RS700 Open at Dabchicks Sailing Club

Fleet lined up for the Dabchicks RS700 Open © Dabchicks SC

A near full fleet of local boats were joined by a visitor from across the Colne on Saturday morning for what would turn out to be one of the best day's sailing of the year. Mike Banks, Dabchicks SC Commodore, welcomed the sailors and gave a thorough briefing to a fleet that were mostly still dusting down hangovers from the excellent National Championship.

The sun was shining and the breeze was filling in nicely as Race Officer Paul Jackson and his team headed out to set the course. The fleet followed shortly after and were greeted by a fairly stable 15 knot breeze from the South East. After a very short postponement to accommodate one late arrival and just in time for this reporter to be capsized, the warning signal went off.

Race One

Jack Grogan, Mike Banks and Sam Caslin came off the line in a pack at the Committee Boat end and stayed on Starboard tack to try and keep out of the incoming tide. Over at the Pin end Thomas Dutton was showing great pace in clear air and was going like a missile up the Mersea shore.

Jack, Mike and Sam rounded the leeward mark in quick succession and Dutton would have been hot on their heels had he not mistimed a tack for the mark and gone swimming. Jack and Sam gybe-set with Mike sniffing out breeze on starboard. At the leeward mark Mike had gone for a quick swim allowing Jack to lead up the second beat with Sam following. On the next beat Jack managed to extend his lead with Mike also working back in to it up the Nass Bank. Caslin had to duck Banks for the windward mark with Grogan comfortably in the lead and the race finished in that order.

Race Two

The breeze swung just a little more to the East for race two and at the pin end Jack took Sam's transom and managed to port tack the remainder of the fleet and headed for the Nass Bank. Sam and Mike ended up in close proximity having a tight battle up to the windward mark with Jack joining in for the last 100m. The three of them went round the windward mark side by side. This time Jack and Mike gybe-set with Sam heading for shore.

Jack went up the second beat on port immediately heading for the NJass Bank with Sam favouring a stint on the shore again. Mike had a slight mishap with the spinnaker drop but recovered well and was hot on their heels. At the windward mark, Jack had extended his lead slightly with Sam just getting ahead of Mike on port before a rack mishap lead to a very sloppy tack letting Mike round the windward mark in second.

The breeze was increasing now to around 18 knots with some lovely waves to surf downwind on. It was grins all round as Jack finished ahead of Mike and Sam who were separated by just a few seconds.

Race Three

Champagne Sailing is a phrase often bounded about but the Essex Coast was really treating the RS700 fleet now. The pin end was more popular for this start with Dutton again showing great pace in a pack with Oli Grogan, Mike Banks and Jack Grogan.

At the windward mark it was Mike, Jack and Tom going round in a tight pack with Will Head, Caslin and Oli just behind. The bulk of the fleet headed for the Mersea shore aside from Caslin who had to gybe quickly to avoid getting rolled by Will.

The front three remained in close proximity up the second beat with Mike determined to hold of Jack and Tom. He managed to do this right up to the mark rounding but followed it up with an uncharacteristically sloppy hoist and set which opened up the door just enough for Jack to roll him and then take line honours again. Bank crossed the line in second no doubt colouring the air with a variety of profanities with Dutton taking a well-earned third place.

There were also some epic battles to be had at the tail end with DSC's two newest RS700 owners, Bj and Eggy having their fair share of run-ins at the rear. There were a number of tight port / starboard crosses on each windward leg with Steve Carr and the drama of a few swims along the way. In a battle of damage limitation it became clear to see the winner from this pack would be the one not swimming at the finish line, although Eggy fantastically took a swim through the hooter on the second race.

The Social

It seems the majority of the Dabchicks RS700 fleet are vagrants with no home to go to. Just like in Hayling Island the refreshments were flowing the moment the sails were dropped. One club member described the indecisive meal discussion amongst the fleet as like 'watching the vultures from Jungle Book' until the decisive ommodore settled on a curry from Dilwar's Palace.

The pit stop at the White Hart for some fine Negronis were an unnecessary aperitif for what was, as always, a fine and excessively rowdy meal. It was a great night amongst good company with as little sailing chat as we could.

Sunday

Unfortunately the breeze filled in a lot earlier and stronger than expected on Sunday. PJ was happy to run the racing if the fleet wanted it but collectively it was decided that 30 knot gusts were perhaps not what tired bodies and hungover heads needed.

Not to worry. Dabchicks is in the diary next year on the RS700 Rooster National Tour 5-6 July 2025 year and will be sure to attract more visitors to this gem of an island on the East coast next time.

As always, thanks to the volunteers who helped organise and run the event.

Overall Results: