RS Games 2018 at the WPNSA: RS700 European Championship Overall

RS700 Europeans prizegiving at the RS Games 2018 © Alex & David Irwin / www.sportography.tv

RS700 Europeans prizegiving at the RS Games 2018 © Alex & David Irwin / www.sportography.tv

No racing on day four of the RS700 European and UK National Championship due to excessively high winds so the results stand as day three.

The race management team had scheduled our start for 1015hrs with a departure time of 0930hrs so we would be sailing in the harbour for the first time. The forecast was for 18-28 knots of South, South Westerly gusty-ness. When Sunday dawned with grey skies it was clearly breezy, not quite as windy as predicted, but still enough to create a split within the boat park between those who were starting to pack up and those donning their rubber suits. With banter plentiful there were tales of daring-do over the last few days, and "Lethal Weapon" style exchanges of aches, pains and injuries sustained, all to the scent of Deep Heat. However, let it be noted that in the previous three days we had sailed approximately 90 miles; a long way in any dinghy and some way to justify the tiredness amongst the athletes!

Those enthused by the building breeze were disappointed to see the AP flag hoisted with a postponement of one hour. The new plan was to see if the breeze would drop as per the latest forecast and get one good race completed. Our fleet, along with the RS800s, was at the front of the queue with RS100s, RS300s and RS400s all scheduled to race in the harbour later that day - no mean feat for the race teams. Ultimately the breeze continued to build and with the anemometer regularly hitting 27 knots in the starting area racing was abandoned for the day. This led to some sailors breathing a sigh of relief and others disappointed that they hadn't managed a damn good thrashing. Either way it was a very sensible decision by Peter Saxton our PRO and Ian Bullock our race officer.

With no further place changes on the final day, the results from the previous day stood. It's fair to say that this event had a special feel about it. It was good to see so many faces, both new and old, the class being appreciative of all those who entered and especially to those who had travelled so far to be a part of the championships, including sailors from Holland, France and a significant contingent from the Czech Republic (where did they learn to sail in waves like that?!). We salute you all. The event would not have been such a huge success without the hard work of Clare Sargent and the rest of the Class Association team - we are very grateful. The race management was the best we've had, very customer focussed and efficient, and we know it's not easy, but you all did a great job, thank you! A final thank you to all of the countless volunteers (especially Sandra Atkinson!) who made this event work so well. Here's to four years' time and the next RS Games!

Big thumbs up to Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy for hosting us so splendidly both on and off the water: the RS700 experience of the RS Games has been great racing afloat and smashing fun and hospitality ashore. Many thanks to our sponsors RS Sailing, Volvo, Noble Marine, Rooster, Hyde Sails, Yachts and Yachting, Zest and Harken.

RS700 European and UK National Championship Prize Winners:

• Endeavour prize: Hamish Griffiths from HISC
• New talent prize of a spinnaker (kindly donated by Hyde sails): Jack Napolitano from Snettisham Beach SC
• Fidelis Trophy: Ian Nolan from Snettisham Beach SC
• 1st Apprentice: Pim Van Vugt from the Netherlands
• Bronze prize: Roland Smith from Queen Mary SC
• 1st Silver: Richard Lilley from Lymington Town SC
• 1st Master: Colin Dacey from Snettisham Beach SC
• 5th: Pete Purkiss from Brightlingsea SC
• 4th: Milan Hajek from the Czech Republic
• 3rd: Colin Dacey from Snettisham Beach SC
• 2nd: Richard Wadsworth from the Royal Navy Sailing Association and Stokes Bay SC
• 1st: European and UK National Champion: Robbie Bell from Snettisham Beach SC

RS700 Europeans prizegiving at the RS Games 2018 - photo © Alex & David Irwin / www.sportography.tv

Overall Results:

RS700 Europeans prizegiving at the RS Games 2018 - photo © Alex & David Irwin / www.sportography.tv