Sparkling Eastbourne

May 12/13 saw the RS200 class hold the third national Gul GP event of the year at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club.  With previous events at ESSC having been blessed with champagne conditions, a good turnout of boats arrived and, on the Sunday at least, weren’t let down with clear blue skies, 15 knots + breeze and a gentle swell – champagne sailing (see the video below for proof!!).

Saturday was a gentler affair however, with race one starting in a shifty and puffy offshore breeze.  With most of the fleet being pushed shy of the line by the tide, those who went left early benefitted and so it was Matt Mee/Emma Norris who won, followed home by Chris Catt/Jules Charles in 2^nd and Ed Whitehead/Alice Kingsnorth 3^rd.  The wind then decided to play up and a long wait ensued as a light sea breeze sprung up, the wind turning 180degrees in direction.  The fleet lightweights took advantage with Mee/Norris having a stellar day to record 2,1 and lead over night.  Behind them, the Rusden brothers took the bullet in race 2 (before an unfortunate DSQ in race 3), just ahead of a charging Catt/Charles, whilst in race 3 it was Dave Steed/Katharine Lovering 2^nd and class newbie Oliver Vidal/Noelle Vidal showing everyone how easy it was in 3^rd.

ESSC laid on a great evening of food and music, which everyone enjoyed whilst watching the sunset over the waves.  The club should also be applauded for stocking cheap Jagaer bombs as well, which was presumably part of a deal to aid the Eastbourne clubbing scene.  It definitely worked…….

Sunday dawned bright and still, but the wind was soon building for a classic day.  With the tide pushing everyone over the line, the world’s quickest turnaround-of-races-ever PRO pulled the black flag out after the first general recall and the fleet began to behave themselves.  In the breezy, wavy conditions the Rusden’s showed everyone a clean pair of heals in races 4 & 5, romping away to win both comfortably.  Behind, Caroline/Nick Martin showed the kids how to race, taking 2^nd in race 4 just ahead of Steed/Lovering.  In race 5, Whitehead/Kingsnorth & then Mee/Norris were closest to the Rusdens.

Going into the final race, only Mee/Norris or the Rusdens could win.  Knowing this, Mee sailed the Rusden’s out to the unfavoured left hand side of the course, letting Chris Martin/Eddie Glennie port tack the fleet and shoot into an assailable lead.  The Rusdens ground their way back into 2^nd but it wasn’t enough, leaving Mee/Norris the overall winners by 1 point from the Rusdens, with a very consistent Steed/Lovering 3^rd.

Top silver fleet boat was that of the Martins, ahead of Wembley’s Simon & Nicky Skinner in 2^nd and Maia Walsh/M Wood in 3^rd.  Claire Walsh/Darren MacMara topped the bronze fleet, beating Chris Bower/Ian Mair’s into 2^nd and Phil White/Tom Ripley 3^rd.

A great event as always at ESSC, with many thanks to the club for organising it and our great sponsors Gul for the prizes.  The next Gul RS200 event is the Sprint Championships at Rutland 26/27 May whilst this weekend, take your pick from Itchenor or Parkstone for the local SEAS or SW Ugly tour respectively.