RS Feva Grand Prix 1 at Draycote Water Sailing Club

RS Feva Grand Prix 1 at Draycote © Jonathan Louis

Oscar and Rory Davenport win the RS Feva Grand Prix 1 at Draycote © Jonathan Louis

Last weekend saw 26 RS Feva sailors arriving at Draycote Water SC for the first of this winter's Grand Prix series. It was very pleasing to see that over half the fleet were attending their first RS Feva Grand Prix.

The forecast for Saturday was light winds with a more promising forecast on Sunday. In the dinghy park as the sailors were rigging up the national coach, Duncan West was on hand to help new class sailors with rigging questions and some top tips on boat set up for the coming event.

After a welcome and sailor briefing by the Club Race Officer Matt, the sailors all launched on time with a more promising breeze than forecast.

A trapezoid course was laid to allow for the RS200 fleet who was sharing the event to sail the outer loop, while the RS Fevas were on an inner loop course. With a westerly wind coming over the dam giving a tricky race course with big wind shifts and occasionally more pressure coming off the shore.

Race one saw a close battle between the Cameron and Finlay Ritchie from Aberdeen and Stonehaven Sailing Club and the Davenport brothers from Bassenthwaite Sailing Club. This rivalry was to be repeated throughout the event. After a few place changes the Ritchie Brothers held out the race win, from the Davenports. With Alex and Johnny from Leigh & Lowton SC claiming 3rd.

Race 2 was more of the same, with both the Ritchie's and the Devonport's getting good starts and finishing 1st and 2nd With Rosie and Poppy from Bassenthwaite Sailing Club sailing their last fever event coming third.

Race 3 with a pin end bias start line saw multiple boats getting stuck at the pin, allowing the Devonport's to sail away and this time closely followed by Joshua and Harry from Middle Nene Sailing Club in second and brothers Jack and Freddie Harrison from Gurnard Sailing Club in 3rd.

Race 4 saw Wilfried and Florence from Starcross Yacht Club lead round of the Windward mark closely followed by Oscar and Rory Davenport. On the run the Davenports managed to take the lead which they held to the end, followed by Wilfred and Florence. With the Ritchie's managing to take third after sailing through the fleet after a poor start.

RS Feva Grand Prix 1 at Draycote - photo © Jonathan Louis

Saturday the class held their AGM with new Chair Emma leading the proceedings. She thanked Tats, the retiring Chair and all the other committee members who were standing down for all their hard work. The AGM was followed by a fish and chip supper in the clubhouse.

Sunday morning, the sailors were greeted with more wind gusting in the high teens, coming from the South, off the clubhouse shore.

The fifth race saw the usual suspects of the Ritchies followed by the Davenports leading at the windward mark on the run team Davenport sailed away with the Ritchies close behind and Joshua and Harry, claiming third place. For some of the other sailors the extra wind on the run meant a few early swims.

The sixth race saw the Davenports sailing away, but this time closely followed by Anwen and Cerise from Neyland Yacht Club close behind in second and Wilfred and Florence in 3rd place. The Ritchie Brothers were struggling with spinnaker problems and for the rest of the regatta, could not hoist their kite.

RS Feva Grand Prix 1 at Draycote - photo © Jonathan Louis

Race 7 had the usual suspects of the Davenports out in front with Rosie and Poppy closely followed in second. And new to the class George and Anthea from Middle Nene Sailing Club in 3rd. With the breeze still increasing.

Race 8 saw the Davenports finish off with an impressive 6th win followed by Joshua and Harry in second and the Harrison brothers from Gurnard in 3rd. The challenge of the conditions and the competitive nature of the fleet was evident in the fact all the top 9 boats all finished with a podium finish in at least one race.

With racing completed, the sailors went ashore for prize-giving and thank yous. With overall event winners, Oscar and Rory Davenport, Cameron and Finley Ritchie second, and Joshua and Harry third, in their first RS Feva event. The class would like to thank their sponsors; Rooster, RS Sailing, Noble Marine, Wuka, and Draycote Water Sailing Club for hosting the event.

We look forward to seeing all the sailors again, for GP2 At WPNSA 21st and 22nd of November and the first of our National Training, Coach Regatta (NTCR) at Oxford Sailing Club, on the 5th and 6th of December.

RS Feva Grand Prix 1 at Draycote - photo © Jonathan Louis

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