RS Vareo Open at Tata Steel Sailing Club

RS Vareos at Tata Steel © Andrew Davies

Race 1

Saturday started in a force 4 with a clean start. Simon Collinson rounded the windward mark 1st with Andrew Davies 2nd, Jeremy Simons 3rd then closely followed by the rest of the fleet. The fleet split right and left with a few spills on the way down to the leeward gates making changes up wind for the second beat. Simon Collinson held onto his lead for the next two laps and finished in 1st place. Jeremy finished 2nd but had battled with Andy Howard who finished 3rd followed by Richard Willows 4th and Andrew Davies 5th.

Race 2

Another clean start with a couple of boats spotting a wind shift and going for a Port end flyer. Andrew Davies stayed on Starboard to tack on the pin forcing the flyers behind, but Bob Taylor still passed clear of the rest and held his is lead around the windward mark followed by Mark Govier 2nd Richard Willows 3rd.. Bob Taylor lost a few places down wind but regained his lead up the beat to round again 1st, followed by Richard Willows 2nd and Andy Howard 3rd. Places changed again down wind with Andy and Alex having a close battle to the leeward gates. The last beat Richard Willows round 1st Andy Howard 2nd and Alex Howard 3rd finishing in this order. Jeremy had a spill on the last gybe to the gate allowing Andrew Davies through to 4th, Jeremy righted in time to finish 5th.

Race 3

The wind held its force 4 for the start of the last race of the day with Simon Collinson powering his way to the windward Mark followed closely by Richard Willows. There was a close battle between Andy Howard, Alex Howard and Andrew Davies for 3rd. Andy Howard Rounded 3rd leaving Alex Howard and Andrew Davies battle down wind for 4th. Simon and Richard changed places during he next couple of laps but Richard got through on the last leg to finish 1st, Simon 2nd, Andy Howard 3rd, Andrew Davies 4th and Alex Howard 5th.

Race 4

A steady force 2-3 was as forecast for the start on Sunday. Everyone was tacking looking for clean air and best shift to the windward mark. Mark Govier rounded first, Andrew Davies 2nd and Jeremy Simons 3rd. Mark had a problem with his spinnaker allowing Andrew to take the lead followed by Jeremy, Richard, Simon and Bill Jackson. Andrew and Jeremy managed to make a small break on the rest of the fleet and battled for the lead. Andrew cover gybing to hold the lead through the leeward gate, but Jeremy calling starboard on the approach to the line for the last beat. Andrew tacked early not to risk a penalty was then forced past the pin of the start line by Jeremy until he could tack on the lay line for the beat. Jeremy then held on for the win Andrew was 2nd, Richard 3rd, Simon 4th and Bill 5th

Race 5

The wind picked up to a steady 4 with the well behaved fleet starting clean again. Simon showed the way to the windward mark closely followed by Jeremy, Richard, Paul and Mark. All spinnakers flying the fleet made their way down to the gates. Simon held his lead upwind with Jeremy and Richard staying close on his tail. Andrew got through to 4th and Paul 5th. The last down wind leg Jeremy had good speed to Pass Simon before the gate and held on through the line to finish 1st, Simon 2nd Richard 3rd, Andrew 4th and Paul 5th. Alex and Andy had a close battle with Alex holding his lead to finish in front of Andy.

Race 6

The wind picked up to a force 5 and shifting caused the postponement flag to be raised. After resetting the line the tired fleet were off up wind giving all to get to the windward mark. Simon rounded 1st with Richard 2nd, Paul 3rd, Jeremy 4th and Andy 5th. A spectacular sight of all Vareos flying down wind with Richard making the gybing look easy passed Simon to take the lead, Paul getting used to the borrowed Vareo showing good skill holding 3rd, Jeremy 4th and Andy 5th. All battled hard but the positions remained the same with Richards 1st place meant a well deserved 1st overall for the weekend.

A big thanks to all 20+ club volunteers for the weekend including help from the local Port Talbot Sea Cadets with launching and recovery of trolleys.

Overall Results: