RS Vareo Grand Prix at Tata Steel SC

by Andrew Davies on 20 Apr 2014 Over the weekend of the 12th-13th of April, thirteen Vareos entered the TATA Steel Open.

Saturday’s race 1 was started in a force 4 with a clean start. Simon Collinson rounded the windward mark first with Andrew Davies second, Jeremy Simons third then closely followed by the rest of the fleet. The fleet split right and left with a few spills on the way down to the leeward gates making changes up wind for the second beat. Simon Collinson held onto his lead for the next two laps and finished in first place. Jeremy finished second but had battled with Andy Howard who finished third followed by Richard Willows fourth and Andrew Davies fifth.

In race 2, there was another clean start with a couple of boats spotting a wind shift and going for a Port end flyer. Andrew Davies stayed on Starboard to tack on the pin forcing the flyers behind, but Bob Taylor still passed clear of the rest and held his is lead around the windward mark followed by Mark Govier second Richard Willows third... Bob Taylor lost a few places down wind but regained his lead up the beat to round again first, followed by Richard Willows second and Andy Howard third. Places changed again down wind with Andy and Alex having a close battle to the leeward gates. The last beat Richard Willows round first Andy Howard second and Alex Howard third finishing in this order. Jeremy had a spill on the last gybe to the gate allowing Andrew Davies through to fourth, Jeremy righted in time to finish fifth.

The wind held its force 4 for the start of the last race of the day, race 3, with Simon Collinson powering his way to the windward Mark followed closely by Richard Willows. There was a close battle between Andy Howard, Alex Howard and Andrew Davies for third. Andy Howard rounded third leaving Alex Howard and Andrew Davies battle down wind for fourth. Simon and Richard changed places during he next couple of laps but Richard got through on the last leg to finish first, Simon second, Andy Howard third, Andrew Davies fourth and Alex Howard fifth.

For Sunday’s Race 4, a steady force 2-3 was as forecast for the start. Everyone was tacking looking for clean air and best shift to the windward mark. Mark Govier rounded first, Andrew Davies second and Jeremy Simons third. Mark had a problem with his spinnaker allowing Andrew to take the lead followed by Jeremy, Richard, Simon and Bill Jackson. Andrew and Jeremy managed to make a small break on the rest of the fleet and battled for the lead. Andrew cover gybing to hold the lead through the leeward gate, but Jeremy calling starboard on the approach to the line for the last beat. Andrew tacked early not to risk a penalty was then forced past the pin of the start line by Jeremy until he could tack on the lay line for the beat. Jeremy then held on for the win Andrew was second, Richard third, Simon fourth and Bill fifth.

In race 5, the wind picked up to a steady four with the well behaved fleet starting clean again. Simon showed the way to the windward mark closely followed by Jeremy, Richard, Paul and Mark. All spinnakers flying the fleet made their way down to the gates. Simon held his lead upwind with Jeremy and Richard staying close on his tail. Andrew got through to fourth and Paul fifth. The last down wind leg Jeremy had good speed to Pass Simon before the gate and held on through the line to finish first, Simon second Richard third, Andrew fourth and Paul fifth. Alex and Andy had a close battle with Alex holding his lead to finish in front of Andy.

In race 6, the wind picked up to a force 5 and shifting caused the postponement flag to be raised. After resetting the line the tired fleet were off up wind giving all to get to the windward mark. Simon rounded first with Richard second, Paul third, Jeremy fourth and Andy fifth. A spectacular sight of all Vareos flying down wind with Richard making the gybing look easy passed Simon to take the lead, Paul getting used to the borrowed Vareo showing good skill holding third, Jeremy foueth and Andy fifth. All battled hard but the positions remained the same with Richards first place meant a well deserved first overall for the weekend.

A big thanks to all 20+ club volunteers for the weekend including help from the local Port Talbot Sea Cadets with launching and recovery of trolleys.

Vareo Open Final Results:

Sailed: 6, Discards: 1, To count: 5, To qualify: 3, Rating system: PY, Entries: 13, Scoring system: Appendix A
Fleet	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	Number	Total	Nett	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6
Vareo	VAREO	621	Road Ford	Richard Willows	1071	13	9	-4	1	1	3	3	1
Vareo	VAREO	622	Llandegfedd	Simon Collinson	1071	17	11	1	-6	2	4	2	2
Vareo	VAREO	641	Llandegfedd Nomads	Jeremy Simons	1071	19	13	2	5	-6	1	1	4
Vareo	VAREO	583	Tata	Andrew Davies	1071	25	19	5	4	4	2	4	-6
Vareo	VAREO	565	Llandegfedd Nomads	Andy Howard	1071	29	22	3	2	3	-7	7	7
Vareo	VAREO	389	Llandegfedd Nomads	Alex Howard	1071	31	25	-6	3	5	6	6	5
Vareo	VAREO	282	Tata	Paul Bambridge	1071	56	42	9	(14.00 RTD)	14.00 DNC	11	5	3
Vareo	VAREO	606	Tata	Bob Taylor	1071	60	46	7	7	(14.00 RTD)	9	9	14.00 DNC
Vareo	VAREO	607	Tata	Mark Govier	1071	60	46	8	(14.00 RTD)	14.00 RTD	8	8	8
Vareo	VAREO	501		Bill Jackson	1071	71	57	(14.00 DNC)	14.00 DNC	14.00 DNC	5	10	14.00 RTD
Vareo	VAREO	605	Llandegfedd	Gareth Edwards	1071	77	63	(14.00 DNC)	14.00 RTD	14.00 DNC	10	11	14.00 DNC
Vareo	VAREO	275	Tata	Alan Clarke	1071	80	66	10	(14.00 RTD)	14.00 DNC	14.00 DNC	14.00 DNC	14.00 DNC
Vareo	VAREO	556	Llandegfedd	Tony Orr	1071	84	70	(14.00 DNC)	14.00 RTD	14.00 RTD	14.00 DNC	14.00 DNC	14.00 DNC