Results / GUL RS RACING CIRCUIT PAIGNTON SC - 16/06/2001
GUL RS RACING CIRCUIT AT ROYAL TORBAY YC AND PAIGNTON SC- JUNE 16/17.
The GUL RS Racing Circuit hit Torbay in a big way on June 16/17 with three
courses spread across the bay. The RS200's and 600's launched from
Paignton
Beach with Paignton SC running their course. The RS300's, 400's and 800's
launched off Torre Abbey Sands in Torquay and the Royal Torbay YC managed
their two courses. With the sunshine and fresh breezes of Sunday the boats
were a spectacular sight downwind from the shore with multi coloured
spinnakers everywhere in the bay.
The weather was some of the most varied imaginable. As the fleets rigged
on
Saturday morning there was a steady moderate breeze from the NW. As the
fleets launched this wind started to drop and it soon became apparent that
something big was brewing to the south of Brixham. As thunder started to
rumble under very large, very nasty and very wet looking black clouds, the
fleets prepared for a huge downpour. Luckily the clouds took one look at
Paignton and rumbled off out to sea causing mayhem with the wind in the
process.
Poor Race Officers Ken Falcon, John Haslam and Peter Rumbelow then spent
over an hour moving the windward marks round every compass point as the
wind
went NE, SE, then S quickly followed by SW before going back to W to NW.
Eventually the wind settled down around a mean direction of NW around a
force 3-4. There were though some big slants and patchs in the wind, which
gave some snakes and ladders racing. The Race Officers though did very
well
to fit in three good races despite not being able to start until 15.00.
The
fleets, although not happy at sitting around, knew full well there was
nothing the Race Officers could have done to start racing earlier.
Sunday was a lot kinder, the wind stayed in the NW all day, built slowly
so
that full on racing took place in force 4-5 under generally blue skies and
plenty of sunshine. It was a blistering good day and many very tired but
happy bunnies left after prize giving's at 16.00. You knew it had been a
good weekend; there was many a good word for the race management teams.
RS200's
The leading helms of the 34 strong RS200 fleet were as one in raving about
the racing and conditions at Paignton. Although two boats dominated, Tom
Hewitson and Jon Lewis winning all six races between them, they were both
keen to emphasis how hard they had been pushed by a fleet that is
developing
more depth with every event.
Lewis/Lizzie Humphries gained the initial advantage by winning race 1 from
father/son team of Mark and Samuel Littlejohn. Simon Gillow/Vicky Smith
read
the first beat correctly to lead race 2 but lost out to Tom and Jo
Hewitson
downwind, Lewis recovered to finish second with the Littlejohn's third and
Gillow fourth. Lewis rounded off a good day with another race win with the
Hewitsons second.
Sundays racing started on time, which caught out quite a few people; Ken
Falcon was Race Officer and the fleet should have known better. Normal
service was immediately resumed when Lewis just gained the overlap at the
final mark to win from the Hewitsons. The Hewitsons victory in race 5 set
up
a tense final race showdown. Lewis held the early advantage but the
Hewitsons got through downwind and never looked like giving up their lead.
Steve Dunn/Lucy Davey in a new boat were by now finding real boat speed
and
claimed second with Lewis slipping to third giving overall victory by a
point to the Hewitsons. The Littlejohn's in third overall are obviously
going to be a force in 200's whilst 200 old hands Dave and Nikki Derby
(sorry Nikki) are straight on the pace in their brand new boat, number
700,
with six top six results. Paul and Caroline Fisk slipped a little on
Sunday
but are well in contention on the GUL RS Racing Circuit.
The Hewitsons have 4pts counting three out of four events; the Fisks are
only just behind with 6pst. You have the feeling that Lewis is still going
to have a lot to say (he normally does) about where who will eventually
win
the circuit.
Pete Vincent.
GUL RS200 RACING CIRCUIT EVENT � PAIGNTON SC, JUNE 16/17
1. 655 Tom Hewitson Jo Hewitson 7pts
2. 654 Jon Lewis Lizzie Humphries 8pts
3. 520 Mark Littlejohn Samuel Littlejohn 16pts
4. 700 Dave Derby Nikki Derby 19pts
5. 626 Paul Fisk Caroline Fisk 28
6. 696 Steve Dunn Luck Davey 29
7. 264 Chris Jenkins Rachael Jenkins 35
8. 553 Paul Fox Adam Fox 47
9. 622 Ian Pickard Trudie Danbury 48
10. 417 Ralph Singleton Sophie Singleton 57
11. 364 Simon Gillow Vickie Smith 58
12. 581 Mike Chapman Tracey Hill 64
13. 529 Martin English Bridget Cooke 69
14. 593 Pat Fillery 72
15. 602 Chris Woodard 73
16. 604 Simon Davis 73
17. 334 Jane Robertson 76
18. 591 Neil McLellan 82
19. 676 Dave Milner 91
20. 669 Sally Potter 103
21. 446 Cameron Hunter 105
22. 695 Chris Howarth 107
23. 341 Nathan Staley 109
24. 637 Sarah Taylor 114
25. 641 Philip Johnson 115
26. 548 Bonnie Moody 117
27. 590 Alan Perry 119
28. Natalie Rogers 125
29. Nygel Gardner 132
30. Paul Dorer 134
31. Chris Tofts 147
32. Jules Rains 157
33. Bill Carlton 159
34. Shona Brooks 165