Gul RS800 Nats at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club Overall
by Rachel Morgan 13 Sep 2007 17:36 BST
8-12 September 2007
The 2007 GUL RS800 National Championships went out with a bang on the final day of racing. With big gains and losses all riding on the outcome, tension was running high...
Despite a frustratingly light wind from the northeast, Race Office Maggie Macdonald waited for the sea breeze to fill in before getting the start sequence running. With a last race cut-off time of 1:30 pm, there was still a chance that two races would be held...
For many however it all went wrong from the word go – a general recall on a black flag start made and broke many people’s regatta. Class Chairman Ian Martin and LDC’s Adam Broughton suffered the biggest blow of the fleet, one black flag too many for them, ruining their chances of a top five finish. Then there was Neil Baker and James ‘Uzzi’ Hughes’ bad luck. The hunters became the hunted as event leaders Peter Barton/David Steed (Skifftastic) sailed the duo across the start line taking them out of contention for top spot and indeed their overnight second place. Infact, the majority of the top ten sailed themselves out of the race opening up some nice opportunities for the other boats.
By the second start the fleet got off without a hitch and this time Mick Whitmore and Sarah Smith from Eastbourne showed a clean pair of heels to the remaining boats and rounded the top mark in 1st place ahead of Giles Bradford/Helen Farr and Andy Jeffries/Ally Ody.
By the end of the short 3-lap course Lawrie Fitzjohn-Sykes and Dan Allin had the winning form and took the bullet ahead of Rob Style and Ben Lister in second and Whitmore/Smith in 3rd.
With literally seconds until the last-race time limit the fleet were thrown into another hectic start sequence. But it wasn’t to be, a significant wind shift caused the start to be abandoned and the regatta was declared over!
So, the top prizes went to the following:
In the Gold Fleet, third place went to Charlie Roome and Steve Hall who proved consistent in the light and breezier conditions. A stunning performance including two first-paces by Lawrie Fitzjohn-Sykes and Dan Allin rewarded them with 2nd place overall but there was no mistaking the National Champions for 2007… Even when conditions became more lottery-like than fair sailing, one team still excelled above the rest. Peter Barton and David Steed (Skifftastic) from Lymington took first place and the National Championship title for 2007.
In the Silver Fleet Jamie Hilton and Tom Street fought hard to secure third place just behind Andrew Pickrell and Jonathan White who took second. But it was Simon Grundy and James ‘Gimp’ Holmes that took overall honours and secured 1st place in the silver fleet for 2007.
Mick Whitmore was awarded the first Master’s prize in 9th place while Sam Maxfield and Chris Fisher won the first Youth Boat Award in 13th. Sarah Marriott (Fat Face) won the first lady crew award in 6th overall while Jane Olive secured the lady helm prize in 17th.
A huge thank you must go to Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club for hosting a fantastic National Championship. While the wind didn’t do exactly what we’d all have hoped for, everything else about the competition exceeded expectations. The food, the shore support, the race committee and the club’s all round enthusiasm made the event particularly special; thank you to everyone that made it all work so well.
Lots of appreciation also to our Sponsors, GUL, Holmenkol, Xtremity, C2 Marine, Velocitek, Harken, LDC Racing Sailboats and West Country Boat Repairs; without your generosity the event could never have been so successful.
For the real keen sailors amongst the fleet the next event is the Tide Ride this weekend at HISC. The Inlands then follow at the beginning of October at Grafham, hope to see you all there!