RS800 UK Circuit 2009

80 teams compete over 8 events

The prize giving for the RS800 UK Circuit 2009 took place on the Saturday evening of the recent Inland Champs and many happy sailors walked away with crates of vino as reward for their seasons endeavors. In all 80 teams competed over the 8 event series and enjoyed some fantastic racing in a variety of some of the UKs premier lake and coastal racing venues of Chew, Datchet, Weymouth, Stokes, Beer, Lymington, Hayling and Torquay providing a full variety of conditions to test the fleet.

Ben McGrane & Olivier Vidal ‘Selden’ where hot out of the blocks winning the first 3 events before other commitments curtailed their completing the series.

Spod Olive & Guy Fillmore ‘Harken’ nailed a consistent series to count 2,3,4,4 to take 3rd overall. Ben Schooling & George Kingsnorth made a late comeback winning the final event to Torquay to count 4,6,2,1 to take 2nd.

However it was the form team of Rob Watson and John Clifton from Royal Lymington Yacht Club who proved able to win events in both light and windy conditions. They were always in contention, racking up quality counters to accumulate a 4,4,1,1 to take the 2009 UK Circuit title.

Mick Whitmore & Sarah Smith counted a steady 9,15,10,7 to win the Silver fleet in 14th overall, from Edd Whitehead & Karen Baker in 16th.

The 2010 UK circuit kicks off again at Chew in March and offers a similar array of sought after host venues. There is a focus on even spacings between events and the events are to be stacked towards the early season so the series should provide excellent preparation for the championships later in the year. The Garda Eurocup is late July, the National Championships are in September at Exmouth and the Inland Champs are in October.

Overall Results: