RS Elite National Championship at Hayling Island Sailing Club - Day 1
by Alasdair McLeod & Paul Fisk 23 Jul 2021 09:58 BST
22-25 July 2021
RS Elite National Championship day 1 © Peter Hickson Photography
Southern Area Champions Tom Hewitson, crewed by Colin Smith and Jo Hewitson, sailing RS Elite number 7 Shaken not Stirred have taken an overnight lead on the first day of the RS Elite National Championship, held at Hayling Island Sailing Club (HISC) from Thursday 22nd to Sunday 25th July 2021.
Shaken not Stirred won both races on Thursday giving two points overall, closely pursued by Russell Peters, crewed by Zeb Elliott and James Grant, sailing RS Elite 20 Riff Raff, who were placed second in both races giving four points overall. Coincidentally Riff Raff was placed second overall in the recent Southern Area Championship, also held at HISC.
RS Elite 46 The Doctor sailed by Peter Copsey crewed by Debbie Jarvis is lying third with eight points from two fourth places and RS Elite 67, More T Vicar helmed by Ossie Stewart and crewed by Tom Stewart and Alice Masterman is in fourth place with 11 points from one third and one eighth place. Class chairman Paul Fisk, sailing RS Elite 110 Noughty Legs Eleven is lying fifth with twelve points from two sixth places. Eastern Area Champion Richard Bavin, crewed by Joey Thompson and Duncan Haley, sailing RS Elite 68 Serious Moonlight is currently lying in tenth place with 22 points from one 17th and one fifth place.
The eighteen-strong fleet, with entries from Hayling Island Sailing club, Emsworth Sailing Club, the Royal Burnham Yacht Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron enjoyed champaign sailing with a light south easterly breeze in very warm conditions. The race management team was essentially the same as the one which did a magnificent job at the Elite Southern Area Championship earlier in July. Three races are scheduled for the second day of the event and the forecast promises more wind.
Traditionally a 'Duckham's Award' is presented for the biggest foul up each day in the RS Elite National Championship with an overall Duckham's Trophy for the biggest blunder in the event as a whole. The 'daily Duckham's' for the first day went to HISC Commodore Andy Partington (RS Elite 66 Lazy Daisy) who managed to miss his own Commodore's Reception to welcome the competitors to the event.