Please select your home edition
Edition
RYA Membership

RS800 Magic Marine Grand Prix at Stokes Bay Sailing Club

by Chris Feibusch 18 Apr 2017 16:41 BST 8-9 April 2017

Round 2 of the 2017 RS800 Magic Marine Grand Prix series took place under clear blue skies at Stokes Bay Sailing Club over the weekend of 8-9 April.

Being the location for the National Championships later in the year (21st to 24th September), this was a great opportunity for the teams to familiarise themselves with these fickle waters.

Three races were sailed on Saturday with around 7-11 knots of breeze from the SE and a strong ebbing tide. Heading hard inshore at times was the order of the day, taking care not to run aground or snag any fishing lines! This provided some great up-close entertainment for spectators on the beach.

The now familiar sight of Luke and Emma McEwen controlling things from the front, left everyone else battling it out for 'best of the rest' with close tactical racing and plenty of place changing amongst the 18 boats behind. Such was the closeness of the racing that in the 5 races over the course of the weekend, 5 different boats took 2nd place honours. Of those 5 boats, it was great to see that 3 were crew/ boom sheeters, with a few more teams now opting for this set up.

With the event once again being shared with the B14s, Laser 4000s and Musto Skiffs, the entertaining Easter themed quiz and Easter egg hunt hosted by Dan Vincent and accompanied by copious amounts of beer and curry on Saturday night, turned into a bit of a battle of the classes. Various dubious tactics were employed and the intervention of the jury was required, but it was the Musto Skiffs that took the honours and with it the generous prize of free bacon sarnies from the club's galley for Sunday breakfast.

Races 4 and 5 on Sunday were once again sailed in bright sunshine with slightly more breeze, which although shifty, was still predominantly from the SE. This gave the crews a chance to stretch their legs and clear their heads from the night before. A change in the order of the starts in order to increase the separation of the slower moving B14s from the faster RS800s, made sure everybody was on their toes. The McEwens once again controlled from the front leaving the Jeffries and Tim Gratton / Fiona Hampshire to each take second places respectively.

With the tide ebbing strongly and the wind having fizzled out towards the end of the second race, the race officer made the wise decision to call it a day.

Overall, the McEwens won comfortably, once again discarding a first place and without breaking a sweat. It was Ella and James Moreland sailing smartly, quickly and consistently all weekend that emerged as 'best of the rest'.

It was great to have boats from the thriving local fleet in the mix, with Richard Clampett and Grace Clark finishing as top Stoke Bayers in 7th. Also very gratifying to see the big leaps being taken by class newbies, Julia Judd and Tim Knapp as they start to get to grips with the boat. Making the effort to attend events and the support from the more experienced sailors in the fleet is clearly helping them on their way.

Another fantastic weekend of racing, then, once again blessed with beautiful weather. European activity kicked off this weekend with the open skiff event in Lac du Der, France. With 17 entries from 7 nations the RS800s were the largest class by far. Report to follow. Then it's the French National Championships in Quiberon 6-8 May and the European Championships in Medemblik, Holland 12-14 May. Entry is open here.

The next UK event is the Summer Championships at Hayling Island SC 17-18 June. More information on the RS800 Class Association website here.

More Tim Olin photos from the event can be found on flickr here.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5Pts
11220Luke McEwenEmma McEwenRoyal Lymington YC‑111114
21216Ella MorlandJames MorlandWarsash SC‑7323311
31Ian MartinChris MartinHomeless24(DNF)5415
41228Andy JeffriesAllyson JeffriesEastbourne Sovereign SC3‑652616
51194Joseph JoynerWill BroomLyme Regis SC6236‑1417
61203Tim GrattonFiona HampshireSt Catherine's College SC8‑968224
71110Richard ClampettGrace ClarkStokes Bay SC57‑1010527
81195Paul JenkinsColin HattonWeir Wood SC11577‑1230
91145John BoothDebbi BoothStokes Bay SC9104‑13831
101186Chris FeibuschNick JerkinsHayling Island SC10894(DNC)31
111188Daniel GoodmanDebbie ClarkDatchet Water SC41189‑1332
121146Martin OrtonIan BrooksChichester YC13‑141112743
131043Christ DoddBryony MeakinsRutland SC12‑151314948
141198Alex BenfieldNick IrelandStokes Bay SC15‑1612111048
151224Fred LordLouise GaleCarsington SC141214(DNC)1151
161121Julia JuddTimothy KnappCardiff Bay YC16‑1815161663
171131Becky DiamondSophie PorteousHayling Island SC(DNF)13BFDDNC1568
18985Nick Van TienenLarry LawrenceStokes Bay SC‑181716171868
191196Andy SmithSimon HedleyStokes Bay SC17(DNF)DNC151769

Related Articles

RS Sailing Store partners with RS Nationals
Official chandlery partner for the noughty and RS Vareo class Nationals 2025 The RS Class Association is thrilled to announce that RS Sailing Store will be the official chandlery partner for the noughty and RS Vareo class National Championships 2025. Posted on 5 Jun
RS800 Rooster National Tour at Weymouth
Dismasting narrowly averted by luck or judgement? With a forecast of 18-20 knots and expectations that it would build the International 14s got in a first race whilst the RS800s were briefed. Posted on 29 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
RS800 Spring Championship at Queen Mary
A brisk Nor Easter makes it feel more like the Winter Championship Queen Mary SC hosted the 2025 RS800 Spring Championship alongside events for the RS200s, RS400s and RS700s. Ten boats entered what might have better been described as the "Winter" championships with a brisk Nor Easter in evidence for the whole weekend. Posted on 19 Mar
Soak Tide Ride 2024 at Hayling Island
Over 100 sailors and riders to take part during the first weekend of October Hayling Island Sailing Club were really excited to reintroduce the Tide Ride and welcome over 100 sailors and riders to take part during the first weekend of October. Posted on 13 Oct 2024
Noble Marine RS800 Nationals overall
A masterclass from the race team as they hold their nerve The final day of racing at the 2024 Noble Marine RS800 National Champs bore witness to a masterclass from the race team as they held their nerve to get another two excellent races in before the 3pm cut off. Posted on 20 Sep 2024
Noble Marine RS800 Nationals days 2 & 3
The fleet was treated to three epic races in wonderful conditions on Saturday Day two flashed past with two great races. Tom Morris and Tommy Darling showed the fleet a clean pair of heels with two comprehensive wins with their great boat speed in marginal conditions. Posted on 15 Sep 2024
Noble Marine RS800 Nationals day 1
Big puffy clouds bring bursts of brilliant sunshine and occasional deluges of rain Day one of the RS800 Noble Marine Nationals could be described as atmospheric. Big puffy clouds pushed out to sea bringing bursts of brilliant sunshine and occasional deluges of rain. Posted on 13 Sep 2024
Noble Marine RS800 Nationals Runners & Riders
The upcoming battle for RS800 glory is about to take place in Hayling Bay After apocalyptic levels of rain over the last few days, dare I say it can't get any worse for the Nationals later this week... I mean surely there can't be a drop of moisture left in the sky after all that! Posted on 9 Sep 2024
The Tide Ride is Back!
Soak Tide Ride scheduled for 5th & 6th October at Hayling Island SC In 2024 we are delighted to announce that Tide Ride is back, this year as the Soak Tide Ride! Posted on 31 Aug 2024