Volvo RS Feva End of Season Championship at Datchet Water Sailing Club

Volvo RS End of Season Championships 2014 © Peter Newton / www.peternewton.zenfolio.com

Volvo RS End of Season Championships 2014 © Martin Allen / Volvo

Volvo RS End of Season Championships 2014 © LPB Aerial Imagery

RS Feva sailors joined the other RS classes for a huge multi-fleet event at Datchet Water Sailing Club. The Volvo RS End of Season Championships saw over 110 boats from across the country compete on two trapezoid courses. As part of its support of RS Sailing and the RS Class Associations, Volvo Car UK had a strong presence at the EOS Champs, putting on a variety of shore side activities, including a colouring competition, remote controlled cars and the Sail for Gold Game.

Team Volvo sailor, Eilidh McIntyre made a special guest appearance on Sunday, providing youth competitors with an RS Feva rigging demonstration in the morning before heading out on the water to pass on her top tips. Eilidh said: "I have great memories from Datchet Water Sailing Club, I actually won my first ever event here in an RS Feva. I am proud to say I competed in the RS End of Seasons five times in an RS Feva and was really happy to attend this weekend and help celebrate twenty years of RS." The top British 470 sailor handed out the awards at the prize giving along with fellow Team Volvo sailor and London 2012 silver medallist Luke Patience who was competing at the event in the RS200 class.

The fleet launched in cloudy & blustery conditions and light rain. With 17 knots & gusts of 25 it was lively sailing, to say the least. The fleet got away all clear on the outer loop of a trapezoid course, whilst the RS Tera Pro & Sport fleets sailed the inner loop. Matthew Leckie and Izzi Bristow were ahead at mark 2 with Matthew Caiger and Niamh Davies in 2nd,whilst Fin and Dan Armstrong were 3rd. All change by the finish and race one was won by Iain Bird and Jake Hardman; 2nd Dan and Fin; 3rd Matt and Izzi.

Zoe King and Alice Powell led race 2 at the windward mark with Matt and Izzi 2nd, 3rd James Foster and Oliver Demetri. But again thrills & spills allowed Matt and Niamh to take the win; 2nd Fin and Dan; 3rd Iain and Jake.

In race 3 it was again Matt and Izzi in front with Zoe and Alice 2nd; and Fin and Dan 3rd whilst the wind was gusting 27 knots. By the finish Fin and Dan were ahead; 2nd Iain and Jake; 3rd Matt and Izzi. So as the fleet headed in Fin and Dan were overnight leaders.

Day two by complete contrast dawned calm & sunny. After a one hour postponement the fleet launched but sat around for another hour and a half after the wind disappeared completely. Eventually a 4 knot thermal appeared from Heathrow Airport so the race team prepared for race 4.

Volvo RS End of Season Championships 2014 - photo © Martin Allen / Volvo

The start got away all clear & was won by Simonas Jersovas and Gabriele Petraityte from Lithuania; 2nd Pierce Harris and Alfie Cogger; 3rd Iain and Jake.

With 5 knots of breeze race 5 got going as soon as possible, and after a general recall the black flag went up. Again the win went to Simonas and Gabrielle; 2nd Iain and Jake which was enough to secure them the trophy; 3rd Kotryna Kasetaite and Daumante Petraityte also from Lithuania.

Although sorting the results proved challenging due to 3 fleets racing 3 versions of a trapezoid course, the on the water teams gave 100% to make the Volvo EOS a huge success.

Volvo RS End of Season Championships 2014 - photo © Martin Allen / Volvo

Overall Results: