RS200 Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta at Royal Torbay Yacht Club

Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta © www.digitalsailing.co.uk

The sun was shining and the wind was gently blowing - a stark contrast to what the fleet endured in 2019 when they last visited Torbay. It was great to catch up with everyone after so long apart and before long the stellar organisation of RTYC got the fleet out and onto the water.

Race 1 started, in true RS200 fashion, with a general recall. With crews crouched in the boat both upwind and downwind, the winners were those who found the pressure on the left and kept moving. Chris Webber and Nicola Large started off the event with an impressive win.

Race 2 was all about the fight for the pin end, with Morgan Peach and Amy Sparks winning the pin and holding an impressive lead throughout the race - unfortunately for them, they were one of three who were UFD, giving Tom and Jo Hewitson the win.

RS200 Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta - photo © Digital Sailing

The third and final race of the day saw more battles for the pin and the fleet hitting the left hard in search for pressure. Arran Holman and Laerke Buhl-Hansen gave the fleet a lesson in downwind sailing, taking the win in the final race of the day to ultimately win the event.

Being the closest fleet to the shore and the first to finish meant a short sail back to the harbour, missing the carnage of the 100 other boats coming to shore and most importantly, allowing the fleet to be in the bar before many had even got off the water.

Much of the fleet enjoyed the top class hospitality of the yacht club in the evening with dinner and drinks. The Cornish contingent decided to take it one step further, and in homage to the socials at the nationals in 2019 they were in Park Lane until the early hours of the morning.

Going for a blast on day 2 of the Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta - photo © www.digitalsailing.co.uk

Sunday greeted us to pouring rain and screaming halyards. The great race team at RTYC kept standing around in the rain to a minimum and called a meeting of class representatives to see what the sailors thought of the conditions. Victoria Upton sensibly represented the class (although many were itching to get out for a blast downwind). Ultimately, local knowledge paid off and with an increasing sea state and wind, couple with decreasing visibilty the race team reluctantly cancelled the racing but a few brave sailors donned their wetsuits and went out for a blast!

A brilliant weekend was had by all, the fleet thanks the club and sponsors and looks forward to returning to racing at the Rooster National Tour event at HISC in a few weeks time!

Prize winners:

1st - Arran Holman and Laerke Buhl-Hansen (Hollowell SC)
2nd - Chris Webber and Nicola Large (Pevensey Bay SC)
3rd - Andrew Kilburn and Claudia Wilson (Lymington Town SC / Rickmansworth SC)
4th - Tom Goodey and Richard Thomas (Broadstairs SC)
5th - Olly Turner and Sam Mottershead (Starcross YC)
Rooster mid fleet heroes David Jessop and Sophie Mear
Rooster Endeavour winners Oliver King and Zoe Nieveen

Overall Results: