RS100 Eurocup at St Raphael, France - Overall

Yet another perfect start to a day in Saint Raphael for the RS100 fleet – clear blue skies, Mistral winds, and temperatures in the mid twenties. It just doesn’t get any better than this...

Course set and committee boat on station, meant for a prompt start for the international fleet of sailors, many of which were recovering from the hospitable night before aboard Michael Wilsons Azimut 68, which duly led into some very late nights for some!

Race 1 – Racing started on time, with the course being laid just outside of the marina entrance for all spectators to watch in the increasing 16-20knt conditions. The Starboard biased line left the main fleet fighting for position at the committee boat end, with others getting clear mid line starts and just going for speed. Peters (GBR) lead around the first mark after a solid first beat, with the rest of the fleet hot on his heals. With Kites launched, it showed some real talent in the fleet as the leaders came airborne down the course. Partridge (GBR) had awesome pace as he came through the fleet in a gust and made ground on the leading pack.

At the leeward mark Peters overstood with a late drop, having to tack around, allowing Harrison (GBR), Hayter (GBR), and Honor (FRA) to catch up. Demo Dave (GBR) fought well up the second beat by sailing close to the well positioned cruise ship to get himself back into the race. A windy last run split the fleet across both sides of the course with Peters taking advantage of a good lead. Demo Dave managed to get through Harrison and Hayter by the leeward mark to take second. Figueras (ESP) looked like he was going to pinch 7th from Partridge but stuck it in the tide meters from the line.

Race 2 – With the wind easing slightly the final race was set. The fleet again fought for the committee boat end, resulting in most having good clear starts. The breeze increased as the fleet neared the windward mark, and this time Geerling (NED) lead the fleet from Peters, Demo Dave, Honor (FRA), Harrison and Vaughan (GBR), who were regularly changing position. Again the fleet split for the down wind leg seeing sailors jostle for position in the gusty winds, with Demo Dave making the most of the leg to close ground on Peters. The final windward leg of the regatta for the leaders, was confronted by Partridge still on the down wind leg, with bow up, spray everywhere, and joyous shouts of ‘Saint Raphael Baby, yea’ only for him to capsize in a port/starboard last minute call.

The breeze increased again for the final run which left Peters overstanding and having to make an early drop, to then having to single sail to the leeward mark. This left Demo Dave a chance to take the lead after an early gybe, and a final blast to the leeward mark. Demo Dave managed to get the inside line at the mark from Peters who came back with pace in a gust to roll him right on the line to take first. Harrison, Hayter and Honor fought out the final run with again some tactical gybes to the finish.

The racing did not stop with the top six. There were battles right through the fleet, Richard Rot coming out top NED boat, Lars Holm (DEN) winning the battle of the Lars (GER). Partridge took the champagne honors from Wilson. Hilde Van Susante (NED) was 1st lady. And Jones (GBR) will return to the club house at Chelmarsh with his head held high.

Special thanks must go to the Club Nautique of Saint Raphael for the running of the event and making the RS100 sailors from 8 countries so welcome. Words cannot some up the how spectacular this event has been... only one phase comes to mind... Living the Dream!

Overall Results:

1: Nick Peters (Grande-Bretagne) 1,4,1,1,2,1,1,1, 6pts
2: Mark Harrison (Grande-Bretagne) 12,1,3,3,1,2,3,3, 13pts
3: Dave Demo (Grande-Bretagne) 5,6,4,2,7,5,2,2, 20pts
4: Nicolas Honor (S R de Creil) 2,3,2,8,11,3,5,5, 20pts
5: Sam Vaughan (Grande-Bretagne) 3,2,6,5,6,4,6,7, 26pts
6: Hayter Vince (Grande-Bretagne) 6,5,8,4,3,9,4,4,26 pts
7: Marc Figueras (Espagne) 4,9,5,6,4,6,8,9, 33pts
8: Christopher Kirk (Grande-Bretagne) 11,7,10,9,5,11,11,6, 48pts
9: Richard Rot (Hollande) 15,13,9,7,8,8,9,11, 52pts
10: Michiel Geerling (Hollande) 8,10,7,10,9,10,13,12, 54pts
11: Lars Holm (Danemark) 10,8,15,13,10,7,12,8, 55pts
12: Jon Partridge (Grande-Bretagne) 9,12,13,12,13,12,7,13, 65pts
13: Michael Wilson (Grande-Bretagne) 7,16,12,11,12,16,16,DNF, 74pts
14: Miroslav Horak (Repub.Tcheque) 14,15,14,18,16,13,14,10, 80pts
15: Jordi Blanc (Espagne) 13,14,11,17,DNF,DNS,10,DNF, 86pts
16: Hilde Susante (Hollande) 17,18,18,16,15,15,17,14, 94pts
17: Chris Jones (Grande-Bretagne) 19,11,19,19,18,18,15,15, 96pts
18: Lars Wegner (Allemagne) 18,19,17,14,14,14,DNF,DNF, 96pts
19: Tony Jukes (Grande-Bretagne) 16,17,16,15,17,17,DNF,16, 97pts
--: Paolo Pasquini (Italie) DNS,DNS,DNF,DNS,DNS,DNS,DNS,DNS, 126pts