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RS100 Europeans - Day 1

Well you cannot say the organisation of the 2018 games is not slick. A slight weather glitch for those who did not arrive a day early - a rain front made for a soggy rig-up. But a warm welcome and efficient briefing promised the rain would clear to sun. It did.

Our OOD, Arky cracked on with a sense of purpose;  the 5 minute AP was for the arrival of the sun he said (other newspapers are available), marks were dropped and we were off. The organisers even provided us with a warm-up act, the 300s starting first in case we could not work out which end to start or which way to go up the first beat.

Clearly paying attention was Frensham Pond’s Ian Gregory. Modestly claiming it was his (lack of) weight, he was hiking like a demon (unlike the rest of us) took control up the first beat and was never headed. Slimmed down Mark Harrison looked equally secure in second, with his Gurnard club-mate Brett Aarons in third and not able to make further impression. Behind these three was a total topsy-turvey contrast, with the class’s perennial tight and friendly racing to the fore. Somehow, your correspondent got his act together on the last beat and jumped from double figures to 4th by dint of tacking immediately at the right hand leeward gate. Wise beyond his years, Robert Richardson (“this is going to be difficult today” was his pre-race analysis) was next followed by Huw Powell, Greg Booth and reigning National Champion Al Dickson.

Race 2 and the 300s showed it was pin biassed this time. In our lead-up minute, dramatically so.  More wind too. Arky rightly let us go, later moving marks as the wind continued to swing. Netley’s Stewart Hawthorn made hay, pulling off the perfect port flyer, leaving much gybing off chaos in his wake. However, it was Greg Booth who really got his groove on, to take a comfortable lead, with Brett, Al and Huw ready to pounce. Whether they did, or Greg just fell asleep, bless ‘im, I don't think even he knows. But either way, he scored a 4 and retained his sense of humour. Behind them, once more, was lots of major place swapping, again ultimately led by Robert, then Steve Lee, Stewart with yours truly next, pipping Nick Heather by a centimetre or two on the line.

Special mentions go to Australia’s David Williamson, who was looking very good in race 2 until he dropped his mainsheet and fell out. But this was trumped by Cowes Week winner Giles Peckham who did the same. Twice. One of which led to a big bear-away, gybe and swim. “At Cowes I had someone to do the mainsheet for me” he explained later.

Overnight, Brett is looking good on 4 points, Huw next on 9, but it’s tight; that’s only 3 points less than Clive in 7th. With 3 races scheduled in the bay for Friday, day 2, in a nice F3-F4, more great racing is guaranteed.

Post-race, it was bimbling time. Huw turned his boat over and polished it “because Greg’s done his”. Joe Scurrah was busy fitting new slot gaskets. Then Al persuaded Clive to re-rig his boat and talk the fleet through the various class bimbles he has curated. I’ll collect my commission later, RS and Rooster.

Check out the photos from on the water by Sportography.TV - www.sportography.tv

By Clive Eplett

RS100 Europeans - Day 2

RS100 Europeans Day Two

RS100 Europeans day two and we’re out in the bay for three races. The sun is out, it’s a F3 and going to build to top end of a F4.  Lovely.

Race one and Al Dickson makes clear he thinks the best way to develop the sport is to show us how to do it.  He emerges from the pin end in commanding position and consolidates. Except that Steve Lee, after a disappointing (by his standards) day 1 has clearly got his groove on today.  Al takes the bullet, but only just.  The normally utterly dependable Huw Powell is next, until he decides to finish on the RS300s line, to leeward of the committee boat.  But ours is to windward.  This lets a no doubt Cheshire Cat grinning Greg Booth and Mark Harrison past.  Oops.  Robert Richardson follows him in, 7th is overnight leader Brett Aarons.

Race two and Nick Heather has a barnstorming beat to lead at the first mark.  I peaked too soon, he later confessed.  He’s followed by Ian Gregory and then the usual suspects.  They all gybe off early. The Frensham Pond team (Ian and your correspondent) begged to differ and kept going, resulting in their emerging one and two at the bottom.  Brett takes the lead up the next beat and Ian struggles as the wind builds.  Clive holds second from a charging Steve, then its Mark, Huw (who now remembers where to finish) Robert and Steve Jones.  Al clearly is feeling guilty so develops the sport by letting others have a go and comes in 9th.

Race three and the wind is well up now.  Start attempt one is aborted.  Attempt two is a test of Arky’s bottle.  The RS300s are completing their first lap.  Will they arrive just as we start?  Not quite, with the exception of yellow-jersey wearing leader Steve Bolland, who I heard suck in his breath as he shot across my transom on port at full-chat just as our gun goes, crosses Giles and executes a perfect mid-line port flyer.

Down at the pin, Greg decides he can echo Stewart Hawthorn yesterday and pull off a port-flyer. You need to watch the Bolland technique Greg, ‘cos it all goes horrible wrong and he gets Steve Jones’ bowsprit in his traveller, then gets stuck on the pin-end committee rib, scaring the life out of Mark’s wife Liz.

Back to the race...and I’ve no idea what was happening at the front, dammit.  But Al Dickson had decided that was enough charity for one day.  Nick Heather decided to hang in at the front but it was again Steve Lee with the steeliest gaze, going hard right on the last beat to take the bullet at the windward mark finish.  Any Aussie readers need to know that Dave Williamson is getting stronger, putting in a 7th in this last race.

This made Steve the winner of the day with a 2-3-1 to pull him up to second, just one point behind Brett, with Al a further point behind and Huw hovering.  Rob Richardson, next, is the only sailor in the top 10 who has not had a podium finish in 5 races, but he’s poised and consistent with every result a 5th or 6th.

With four races in the bay scheduled for Saturday, and a bit more wind, it’s gonna be more great racing in the RS100s.

By Clive Eplett

Day three and final report

RS100 European and National Championship 2018 Final Report

Day Three:

Never wave a red rag to a bull, or so the story goes.  Well, it appears a similar effect can be gained by taking a blue rag (or racing bib in this case) away from one and it appears to be true that once a bull starts charging, it takes a lot to stop it!
That seemed to be the reaction from Huw (the bull) Powell as he charged to four straight wins after Steven Lee knocked him off the podium (and took his blue bib off him) in the previous days racing.  The 15 knots of steady-ish breeze and a left paying race course played into his favour as he remained untouchable out in front of the fleet and used his heavy wind expertise (and physique) to full effect.
Elsewhere, the usual snakes and ladders style racing which the RS100 fleet is known for was in full effect and although tired, all sailors returned to shore with a full quiver of near misses, close calls and “if onlys”.
Race one and Huw (the bull) Powell charged off to the left of the race course and pulled out in front where he remained for the rest of the race.  Laylines just didn't seem to make a difference as Portland Bill did it's normal trick of making one side of the course very favoured, so much so it didn't matter if you touched it and ran up it on your way into the windward mark.  Al Dickson managed to get in front of the chasing pack and hold off Steven Lee and Brett Aarons who were all fighting it out for the top spot, oblivious to the fact that 'the Bull' was only just starting his charge and it was he that needed covering.
Other than the front runners and heavy wind experts, a shout out must go to the light wind expert and Cowes Week winner, Giles Peckham, who found himself up near the front, obviously lost and looking for his lost tacktick compass or perhaps realising that he was better not being distracted by it and he didn't need that tactician, mastman and bow after all!

Race two seemed to catch a few people out as those of the committee boat end of the start line seemed to be doing best and even came across on a right hand shift!  Soon enough however, those on the left were back in contention and the usual people got into the front battling for second behind the untouchable Huw. They were also joined with some with some other less familiar faces including Giles who was again meddling with the normal status quo, but also some who are relatively new to the class including Nick Heather, who has been looking more and more dangerous as the week goes on.  Al pipped Brett to the line in second with Steven Lee following close behind in fourth.  Greg Booth was clearly enjoying the conditions and lead Nick through in fifth and sixth respectively.

Race three seemed to be almost identical to race two or perhaps it was the fact that our legs were now hurting so much or we'd had so much Ibuprofen that our memory was getting blurry!  Nevertheless, one thing was certain and that was Huw was going to lead from start to finish and the race was one again on for second.  The return of the “young gun” Robert Richardson, clearly younger and fitter than the rest of us, ruffled some feathers in the chasing pack as he took a third behind Al in second and in front of Brett in fourth.  By this stage the fleet were all regretting endorsing the bright idea of going for four races and some just couldn't resist carrying on home once reaching the windward mark!

If race three was a blur, race four was a mystery but the results suggest a similar story to race three.  Steven Lee did a great job of holding off Robert, who was just getting into the swing of things, and get through in third just behind Al in second.  Brett was next, ahead of Nick Heather in sixth and Greg Booth in seventh.  Simon Geyman had a great race to finish eighth ahead of Robert's father, John, obviously trying to keep an eye on the overly-excited Robert, who came through in ninth.

All in all, it was a marathon day for the RS100 fleet who did very well to finish four races in testing conditions.  Al Dickson moves up the leaderboard to take first just ahead of Huw 'the Bull' Powell who is revelling in the windier conditions.  Steven and Brett are tied on points in third and fourth, ahead of Robert Richardson whose good day has seen him move up to fifth.

So, it's all to play for during the final day.  Will Al manage to tame the Bull or will Huw charge to victory? Who will win the battle between Steven and Brett which has been going on all week?  Time will tell... but the forecast suggests we might have time to think about it and ponder over the answers to some of the questions in the morning!

Day Four:

Update... after seeing a few dogs and their chains blowing across the boatpark, the PRO took the wise decision to postpone the start of days four’s racing and ensure all RS fleets could cycle through the harbour one after the other.  With the breeze strengthening and long journeys ahead, some voted with their feet and the boat park started to turn red with under covers and masts were rapidly falling to the floor.  All but that one that was!  Steven Lee, class assoc rep, was clearly chomping at the bit to get out and redo his previous day’s efforts at beating Brett off the podium.  Finally, Greg Booth dragged a kicking and screaming Steven to the PRO and the decision was made!  No final day of racing and Al claims his hat-trick, Huw charges to second and Brett third, tied on points with Steven in fourth.

Dan Craft gets the best improver prize and Robert Richardson the (proper) youth prize.

A great three days’ of racing in a variety of conditions.  A noticeable surge in the performance of the middle of the fleet means the racing is only ever going to get better so now is the time to join us!  You won’t regret it!

A big thank you to RS Sailing, Volvo, Noble Marine, Rooster, Hyde Sails, Yachts and Yachting, Zest and Harken, WPNSA and the race team for making it all happen and we look forward to Gurnard in a couple of week’s time for more of the same!

Report by Alistair Dickson

RS100 European and UK National Championship Prizes

Improvers prize of a spinnker kindly donated by Hyde Sails:  Daniel Craft from Netley SC

Endeavour Trophy:  Cindy Donnecke-Herz from Germany           

Fidelis Trophy:   Greg Booth from Port Dinorwic SC

1^st Youth:  Robert Richardson from Royal Windermere YC

1^st Lady:  Jo Musson from Saundersfoot and Tenby SCs

1^st Silver : Nick Heather from Royal Windermere YC

1^st Master:  Huw Powell from Red Wharf Bay and Netley SCs

5^th:  Robert Richardson from Royal Windermere YC

4^th:  Steve Lee from RAF YC

3^rd:  Brett Aarons from Gurnard SC

2^nd:  Huw Powell from Red Wharf Bay and Netley SCs

1^st:  RS100 European Champion and UK National Champion:  Alistair Dickson from Gurnard SC