Allspars Final Fling 2021 at Royal Western Yacht Club, England
by Keith Davies 11 Nov 2021 10:49 GMT
16-17 October 2021
On the weekend of the 16th/ 17th October the Royal Western Yacht Club hosted the annual Allspars Final Fling. As the weekend arrived and instead of a windy wet weekend in October that many of us have come to expect, especially when looking to travel long distances, the weather proved to be near perfect for the weekend. Even the wind filled in on cue each day at approx 0930 hrs and the sun burnt through the mist building to a southerly 6 - 8 knots and sun all day.
Royal Western Yacht Club, led by event organisers Nicola and Keith Davies and team, sponsored by Allspars and some of their suppliers including Harken, Marlow, Seldon and Spinlock, prizes were aplenty. With a climate of teams not travelling as much as had been the norm prior to Covid, the turnout proved to be a good mix of dinghies, ranging from current rules 18 Foot Skiff helmed by Scott Bonner from Allspars down to Izzy Cramp in her Byte.
The biggest classes in attendance were six Phantoms and five B14s. With some of the front of fleet sailors from several classes in attendance. The racing format was to be the same as in previous years with average lap courses around laid marks and a longer end of race each day touring the harbour, Race Officer Dan Gibbons and his team of helpers were going to have a busy day. For the first time the swelling fleet was split into two starts, starting first were the Fast Handicap with the split being the Phantoms being fastest in the Slow Handicap.
Day 1 and race 1, sausage course, it was time for the asymmetrics to stretch their legs. The fun on the first beat was one how to get an 18 footer off the line on time and then for the rest of the fleet how to avoid the wind shadow it created which was huge. B14 799 Seavolution/North Sails Mark Barnes/Charlotte Horlock hit the ground running and led the B14s from start to finish. Close racing in the slow handicap fleet had the Phantom of Martin Watts come out on top with Nigel Hufton crewed by Jeremy Stephens close behind in the Lark.
Race 2 and a triangle. The 18 foot Skiff played its joker on the first beat rolling and then covering the fleet up the first beat thus keeping the fast handicap fleet close together. In the Slow handicap it was a switch of places with Karl Thorne taking the win.
Race 3 and a tour of the Plymouth Sound finishing off of the club finish line. Message to note when sailing against an 18 foot skiff by all means win the pin, but make sure one can tack off soon as it comes hunting. In the Fast Handicap fleet the win was again taken by the B14 of Mark and Charlotte. With Martin back to the front of the slow handicap fleet.
Spot prizes provided by Allspars and were handed out after racing before people dispersed to their accommodation following the excesses of the sponsored bar.
Day 2 and more of the same with sun and wind of 6 - 8 knots sublime weather for October and some very tactical sailing due to the changing tide.
Race 4, again a sausage course and again tight racing in both fleets with Crispin Taylor taking the fast handicap win. With Nigel Hufton taking the slow handicap fleet.
Race 5 and a trapezoid. The big play here was seeing Barnsie/Char climbing out of the start and offering the Skiff the choice of slowing down or tacking, So after about 300 m. they tacked but failed to cross all the starboard tackers, and having to tack back, surprising an RS400 as they saw a 10 foot wing rolling through the air into their track. Thankfully no contact and no issue as both avoided each other, but interesting to watch. Nigel obviously now had his eye in and lined up another first in the slow handicap.
Race 6 and another big grand tour. Unfortunately the wind gods weren't playing to enable the traditional race around Plymouth Breakwater. Instead a virtual breakwater was designated between two Marks just inside the sound and all competitors raced around this.
The only question that now remained was who would be the Final Fling winner.
With an outstanding performance in the Fast Handicap of counting only first was Mark Barnes and Charlotte Horlock.
Nigel Hufton and Jeremy Stephens in the Lark took the Slow Handicap win.
The overalls after some number crunching the B14 of Mark and Charlotte came out on top.
Some standout points from the weekend was the dude 'Fresh' in the Scorpion sporting a mullet that the Fling Fling hasn't seen since the 80's!! We all know that Martin Watts is used to having a shore crew with the Mod 70, but to get your parents down to pack your Phantom away is a bit much!!
Mark Barnes commenting after the prize-giving, "Thanks to the club and team for some good courses and lines, club for their welcoming nature, especially the trolley team and finally Allspars and their suppliers for support, Next year's Final Fling will be on the 15 - 16th October. If you fancy some great handicap racing on a large semi sheltered area of water with great hosts, it is not one to miss."
Big thanks to all who supplied photos and to the competitors and volunteers for coming and making the Final Fling the great event it is.
Special thanks to Steve Andrew and his crew of Sunfire who manned and supplied the committee boat for the weekend.
Fast Handicap Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Class | Hcap | Owner | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Net |
|---|
| 1 | 799 | B14 | 860 | Charlotte Horlock | 1 | 1 | 1 | ‑2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | 789 | B14 | 860 | Crispin Taylor | 2 | ‑10 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
| 3 | 4588 | Laser 4000 | 917 | John Reynolds | ‑9 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 21 |
| 4 | 340 | CANOE INTE | 884 | Chris Hampe | 3 | 2 | 5 | ‑11 | 4 | 8.5 | 22.5 |
| 5 | GBR770 | B14 | 860 | Simon Hadley | 4 | 6 | 2 | 4 | ‑7 | 7 | 23 |
| 6 | 914 | RS 400 | 942 | James Torr | 7 | (DSQ) | 13 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 29 |
| 7 | GBR 12 | 18tf Skiff | 675 | Scott Bonner | ‑11 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 33 |
| 8 | 506 | RS 400 | 942 | Alex Zamaria | 10 | 4 | ‑11 | 9 | 6 | 8.5 | 37.5 |
| 9 | 764 | B14 | 860 | Tony Blackmore | 6 | 8 | 7 | ‑16 | 12 | 6 | 39 |
| 10 | 3772 | Merlin Roc | 980 | Dan Heaton | 5 | 3 | 12 | (DNC) | 11 | 10 | 41 |
| 11 | 4522 | Laser4000 | 917 | Oliver diBartolo | 8 | 9 | 8.5 | 10 | 10 | (DNC) | 45.5 |
| 12 | 4218 | Laser 4000 | 917 | Kevin Reed | 12 | ‑17 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 52 |
| 13 | 2713 | CONTENDER | 969 | Ben Hawkes | ‑17.5 | 11 | 8.5 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 61.5 |
| 14 | 694 | B14 | 860 | Rory Moppett | 13 | 13 | ‑15 | 8 | 15 | 13 | 62 |
| 15 | 445 | RS 400 | 942 | Jono Griffiths | 14 | 12 | ‑18 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 66 |
| 16 | 960 | RS 600 | 920 | Alex Carr | ‑16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 75 |
| 17 | 712 | RS 400 | 942 | Adam Littlejohn | 15 | 15 | ‑19 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 76 |
| 18 | 1035 | RS 700 | 845 | William Homewood | 17.5 | 14 | 10 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 87.5 |
| 19 | 1544 | Internatio | 760 | Declan Clamp | 20 | 18 | 17 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 101 |
| 20 | 5254 | Laser5000 | 846 | Ben Green | 19 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 111 |
Slow Handicap Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Class | Hcap | Owner | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Net |
|---|
| 1 | 2538 | LARK | 1073 | Nigel Hufton | 2 | ‑5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 2 | 1481 | PHANTOM | 1004 | Martin Watts | 1 | 3 | 1 | ‑7 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| 3 | 1391 | PHANTOM | 1004 | Nigel King | 5 | 2 | 5 | ‑20 | 6 | 3 | 21 |
| 4 | 2039 | SCORPION | 1041 | Karl Thorne | 3 | 1 | 4 | 11 | ‑14 | 5 | 24 |
| 5 | 5778 | SOLO | 1142 | Shaun Welsh | 7 | 8 | 12.5 | 2 | ‑15 | 6 | 35.5 |
| 6 | 2 | FINN | 1049 | Olly Murray | 9 | 7 | 8.5 | ‑13 | 4 | 9 | 37.5 |
| 7 | 386 | RS VAREO | 1093 | Ricrad Woods | 14 | 11 | 3 | ‑17 | 11 | 4 | 43 |
| 8 | 5642 | SOLO | 1142 | Stephen Roberts | 12 | 9 | (DNC) | 9 | 7 | 7 | 44 |
| 9 | 281 | RS 200 | 1046 | Dani Middleton | 11 | 13 | 12.5 | ‑16 | 5 | 8 | 49.5 |
| 10 | 1342 | PHANTOM | 1004 | Mark Spruce | 4 | 4 | 11 | 15 | (OCS) | 20 | 54 |
| 11 | 32 | LASER | 1100 | David Thompson | 13 | 15 | 7 | 5 | ‑19 | 14 | 54 |
| 12 | 13733 | GP14 | 1130 | Jason Culmer | 15 | 12 | ‑17 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 58 |
| 13 | 1986 | SCORPION | 1041 | Fresh Abendstern | 8 | OCS | 6 | 4 | 13 | (DNC) | 60 |
| 14 | 2470 | LARK | 1073 | Garry Packer | 16 | ‑21 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 69 |
| 15 | 15 | Bosun | 1198 | Roger Irvine | ‑22 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 10 | 70 |
| 16 | 1384 | PHANTOM | 1004 | Neil Boughton | 18 | 10 | ‑20 | 18 | 8 | 19 | 73 |
| 17 | 3127 | BYTE CI | 1215 | Izzy Cramp | 10 | 23 | (DNC) | 3 | 9 | DNC | 75 |
| 18 | 1173 | Sprog | 1173 | Stuart Barett | 6 | 6 | 8.5 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 80.5 |
| 19 | 132361 | LASER | 1100 | Sean Biggs | ‑20 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 18 | 13 | 82 |
| 20 | 189355 | LASER RADI | 1147 | Sam Blocksidge | ‑25 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 23 | 16 | 85 |
| 21 | 183223 | LASER | 1100 | Philip Bailey | 26 | 17 | 15 | (DNC) | 21 | 18 | 97 |
| 22 | 20215 | ENTERPRISE | 1122 | Daniel Ford | 19 | ‑26 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 12 | 98 |
| 23 | 2032 | SCORPION | 1041 | Steve Mitchell | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 6 | 3 | DNC | 99 |
| 24 | 1220 | PHANTOM | 1004 | Matt Blakeston | 23 | ‑25 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 101 |
| 25 | 1205 | PHANTOM | 1004 | Jon Rickard | 17 | 20 | 14 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 111 |
| 26 | Ven 452 | EUROPE | 1141 | Emma Tavinor | ‑27 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 17 | 113 |
| 27 | 416 | SOLUTION | 1092 | Stuart Jones | 21 | 22 | (DNC) | 23 | 20 | DNC | 116 |
| 28 | 6446 | LASER II | 1085 | Harry Cook & Elodie Grenel | ‑28 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 123 |
| 29 | 4 | Bosun | 1198 | Steve Oliver | 24 | 19 | 22 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 125 |