced errors at the last spreader mark, but I don't think the competitors will thank me for reporting the detail...

Overall winners Ching Wong and ElinorOLeary battling with runners up Joe Slipper and Tea Sirolla at the RS Feva open at Island Barn Reservoir - photo © Jim Champ

After lunch, in a little more breeze, Ching and Elinor won the third race after a very hard fought battle with Joe & Téa. Niamh and Rowen took third place.

Joe & Téa pulled out the stops to win race 4 handily from Ching and Elinor which put those two all square going into the last race. Niamh and Rowen took the third spot again.

So, last race, and hard fought it was too. The lead changed several times, nor least on the last downwind leg, but in the end Ching and Elinor took the gun and the event from Joe & Téa by a very small margin. Third went to Tom and Maisie, which also gave them third overall.

One quote I liked. After the racing one of the competitors was asked, about a downwind mark rounding which involved two boats gybing from port to starboard and back to port again at or near the zone, with overlaps made and broken:
"Was there a lot of shouting?"
"No, we both know the rules."
If only all of their elders could conduct themselves in a similar sporting manner...

Tom Williamson and Maisie Bristow gybing for clear air ahead of Charlie Harris and Robert Pleasance at the RS Feva open at Island Barn Reservoir - photo © Jim Champ

Overall Results: