Gul RS800 Nationals at Mayflower Sailing Club

by RS Class Association 13 Sep 2004 15:57 BST 28-31 August 2004

Seventy, yes, seventy (70!) RS800’s made the trip to Plymouth for the Nationals over the bank holiday weekend in August. After protests at last year’s class meeting and requests for an alternate venue, this was a nice surprise. Quite a surprise too for Mayflower SC as they were expecting 50.

Day one and Plymouth was true to form, 3 knots of breeze from the SW and 2 races inside the breakwater. For 40 of the boats present this was a bit of a come down after Lake Garda. With the start line strategically positioned next to Drake Island and the windward mark positioned in the middle of the channel in on the Western side of the breakwater coin flicking was required on the start line to decide which way to go and no real pattern to which way was favoured, it was embarrassing for the rest of us when after a few general recalls (a running theme for the rest of the week), Steve Irish and Martin Gotrel get a 1,2 and Clive and Philip Goodwin score 4,1. Dom Johnson and Jenny Healey also sailed very well in their first RS event proper to score 2,6. Merlin Rocket legend Phil King sailing with Andrew Robertson finished 3rd in race one after leading at the weather mark.

After the usual messy RS night out, the fleet awoke on day two to classic 15 –18 knots WSW and nice rolling waves out in the bay, perhaps it was going to be a good regatta? PRO and Commodore of Mayflower Dave Curno took the fleet outside into the bay. After a short postponement, James Date and Mark Hogan built a comfortable lead followed by Irish/Gotrel. Unfortunately at this point the marks started to drift off and the rescue boat trying to restore the leeward gate got its prop around the anchor warp, anchored stern to in the waves and got swamped. Race abandoned, to be resumed inside the harbour for some change-sides-when-the-sails-do racing. Haworth/Aston led out of the start line and never looked back to take the win followed again by Goodwin/Goodwin who were now leading the regatta. Mike Senior and Toby Wincer claimed 3rd. And that was all we had time for in the 5 hours spent on the water.

Day 3 and an early start to catch up the lost race program? Fortunately for some this was not the case and the 1300 start remained. Anyway, out in the bay for 4 races. Upon leaving the harbour by the Eastern exit and sailing downwind to find the committee boat, the fleet were surprised to have to harden up to find the committee boat. Apparently perfect conditions out in the bay though, with 20 knots NW and nice waves again, but we were right up against the breakwater in shifty patchy conditions, ranging from out of control to capsized to windward.

Race one and it was Ben McGrane and Pete Lindley leading at the windward mark, followed by Date/Hogan and Haworth/Aston. Date/Hogan moved into the lead. The orange start line flag still flew from the committee boat and the race had only been going half an hour, so off round for another lap to watch McGrane/Lindley and Haworth/Aston sail through the finish. Date/Hogan turned around to return to the finish only to watch the other two start racing again after receiving no sound signal, so turned round again for another lap. The board had been changed from 6 to 3 laps before the 5 minute signal. This was to be a topic for the protest room. Regatta leaders the Goodwins had a lucky escape from all this drama as they were convincingly sunk by Lizzie Edwards and Ian Williams and amazingly managed to get home despite the hole in the underside of their boat and the long upwind sail back in from outside the breakwater in a partially submerged boat! McGrane/Lindley stayed on top form for the rest of the day scoring 1,3,3 and Haworth/Aston scored 9,2,2. Dave Sayce and Chris Doe scored a 3rd in the 2nd race of the day to add to their 4th and 5th from Saturday and Sunday to move them up the leader board. Ronnie Miller and Pete Marshall took a superb win in race three after coming from left hand side on lap 2 to overtake the leaders who had stayed right out of the leeward gate, and they pulled away to win comfortably: Ronnie’s first RS Nationals race win! Irish/Gotrel won the last race of the day to follow up their 2 and a 4 in the previous 2 races. Ollie Page and James Perry also had a good day with a 5,10,5 to add to a 7th from day one, this saw them in the top 6.

Some people had had enough and headed home on Monday night leaving a depleted fleet of 50 boats to wait around on Tuesday morning for a sea breeze to fill in so that they could top the week off with some more harbour racing. This gave time to sort out protests and redress requests from the day before, Race 4 was lobbed out and Clive and Phil were awarded average points for the three races they missed. With their previous races being 4,1,2, they were looking good overall and it was all to play for between Irish/Gotrel and the Goodwins. The breeze built nicely to occasional twin wiring conditions.

As they did last year, Irish/Gotrel came out and won the last two races, to take a convincing and deserved victory after sailing very well all year. Counting 4 firsts and 2 seconds in a fleet of this quality is not a bad result! Clive and Phil secured 2nd overall with an excellent 3,2 on the final day having only competed in just over half the regatta! Haworth/Aston completed their comeback from a first day disaster to get 5, 5 and take 3rd overall. McGrane/Lindley did enough to hold fourth and Date/Hogan salvaged themselves to 5th with a 2, 4 on the last day.

Definitely an interesting week and well summed up by Steve in his speech, ‘at least the races we had were okay!’ and ‘all in all a good Nationals’. Top marks to the club members and volunteers who helped the shore side of things run smoothly however, particularly the galley staff for the all-day catering plus the Commodore’s reception and barbeque evenings. And even more top marks to Dave Curno for remaining good humoured throughout!

Two major pluses from the long weekend: 70 boats at the Nationals after 40 at Garda, with plenty of enthusiasm, new faces in the fleet, and the new people from last year starting to make an impression as they find their feet in the boat. And of course Steve Irish and Martin Gotrel are very worthy National Champions.

There was discussion at the class meeting about splitting the fleet: running round robin flights leading to a day of finals as they do with the 49er. If the fleet continues to grow this would be a good move, with more room on the race course, closer points at the top and prizes lower down the order for the top in the silver fleet. The Inlands and the Tide Ride are next, and next year the Nationals are at Pwllheli Sailing Club, one of the best venues in the country, with superb sailing, easy launching off the beach, and nowhere for everyone to disappear to in the evenings, so the socials in the marquee should be fantastic.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	Pts
1	1058	Steve Irish	Martin Gotrel	Draycote Water Sailing Club	1	2	6	2	4	1	1	1	8
2	1061	Clive Goodwin	Philip Goodwin	Brightlingsea Sailing Club	4	1	2	2	2	2	3	2	12
3	1064	Chris Haworth	Stuart Aston	Bristol Corinthian Y C	16	71	1	9	2	2	5	5	24
4	1044	Ben McGrane	Pete Lindley	HISC/RYA	71	14	4	1	3	3	8	15	33
5	1080	James Date	Mark Hogan	Stokes Bay Sailing Club	7	13	12	21	7	10	2	4	42
6	1057	Alan Olive	Jane Norris	Stokes Bay Sailing Club	21	31	9	4	6	13	7	8	47
7	1065	Ronald Millar	Peter Marshall	Dalgety Bay Sailing Club	13	12	71	6	1	71	15	7	54
8	985	David Sayce	Chris Doe	Hayling Island Sailing Club	17	4	5	3	12	21	16	21	57
9	1054	Justin Deal	Sarah Marriott	Datchet Water Sailing Club	71	8	10	11	25	9	12	11	61
10	964	Ian Martin	John Marshall	Datchet Water Sailing Club	25	3	16	13	20	71	4	13	69
11	1010	Oliver Page	James Perry	Lancing Sailing Club	71	7	17	5	10	5	34	26	70
12	839	Alex Davies	Sarah Hughes	Draycote Water Sailing Club	5	38	11	16	19	14	26	12	77
13	860	Andy Jeffries	Allyson Ody	Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club	71	15	18	7	5	19	33	20	84
14	931	Mike Senior	Toby Wincer	Bolton Sailing Club	10	37	3	15	14	71	10	71	89
15	885	Tim Boon	R Evans	Felixtowe Ferry	6	11	71	12	21	27	25	17	92
16	918	Ian Gore	Andrew Pickerell	Grafham Water Sailing Club	9	26	71	25	30	17	9	14	100
17	961	Philip King	Andrew Robertson	Oxford Sailing Club	3	25	33	34	71	71	11	3	109
18	1059	Ralph Singleton	Sophie Singleton	Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club	12	17	22	28	27	22	13	32	113
19	874	Jamie Reid	Alastair Rose	Royal Thames Y C	24	71	24	22	31	15	6	23	114
20	1046	Charlie Coulborn	Richard Buckingham	Stokes Bay Sailing Club	35	40	13	26	8	4	37	34	120
21	1047	Dan Holman	Jeremey Elliott	Kinsale YC	15	71	45	8	16	71	17	19	120
22	989	Craig Hepplewhite	Ben Schooling	Datchet Water Sailing Club	33	35	22	14	17	20	27	24	124
23	1075	Lizzie Edwards	Ian Williams	Datchet WSC/Royal Corinthian	71	20	71	40	23	12	32	9	136
24	1050	Matt Adams	John Date	Stokes Bay Sailing Club	23	16	71	10	11	7	71	71	138
25	919	Chris Stevens	Nick Farrer		19	27	71	24	13	71	23	36	142
26	878	Sam Neal	Mandy Bretherton	Grafham Water Sailing Club	38	10	28	39	71	71	19	10	144
27	925	Simon Jenkins	Neil Arnott	Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club	28	36	39	31	28	11	18	28	144
28	943	Laurie Fitzjohn-sykes	Daniel Allin	Paignton Sailing Club	20	9	20	71	71	71	14	16	150
29	1084	Matt Critchley	Ben Stiff	Stokes Bay Sailing Club	43	34	19	30	26	23	28	27	153
30	979	Chris Hoppens	Martin Winter	Mayflower SC	48	71	32	18	36	16	35	22	159
31	909	Alex Taylor	Sam Lones	South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club	40	42	27	36	42	8	20	30	161
32	808	Daniel Tregaskes	Polly Tresgaskes	Restronguet Sailing Club	26	30	71	20	37	24	29	37	166
33	956	Ian Martin	Claire Booth	Datchet Water Sailing Club	32	29	71	19	9	6	71	71	166
34	974	Ian Jubb	Jamie Gebhard	Hayling Island Sailing Club	59	21	25	17	15	29	71	71	166
35	836	Derek Buchanan	Elaine Buchanan	Oxford Sailing Club	52	58	41	35	33	18	22	18	167
36	932	Dom Johnson	Jenny Heeley	Datchet Water Sailing Club	2	6	15	42	41	71	71	71	177
37	991	Malcolm Streeton	Miles Roebuck	Hayling Island Sailing Club	71	43	26	38	29	25	31	39	188
38	926	Alastair Shires	Penny Shires	Stokes Bay Sailing Club	44	22	42	37	34	26	30	45	191
39	916	Babs Emmans	Roland Emmans	Weston Sailing Club	37	47	29	43	32	28	41	42	209
40	938	Simon Bishop	N/k	Downs Sailing Club	50	23	34	44	38	30	51	47	216
41	881	Andrew Connah	Orwin Murray	Wessex SC	47	33	36	71	71	71	24	6	217
42	929	Nigel Furness	Philip Henry	Draycote Water Sailing Club	31	39	23	29	24	71	71	71	217
43	809	William Smith	Chris Crabb	Lymington Town Sailing Club	71	56	35	71	35	31	21	46	224
44	1074	G R Llewellyn	Caroline Ellis	Royal Torbay YC	18	71	14	33	18	71	71	71	225
45	833	Pippa Baker	Mostyn Evans	Mounts Bay	39	57	40	48	40	32	46	35	232
46	892	David Pike	Robert Pike	Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club	46	51	8	23	39	71	71	71	238
47	883	Kate Gillow	Katie Savage	Draycote Water Sailing Club	37	49	71	47	43	71	39	25	240
48	890	Richard Keeton	Helen Rumbold	Royal Lymington Yacht Club	57	14	38	71	71	71	36	44	260
49	853	Ian Macmillan	James Butler	Medway S C	51	44	46	32	71	71	44	48	265
50	1063	David Ching	Robert Holdway	Poole Yacht Club	41	50	37	46	71	71	48	43	265
51	987	Neil Bond	Jo Bond	Stokes Bay Sailing Club	54	18	44	71	71	71	38	41	266
52	914	Andy Postle	Lisa Postle	Royal Western Yacht Club	8	28	21	71	71	71	71	71	270
53	1051	Jon Partridge	Joshua Richardson	Netley S C	22	48	43	71	22	71	71	71	277
54	941	Chris Catt	Mark Heather	Downs Sailing Club	11	5	53	71	71	71	71	71	282
55	1085	Neil Harris	Steve Howle	Paignton Sailing Club	53	53	71	41	71	71	40	31	289
56	1000	Simon Smith	Mark Westley	Datchet Water Sailing Club	60	55	71	49	46	33	49	71	292
57	1013	Rob Style	Ben Lister	n/k	30	46	71	71	71	71	50	29	297
58	856	Howard Smith	Dave Roberts	Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club	55	59	71	27	44	71	43	71	299
59	864	Adrian Coatsworth	Julia Jenkins	Alton Water Sailing Club	42	71	31	71	71	71	47	38	300
60	1007	Simon Geyman	Rosie	Datchet Water Sailing Club	61	61	47	45	45	71	52	50	300
61	911	Ross Mckerchar	Stuart Gardiner	Helensburgh Sailing Club	49	32	71	71	71	71	42	40	305
62	848	Phillip Highfield	Luke Harwood	Waveney & Oulton Broad S C	36	54	71	71	71	71	45	33	310
63	1055	Rory Sharvill	James Cooke	Downs Sailing Club	45	41	30	71	71	71	71	71	329
64	1011	James Ross	Heather Back	Hamble River Sailing Club	58	52	7	71	71	71	71	71	330
65	980	Allan Higgs	Alexa Lyon-dean	Hayling Island Sailing Club	29	19	71	71	71	71	71	71	332
66	1077	Paul Taylor	Julia Taylor	Datchet Water Sailing Club	34	24	71	71	71	71	71	71	342
67	986	Roger Shapland	Charles Ainsworth	Bewl Valley Sailing Club	56	62	71	71	71	71	53	49	362
68	1052	Paul Kelly	M McIlroy	Starcross YC	27	71	71	71	71	71	71	71	382
69	934	Jonno Ratnage	Max Goulden	Medway S C	71	45	71	71	71	71	71	71	400
70	816	Kevin Poole	Mark Mulberry	Mayflower SC	71	60	71	71	71	71	71	71	415