RS200 Open at Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham
by Carl & Scarlett Anderson 30 Sep 2015 07:55 BST
26-27 September 2015
Saturday's racing started up the Roach in light airs with nine entrants from Burnham, and four visitors coming from Bough Beech SC, Brightlingsea SC, Snettisham SC, Frensham/ Burghfeild SC and Thornbury SC to kick off the very first Burnham RS200 Open meeting.
Several competitors were under the age of 15 with crews provided predominately from the Mears family, including 6 year old Will Mears who was even spotted helming on Saturday. The visitors included multi-Endeavour winning Nick Craig along with, John and Jamie Clementson Graduate National Champions, Hannah and Nick Smith Miracle National Champions and Fergus Barham and Serena de Nahllik Laser 2000 National Champions. It wasn't just a chance for the Endeavour competitors to get to grips with sailing the RS200 but for the local sailors to see how they measured up against some of the best in the country.
Under the management and professionalism of Edwin Buckley and Team Phoebe, race one saw Micky Wright get the committee boat start and dive right for the Foulness shore to shelter out of the tide followed by the rest of the fleet. It was the turning tide that was the undoing of Micky Wright, who went high at the final windward mark to let Nick Craig/ Holly Scott, Fergus Barham/ Serena de Nahllik and young sailors Matt Smith/ Dylan Collingbourne slip by to leeward.
Race 2 saw Scarlett and Carl Anderson nail a Port hand flyer, crossing the whole fleet and 1st to the windward mark but despite local knowledge they managed to lead Nick Craig and other visitors to the wrong side of the river to be overtaken by three more sensible local boats and visitor John & Jamie Clementson who then took the lead followed by locals Jonathon Lewis with Jo Tribe from the Burnham SC who got clear away...it was neck and neck all the way round with Lewis and Tribe pinching the win....Nick Craig back in third.
The final race on Saturday and the all 3 races on Sunday became a Nick Craig master-class with wins every time. In the stronger winds on Sunday the finishing orders were more settled with Lewis/Tribe 2nd overall just outpacing Barham and de Nahllik 3rd.
Kathryn Hutton-Penman turned in a creditable performance to be the lead RCYC boat in 4th.
The best was saved for the final race when a strong wind over a big ebb tide gave perfect conditions for planing long distances downwind... there were still big grins and sore thighs at the prize-giving where Nick Craig passed on his thanks to the RCYC and the race management.
He confirmed it was indeed a very fitting warm-up to the Endeavour Trophy to be sailed in RS200s in two weeks time.
Plans are already afoot to create a full Great Eastern series next year combining this and the Alton water open with possible opens in Walderingfield and Brightlingsea. Follow us on new facebook group created by Mark Smith called 'Eastern RS200s'. See you next year!