RS Elite National Championship at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta - Overall

Simon Childs, Mike McIntyre and Caroline McIntyre retain their title in the RS Elite National Championship during the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta © Mike McIntyre

Competitors on the final day of the RS Elite National Championship (day 4), held as part of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, were greeted by a blue sky and slightly more breeze than forecast with 7-10 knots north/north east. Another shifty day with the wind off the land and the Committee Boat positioned downwind of Howth.

Mike McIntyre in Foudafafa and Ossie Stewart in More T Vicar locked horns pre-start with Ossie managing to get off the line cleanly and holding a boat length lead at the windward mark from Paul Fisk in Legs Eleven with another boat length to Stephen Polly sailing Storm in third place. These three extended from the fleet for a three-horse race with Mike McIntyre back in seventh. Ossie held his nerve to win race 9 from Stephen Polly with Paul Fisk in third and Mike McIntyre recovering to fifth.

The scene was set for a final race showdown with the two overall leaders both on 17 points. Mike McIntyre had the advantage of better discards, whilst Ossie Stewart had more first places in the bank. Ossie was unable to get off the line cleanly in Race 10 with Mike happy to keep an eye on the opposition, covering Ossie all the way up the first beat. With Mike back in the pack, Ossie was unable to recover to a good enough position to take the overall title, finishing the race in tenth. Meanwhile, Brian Corry in Tuppence sailed well in the fading breeze to take the win by the smallest of margins from Robert Holbrook in Centurion. Paul Fisk in Legs Eleven finished in third to win the final day's trophy and consolidate third place overall.

Mike McIntyre, Simon Childs and Caroline McIntyre are once again National Champions, with Ossie Stewart, Alice Masterman and Tom Stewart in second place overall with Paul Fisk, Richard Tucker and Pippa Jubb in third. Boats from Haying Island Sailing Club occupy the top six places with past Class Chairman Steve Powell representing the Royal Lymington Yacht Club making a welcome comeback in seventh place overall. Leading boat from Cowes is Robert Holbrook in 10th, with Brian Corry from Stangford Lough YC in 11th, Tiffany Brien from Royal North YC in 13th and Richard Bavin from Royal Burnham YC in 14th.

Overall Results: