Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

Gul RS400 Inland Championships at Grafham Water Sailing Club

by RS Class Association 9 Oct 2008 10:57 BST 4-5 October 2008

Nick Craig & Toby Lewis win in style

Grafham Water Sailing Club played host to the RS400 for the Gul RS400 Inland Championships. When competitors turned up they found extremely strong winds and damaging gusts dancing across the race course. During race one, several masts were lost and everyone capsized at some point. Paul and Mike Allen had a race-long duel with Nick Craig/Toby Lewis, with the Allens doing just a little less swimming to take the win. With carnage behind, Paul Hilliar/Stu Jagger benefited from a late splash from Craig/Lewis to take second place.

After a long break ashore to wait for the wind to abate, the fleets were informed that the wind was now ‘only 22 knots, so everyone should launch’. So those with undamaged boats duly launched. Unfortunately the race officer must have got confused and thought that 22 knots was average boatspeed that people would be going downwind at because there was plenty more carnage. Amazingly staying upright this time, Craig/Lewis powered away to win from Josh Metcalfe/Iwan Bastan, with Hilliar/Jagger soggily in third.

Sunday morning started with a thorough soaking for everyone in the building breeze but the racing started on time, with Chris Gowers/June Riley leading followed by Craig/Lewis. The leading two worked out a pretty big lead from the chasing pack and finished with Craig/Lewis in pole position.

For the second race, the Allens led for the first couple of laps, followed by James Donwer/James French. With just the final downwind remaining, there were four boats neck and neck at the windward mark. Craig/Lewis took the bullet from Hilliar/Jagger and the Allens.

A cold and depleted fleet sailed the final race in almost as much wind as the previous day. Plenty of swims ensued but the final result was the same with Craig/Lewis winning from Gowers/Riley and securing the title of Gul RS400 Inland Champions.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5Pts
1st1237Nick CraigToby TasticFrensham Pond-311114
2nd1322Paul HilliarStu JaggerBristol Corinthian YC2332-410
3rd1155Paul AllenMichael AllenLeigh & Lowton1(DNC)153322
4th645Josh MetcalfeIwan BastanPort Dinorwic SC10256(DNC)23
5th716Chris LarrKaren LarrNorthampton SC47-167624
6th1340Sam NealAndy PalmerGWSC65-2311830
7th1210Jim DownerJames FrenchRoyal Victoria YC(DNC)10651334
8th1139James GeorgeMatt ForbesDatchet SC811129-1740
9th1251Howard FarbrotherNathan PinchQueen Mary SC(DNC)414131041
10th1231Rob MartinJan MartinBurghfield SC7(RAF)8121441
11th1204Chris GowersJune RileyY Felinneli(RAF)DNC24242
12th1176Eric LarsonCJ AkessonQueen Mary SC14(DNC)416943
13th1172Alex FlemingJoe HartiganLeigh & Lowton1287-201643
14th1325John CooperBecci WigleyLymington Town SC5121121(DNC)49
15th1121Henry MaplesSimon DowningMount Batten SC(RAF)917151253
16th1339Mark ReddingtonColin StaiteBartley SC9(DNC)13231156
17th1082Mike HartSally KilpatrickPort Dinorwic SC(RAF)DNC108557
18th1300Barrie ThorntonAlex OygstonGWSC1361822(OCS)59
19th813Will ParrettChris GrosscurthFelpham SC18(DNC)22181573
20th1330Jim RosserRobyn RosserHickling Broad SC11(DNC)1919DNC83
21stNo numberChris BaileyJane BaileyDraycote Water SC16(DNC)2017DNC87
22nd1135Nick HuntFatama CooperScaling Dam SC(DNC)DNC914DNC91
23rd1275Sam ParkerAnna LudgateWeston SC(DNC)DNC2110DNC99
24th511Tom EvansDanielle FranklinWeston SC19(DNC)2825DNC106
25th702John Charles Leigh-on-Sea SC(DNC)DNCDNCDNC7109
26th745Chris GreenenDave GilpinGurnard SC(DNC)DNC2424DNC116
27th1101Simon BakerGraham HayesQueen Mary SC15(DNC)DNCDNCDNC117
28th744Fiona BoltIain LewisQueen Mary SC17(DNC)DNCDNCDNC119
29th1235Chris HornJane HornRestronguet SC(DNC)DNC2527DNC120
30th927Chris LeiversClare WakelyWhitefriars SC(DNC)DNCDNC26DNC128
31st938Damir GusicGary HillKing George SC(DNC)DNC26DNCDNC128
32nd854Rob LeeDave ThompsonWhitefriars SC(DNC)DNC27DNCDNC129
33rd453Simon PalmerJames PalmerLocks SC(RAF)DNCDNCDNCDNC136

Related Articles

Poole Week Revitalised For 2025
New race teams and new courses for the summer's big event How do you make a great sailing week even better, without losing the elements that have always made it a great sailing week? Posted on 24 May RS Northern Championships at Strangford Lough
Tight racing across the RS Aero, RS200 and RS400 classes The RS Northern Championships came to Strangford Lough Yacht Club in County Down, producing some tight racing across the RS Aero, RS200 and RS400 classes. Posted on 19 May 15% Off New Sails with Early Bird Entry
For RS sailors who going to any UK National Championships RS Sailing Store is proud to support the UK RS Class Associations and their events in 2025. RS Sailors gearing up for their 2025 UK season can take advantage of an exclusive offer to help them hit the start line with fresh sails. Posted on 17 May RS400 Trident UK Northern Tour at Bala
Event doubled up as the Northern Championship too Bala was the venue for the third round of the Trident UK Northern Tour, which also doubled up as the Northern Championship as part of the Rooster National Tour. Posted on 15 May Sailing Chandlery RS400 Southern Tour at Salcombe
Boy, did it deliver: sun, wind and crystal blue water Salcombe is a highlight in the 400 calendar. We were met with a stunning sailing location which is a combination of a great race course and a beautiful backdrop. Posted on 8 May Exciting News from the RS400 Eurocup
Enter the prize draw to win a brand new spinnaker In association with Mercedes Benz Belfast we're excited to announce an exclusive prize draw to win a brand new RS400 spinnaker! Posted on 7 May RS Spring Shakedown at Carrickfergus
RS400 racing season in Northern Ireland kicks off with new event The RS400 racing season in Northern Ireland kicked off on Sunday 27th April with a new event called the Spring Shakedown organised by Paul Robinson and the team at Carrickfergus Sailing Club. Posted on 29 Apr Mercedes-Benz to sponsor RS400 Eurocup
Including UK and Irish Nationals at Belfast Lough The Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club is delighted to announce that Mercedes-Benz of Northern Ireland, part of the Agnew Group, will be the title sponsor of the RS400 Eurocup and UK/Irish Nationals, set to take place on Belfast Lough in August 2025. Posted on 16 Apr RS400 TridentUK Northern Tour at Yorkshire Dales
The forecast promised a bit of everything The RS400 Trident UK Northern Tour moved to Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club for the second event of the season. The forecast promised a bit of everything, and that's certainly what we got. Posted on 14 Apr RS400 TridentUK Northern Tour at Leigh & Lowton
A 38mph gust was recorded on the committee boat A warm welcome at Leigh and Lowton SC was provided to twelve RS400s for the first event of the TridentUK Northern Tour of 2025. Just one race was planned before lunch by the PRO, Mike Baldwin. A SW F2-4 made conditions quite tricky. Posted on 1 Apr
Copyright 2025 YY Online Services Ltd. registered in England no. 7895890
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy