RS100 Eurocup at Yacht Club de Carnac
by Clive Eplett 2 Jun 2018 15:45 BST
26-29 May 2018
Eurocup 2018 © Christophe Le Bohec
Carnac; what's not to like? As ever, we had a range of lovely sailing conditions and the usual welcoming hospitality from our hosts.
This time around, as the RS100 Europeans are at WPNSA as part of the RS games in August (don't miss it, entry is still open), we shared a course with the 400s and 200s. Much intense peering into the distance ensued, trying to work out which way up the beat worked best for the 400s, who started before us. Top tip - learn their spinny colours. Top tip 2; watching the 200 leaders battle to the finish can be quite exciting too.
Reluctance to hold racing during some impressive thunder and lightning meant day 1 was reduced to only one race, held once the skies cleared and sun came out. In a light-weather affair, the class dieters reaped the benefits of their winter's self-denial, with Steven Lee setting out his stall with the bullet and Mark Harrison second.
Day 2 transpired to be weed-dodging day, with more distance to be gained and lost from that than opportunities presented by the steady sea-breeze. Mark Harrison was notable for his absence near the front of the fleet; his skin-tone was allegedly greener than some of the pesky sea-weed (although many other colours and textures of weed were available. New event-within-an-event idea - "sea-weed top-trumps"). The consequence was a two way battle at the front between Steve and Clive Eplett, with your correspondent finally breaking Steve's run of wins in the last race of the day despite the 400 and 100 fleets converging for their last lap, our second. Stress, what stress? Simon Geyman made the most of the situation to garner a couple of well-earned thirds.
Day 3 and the wind was up, the sun was out. This is what we came for (well that and the moules, and wine, and beer and, and, and). Clive was first at the windward mark, just (benefits of not going on a diet?) but was on the port lay-line, so had to cross in front of Steve, ceding the lead. Mark was benefiting from over 12 hours sleep and also snuck by Clive on the top fetch and that was how it stayed, although the sailing was a joy none-the-less. Mostyn Evans found the conditions to his liking too with the first of 3 fourths in the day, often heading Mark, but never quite holding it to the end. Race 2 and Mark had clearly shot his bolt, but there was no stopping Steve again, or Clive in second. In the final race of the day, it all came right for Simon who led comfortably. Until a combination of approaching 400s and a nervy gybe resulted in a swim. We all groaned for him. Clive was closer to Steve in this one and the last run was weird, the us two leading 100s trying not to mess up the race of the two leading 400s that we each met, respectively, at the windward mark, but simultaneously trying to get each other to gybe into the wrong place and get slowed by them. Those 400s were doing the same thing for us. Consequence; not a lot really.
This all left the podium places certain with a day to spare, Steve with all bullets bar one, Clive in second and Mark third.
On day 4, we all launched regardless, but the wind was not co-operating and racing was ultimately canned. Simon was fourth overall and Mostyn won the Mounts Bay club-mates battle for fifth.
Next 100 event is the Summers at Parkstone - as it stands we are the second largest fleet, so come and join the fun, if you've yet to commit. Still no word on the hoped-for participation of the scarlett-pimpernel that is Neal Freeman though.
Click here for final results.