Class Association
The annual club champs brought four visitors to Netley, the mecca of RS100 sailing. In total, 20 boats completed five rapid-fire races ably RO'd Andy and Melissa Chapman.
There were varying levels of incompetence throughout the fleet. Two ex-national champions were in attendance, trying to show the way. Nigel Wakefield scraped together a good series for the win, Huw Powell finished 7th.
Dave Smart (Chew Valley Lake SC) showed that local knowledge wasn't needed to come 2nd. He claimed to "not understand tides" but that didn't seem to hold him back. Bart Bridgen was 3rd with a consistent series, despite spending one whole run trying to hoist his spinnaker. Nick "light airs specialist" Sandison was also consistent and finished 4th overall.
James Ross got the most start notable start in the fourth race. He threaded the needle through a crowded port bias line, on port, to start at speed (on port). This helped him finish 5th overall. Duncan "I've never beaten an ex-national champion" Barr beat at an ex-champ to finish 6th.
Other visitors, Mike, Tom and David, all acquitted themselves well in the light and variable wind. We hope you return next year.
The prize-giving was unconventional, the consensus was to award the prizes to the capsizers. Andy Heather had attempted a massive roll gybe but only achieved an ungraceful belly flop onto the mainsail. Tom Milne overbalanced out of a tack and went in backwards head-first.
Its normal to receive gifts on your birthday, however birthday boy Nick Creak capsized on the pin with 2 minutes to go. It was so kind of him to treat us to such a spectacle! He also treated the fleet to cake in the bar.
There was post racing beer and curry. See you next year.
Next and final stop on the RS100 Rooster National Tour is the Inlands at Chew Valley 9/10 Nov - online entry open now
Nigel Wakefield
Photos: Leighton King
