Volvo Noble Marine RS400 Nationals at Hayling Island Sailing Club - Day 1

Day 1 of the RS400 nationals dawned with blazing sunshine. This led to a 2 hour postponement ashore before the fleet were released to Hayling bay.

Race 1 got away first time with only an individual recall for Kevin Podger and Heather Chipperfield who had mistaken the leeward mark for the pin end of the line. Good to see the class secretary making an early entry for the duckhams prize. Ben and Sarah Robertson led at the windward mark from Andy Hatch and Dan Hawkins having worked the left hand side of the beat. 3rd and 4th were James Sinclair and Ben Wilcox ahead of Paul and Mark Oakey who had worked the right hand side of the course. I am reliably informed that the middle didn't pay. The top 4 held these positions until the finish despite team Oakey's last ditch attempt to take 3rd by trying to get across with very tight final reach to the committee boat without dropping their spinnaker. We quickly decided to rectify the situation while pointing 30 degrees low to hold on to 4th and be lumbered with writing the report. 5th was Ben Williamson and Jon Willars ahead of Podger and Chipperfield who made an excellent recovery in 6th.

The wind decided not to play ball for race 2 and kept shifting right. This lead to multiple recalls as the breeze swung and swung and swung further right. Eventually the race officer had enough and sent the fleet home just in time before the wind switched off and the tide started to really race out of the harbour. This got the fleet home in time to refuel in the bar and restaurant before more racing on Thursday.

Results after Day 1: