RS200 Inland National Championship at Grafham Water Sailing Club

Forty-five teams ventured the weather - you will recall last weekend being wetter than a U-boat's number plate. On the subject of soaking, there was a tweaky force 2-3 to negotiate.

Upon arrival, I noted much cheery brandishing of gunk sachets and also that all were observant of pandemic restrictions, with no one showing symptoms. Some apparently are more careful than others - Edd Whitehead tells me he likes to feel his tester calls every day. Odd. Still, by and large, all endured the sub-optimal experience of squidging into rubber in a gravel car park in the rain in very good humour. Apart from the lady who lost her pants, but that's another story.

The Race Officer decided not to mess about too much, with two teams locked down for race 1, OCS. Thereafter the day saw more black flags than an Isis convention. Grafham's own Robbie King and Bethan Matthew distanced themselves in race 1.

RS200 Inlands at Grafham Water - photo © Nigel Denchfield

Race 2 became dystopian life's metaphor as the fleet chased a near 180 degree wind shift, on a fetch tighter than a cling-film jockstrap. The Race Officer sensibly binned that one. There was only time for a third race (so no discards), won by Arran Holman and Toby Lewis.

Overall winners were the consistent locals, Alex Smallwood and Callum Farnden, tellingly, sailing a relatively old boat -though like old cars and helms, it's not the age but the mileage.

RS200 Inlands at Grafham Water - photo © Nigel Denchfield

Everyone always thanks the Race Officer, but Nigel Denchfield and his team deserve great credit for getting it right. I also like the 3,2,1,Go sequence. As I said, no messing around.

Thanks also to Hannah Liptrott, the new RS200 Administrator. On the day, every fleet likes to see their rep deliver planning, delegate roles, and then hand jobs out on the clubhouse balcony.

Overall Results: