Results / Boll� RS100 Grand Prix Port Dinorwic SC - 03/08/2013

PD welcomed the 100 sailors with classic conditions for the Menai straights, 3 knts of tide fighting against 24 knts of wind, perfect on paper but this led to some really difficult sailing conditions even for the most seasoned sailor.

A W/L course was set by the local PRO Richard Date and safety boat at the ready, as the the boats launched slightly in the Lee of the headland all looked good, but in no time one by one the 100's got in to the thick of it, and what looked not too bad from the shoreline turned in to a steep short chop sea state waiting for anyone who dared to bear away without sat as far back in the boat as you could with one hand on the tiller and the other on the gunnel to be instantly pitch polled........so the swimming began .

After a period of prolonged swimming some competitors decided to regroup and wait for the conditions to calm down. 3 100's lined up for the first start. First out of the blocks was Huw 8.4 Powell followed by Chris Cunningham and Greg Booth, within no time all three where at the top mark due to the tide, then the best sleigh ride down to the leeward mark, after two more laps the race finished as it began, Powell 1st Cunningham 2nd Booth 3rd.

The Pro decided that it was time for a cup of tea to let the tide ease a bit, after some refreshment the tide had slackened off enough to get race 2 under way, this time saw Chris Jones joining in, still blowing 24 knts but not so choppy made things a little easier, the race became who could get the boat back upright the quickest, all still close as each one in turn took a swim, Booth led down the last run only to drop it in by the leeward mark allowing Powell to close the gap, the beat to the finish was very close the wind was starting to shift giving advantage to one then the other, the last 50 mtrs saw Powell get the lift to bring him neck and neck with Booth, they hit the Finnish line dead equal with no way to separate them, followed by Cunningham the Jones.

All felt that was enough for the day and decided to make a dash for the local watering hole. Sunday dawned with a bacon buttes in the club to get the competitors ready for 4 races. Race 3 with the wind having dropped down to 12-15 knts this got all the competitors on the water, first round the windward mark was Powell followed closely by the rest of the fleet, after the rounding Booth got a good blow that took him past Powell, with Cunningham hot on the heels closing the gap brought all three to a nip and tuck situation, closely followed by Gavin Benbow and Dave Wood, the second rounding was tight with no more than a few boat lengths between them to the finish Booth 1st Powell 2nd Cunningham 3rd Race 4 the wind was starting to ease off, 10-12 knts.

The closest race of the weekend the pack set off for the windward mark, positions changing up the beat first round was Powell followed by Booth and Cunningham, the whole pack was within a few boat lengths all the way down the run, Booth and Powell got to the leeward mark together only to of forgot that it had been changed from starboard to a port rounding, Wood taking full advantage of the situation stormed in to the lead followed by Cunningham, Powell started the fight Back gaining places up the beat but could not catch Cunningham who showed the way to the Finnish line followed by Powell and then Booth who robbed Wood by a lucky shift at the Finnish. Race 5 Cunningham took a sweet port flyer to show the way with the pack hot on his heels up to the windward mark, the wind was dropping all the time, going round the mark it was all about getting out of the tide which led to lots of short gybing down the banks.

After the leeward mark the wind had gone more southerly giving a 1 tack hit on the windward mark. The race was shortened with Powell 1st Cunningham 2nd Booth 3rd. Race 6 after a short break ashore waiting for the wind to fill in again the competitors where sent out, There was places to be had, 1 point between Cunningham and Booth and just a couple of points separating Jones , Wood and Benbow. From the start the wind was flicking left giving some lucky or not gusts, Powell and Booth got the touch leaving Cunningham and the rest of the pack hunting for wind, once up by the windward mark the wind was a little steadier but this didn't help to make up the difference, on the beat Powell and Booth battled away for position by the windward mark Cunningham was back within a couple of boat lengths of the leader, down the run Cunningham went went right early and lost some ground, the race was shortened with Powell 1st Booth 2nd Jones 3rd.