RS200s at the Waldringfield Easter Egg

With racing taking place on the Sunday and Monday of the Easter Weekend and a good forecast due, it was likely to be a busy event. The RS200 had 20 boats entered which made it the biggest fleet in the Easter Egg event.

Day 1 started with 2 races back to back with the tide still on its way in and with an Easterly breeze of 10-12 knots, it was hard work upwind and short runs back downwind. A figure of 8 course was set by race officer Patrick Gifford to maximize the length of beat and provide 2 square runs. The first race saw us over the line early meaning spinning back around and starting from the back. Up the beats the challenge was getting out of the tide but keeping clean air to keep boat speed up. The race was close between Stephen & Rebecca Videlo and Alan Krailing & Libbie Bush with Stephen & Rebecca managing to keep the lead all the way round, we managed to fight back through the fleet for 3rd.

RS200s at the Waldringfield Easter Egg 2022 - photo © Alexis Smith

The second race was very similar but with more water there was an opportunity to get off the line from the port end with Ian & Alyson Videlo getting the best start and leading around the first lap. At the bottom they followed the route from the previous race over to the island and we stayed on the club side managing to tack up the shore and eventually overhaul Ian & Alyson. MJ Gifford & Isobel Stewart were in 3rd position until Alan & Libbie and Stephen & Rebecca both sneaked through after difficult first laps.

After a short break for lunch ashore it was the 3rd race of the day and with the tide now on the way out this brought a change to the tactics, with upwind staying in the tide and downwind trying to stay out where possible. This race was won by Alan & Libbie with Stephen & Rebecca in second and Ian & Alyson in third. At the end of the day results were very tight leaving everything in to play for on the Monday.

For most sailors family dinners were the name of the game after racing before trips out to the pub and the younger ones even making a trip in to Ipswich for a big night out at the Unit 17 Nightclub!

RS200s at the Waldringfield Easter Egg 2022 - photo © Unit 17 Ipswich

Monday dawned and with a forecast not looking that promising eventually the AP flag was flown, much to the relief of some of the very hungover youth sailors. Just after lunch the breeze appeared and fleet was sent out, the breeze started at around 6kts and moved around during the race. Eastern Area rep Cameron Harris and supersub crew Bee Nee got a great start and took the lead. With a flukey breeze and large congestion with other fleets, Ian & Alyson and Stephen & Rebecca managed to sneak through for the first to places with Cameron & Bee hanging onto third. With the delay earlier in the day there was time for 1 more race and the breeze had now built to around 8 knots and with the tide fully on its way out the name of the game was getting out the tide downwind. Down the first run only the first 2 boats managed to escape in front of the fleet, leaving the rest to gybe and fight for the best tidal relief. MJ & Isobel managed to take the win with Stephen & Rebecca taking second after fighting through the fleet and ourselves just getting past Alan & Libbie on the last beat for third.

RS200s at the Waldringfield Easter Egg 2022 - photo © Alexis Smith

Once ashore and results were calculated Stephen & Rebecca took the win after some brilliantly consistent sailing in tough conditions, Alan & Isobel took second just one point ahead of Ian & Alyson who were also a point ahead of us. It was great to have so many boats on the water and brilliant to see more boats fighting it out at the front. Hope to see lots of people at Royal Harwich YC on the 14/15 May which if this event is to go by should have a brilliant turn out.

A big thanks to Waldringfield SC for hosting and the amazing galley staff who managed to keep 79 boats very well fed over the event we definitely look forward to coming back to this event next year!

Overall Results: