Etchells South Coast Championships in Cowes

Nils Razmilovic and his crew of Charlie Cumbley and Brian Hammersley are the 2008 Etchells South Coast Champions, but the winners were not crowned without having to fend off several challengers over the course of a very competitive 2 days of sailing on the 3rd and 4th of May.

Saturday went to form with the dozen boats enjoying fabulous sailing in a 12 knot Easterly. Word on the dock afterwards was of the very close racing throughout the fleet, and although Nils and Ante Razmilovic took the 3 races between them (2-1 to Nils), everyone had enjoyed a great days racing. Also showing form were Collete Blair with 2 races in the top 5, and Doug Flynn and Robert Elliot, both of whom were top 4 twice. Geof Gibbons, new to the class this year also posted a 3rd on his scorecard, but on Saturday evening the top 2 looked locked in.

Sunday dawned less sunny and with a complicated forecast of 12 knot easterlies, going SW and then northerly 'later'. Laurence Mead was also out having missed the Saturday races.

Race 4 kicked off with a recall gun but nobody willing to go back. It was one of three boats who were all bow forward of the bulk of the fleet, and, eventually, after a long wait, Ante Razmilovic headed back and that was that. He was effectively out of the race. Nils Razmilovic just sneaked past Laurence Mead to lead at the top mark by staying a little further right, which should have sent a message to the leaders about the best side of the beat. Down the run both boats were close and as they turned the leeward mark Mead tacked for clear air.

Razmilovic covered and these two proceeded to prove the old adage that sometimes going fast just gets you to the wrong place quicker. As they blasted left, pacing each inch for inch, the wind clocked right. By the time Razmilovic tacked over and fought his way back against the right hand shift he and Mead were 10th and 11th. So in the space of two beats both the overall leaders had used up their discards. Geof Gibbons added a bullet to his ever improving scorecard and secured his first race win since joining the Etchells this spring. Flynn took 2nd and Elliott 3rd.

Race 5 was all about the aforementioned westerly which, half way down the first run, made an appearance. Mead was ahead having got off the line well and led the fleet right in what was then a 10 to 12 knot easterly. With the tide under him as he rounded the top mark Mead sailed into an unassailable lead which he doubled by being well positioned for both the brief westerly and the return of the easterly. Doug Flynn was as well positioned and these two blitzed the fleet, Flynns consistency with another 2nd place moving him into contention for the overall title. Ex Farr 40 sailor Rob Goddard was 3rd in this one.

Race 6 was therefore for the regatta with both Razmilovic boats having had two races outside of the top 3 and Doug Flynn and Robert Elliot two strong results. Elliott led the last race at the top mark showing good upwind speed but was passed down the first run by Mead, who was able to sail a little lower under spinnaker and he went onto win. Ante Razmilovic had another tough race finishing 7th and with Doug Flynn in the mix, his grip on 2nd overall was strengthening. Nils Razmilovic started to slot back into his fast mode to take 3rd in the race which secured him the title, but in the end Flynn took 2nd overall despite falling back to finish 5th inthis one. He was 1 point ahead of Ante Razmilovic who was tied for 3rd with Elliot, a tie broken in Razmilovic's favour on a count back. Geof Gibbons took 5th overall, an excellent result and reward for being out on the water at every opportunity since acquiring his first Etchells last winter.

The fleet now has a hard core of boats, all of whom are capable of winning races, and with the Europeans in Italy in November later this year, the 2009 Nationals in Abersoch, followed by the 2009 Europeans in Howth, the European Etchells fleet is going from strength to strength. The ultimate goal for a lot of the boats is the 2010 Worlds in Ireland which promises to be a great regatta.

The class has charter boats available on an ad hoc basis for sailors wanting to try racing in the Solents most competitive One Design, and if you are interested in that option please contact the fleet through, www.etchellsukfleet.co.uk or Cowes Class Captain Laurence Mead on 07810 658 748.