RS Elites join the RS 30th Anniversary Spectacle

by Debbie Jarvis 21 May 2024 09:04 BST 18-19 May 2024

Tricky is a fair description for the racing over the weekend of the RS 30th Anniversary Regatta. Ten 'elites' joined the 21s, 800s & 700s on Echo course. The forecast was light but after an hour's postponement we sailed out of Chichester Harbour towards the wreck & turned left, past West Wittering to the course area just off East Wittering beach.

We raced in 4 to 6 knots but with a tiny course & very little tide, Race Officer Charlie Bradshaw, managed to squeeze in two races before we drifted back home. Tom, Jo & Colin were the only team to show any consistency scoring a 1st & 2nd. Eddie, Pete & Rob won race two. By the time the fleet got to shore the HISC balcony was buzzing & the RS party was getting into gear.

The entry fee included a BBQ & music provided by Brando (infamous at Cowes Week). The sun & stars aligned to supply the perfect sunset, HISC caterers served up an incredible 800 plates of food, & the band played until midnight.

Sunday saw Mediterranean conditions with a north easterly dropping & moving easterly. The fleet headed out & 'ghosted' to the committee boat as the wind disappeared before returning from the south. Three races were sailed in constantly shifting 6 to 8 knots. There may have been 10 knots at some stage but not everyone saw it. Scores were all over the place as there seemed to be no 'rhyme or reason' to when & where the shifts were appearing.

The high number of UFD's also meant no one had any idea who was where on the scoreboard. Jonny, Adam & Anna scored a win in race one; it was Ossie, Ian & Tom taking the win in race two. The final race would decide the winners. Ossie crossed the line first but the fleet had no idea who had pulled off the win until the results were published.

Incredibly close, tactical races but Ossie Stewart & team won by one point over Tom Hewitson's team. Andy Partington, Gareth & Chris completed the podium.

Next up are the RS Elite Southerns at HISC just before the Nationals at Royal Southern Yacht Club on July 4-7.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail no	Helm Name	Crew Name	Helm Club	Sat R1	Sat R2	Sun R1	Sun R2	Sun R3	Pts
1	67	Ossie Stewart	Ian Budgen, Tom Stewart	HISC	‑7	4	3	1	1	9
2	100	Tom Hewitson	Jo Hewitson, Colin Smith	HISC	1	2	(UFD)	3	4	10
3	66	Andrew Partington	Gareth Edwards, Chris Witty	HISC	3	‑6	4	2	5	14
4	92	Jonny C	Adam	HISC	5	‑8	1	6	3	15
5	15	Nick Peters	Debbie Jarvis, Simon Childs	HISC	4	‑7	5	5	2	16
6	46	Eddie Warden Owen	Peter Copsey, Rob Ashworth	HISC	8	1	(UFD)	4	6	19
7	6	Adrian Ward	Nigel, Sarah Ward	HISC	9	3	2	(UFD)	7	21
8	76	Tim Peters	Jerry Vigus, adrian williams	HISC	6	5	(UFD)	7	UFD	29
9	20	Russell Peters	Zeb Elliott, James Fawcett	RYS	2	9	(UFD)	UFD	UFD	33
10	84	David Hitchcock	Fraser Elms, Georgia Smith	HISC	10	10	(UFD)	UFD	8	39