RS Games 2018 at the WPNSA: RS100 European Championship Day 2

RS100 Europeans day 2 at the RS Games © Alex & David Irwin / www.sportography.tv

RS100 Europeans day two and we're out in the bay for three races. The sun is out, it's a F3 and going to build to top end of a F4. Lovely.

Race one and Al Dickson makes clear he thinks the best way to develop the sport is to show us how to do it. He emerges from the pin end in commanding position and consolidates. Except that Steve Lee, after a disappointing (by his standards) day 1 has clearly got his groove on today. Al takes the bullet, but only just. The normally utterly dependable Huw Powell is next, until he decides to finish on the RS300s line, to leeward of the committee boat. But ours is to windward. This lets a no doubt Cheshire Cat grinning Greg Booth and Mark Harrison past. Oops. Robert Richardson follows him in, 7th is overnight leader Brett Aarons.

Race two and Nick Heather has a barnstorming beat to lead at the first mark. I peaked too soon, he later confessed. He's followed by Ian Gregory and then the usual suspects. They all gybe off early. The Frensham Pond team (Ian and your correspondent) begged to differ and kept going, resulting in their emerging one and two at the bottom. Brett takes the lead up the next beat and Ian struggles as the wind builds. Clive holds second from a charging Steve, then its Mark, Huw (who now remembers where to finish) Robert and Steve Jones. Al clearly is feeling guilty so develops the sport by letting others have a go and comes in 9th.

RS100 Europeans day 2 at the RS Games - photo © Alex & David Irwin / www.sportography.tv

Race three and the wind is well up now. Start attempt one is aborted. Attempt two is a test of Arky's bottle. The RS300s are completing their first lap. Will they arrive just as we start? Not quite, with the exception of yellow-jersey wearing leader Steve Bolland, who I heard suck in his breath as he shot across my transom on port at full-chat just as our gun goes, crosses Giles and executes a perfect mid-line port flyer.

Down at the pin, Greg decides he can echo Stewart Hawthorn yesterday and pull off a port-flyer. You need to watch the Bolland technique Greg, 'cos it all goes horribly wrong and he gets Steve Jones' bowsprit in his traveller, then gets stuck on the pin-end committee rib, scaring the life out of Mark's wife Liz.

Back to the race... and I've no idea what was happening at the front, dammit. But Al Dickson had decided that was enough charity for one day. Nick Heather decided to hang in at the front but it was again Steve Lee with the steeliest gaze, going hard right on the last beat to take the bullet at the windward mark finish. Any Aussie readers need to know that Dave Williamson is getting stronger, putting in a 7th in this last race.

This made Steve the winner of the day with a 2-3-1 to pull him up to second, just one point behind Brett, with Al a further point behind and Huw hovering. Rob Richardson, next, is the only sailor in the top 10 who has not had a podium finish in 5 races, but he's poised and consistent with every result a 5th or 6th.

With four races in the bay scheduled for Saturday, and a bit more wind, it's gonna be more great racing in the RS100s.

Results after Day 2: