RS500 World Championships overall

by Nick van Alphen and Pete Barton on 12 Aug 2014 This is a short report of the first days of the RS500 Worlds in Loctudy, France. Upon arrival at the shoreline of Loctudy it was clear why the Swedish teams were already here for one week. The weather was gorgeous and so is the beach from where the boats launch. The hosts from Cercle de Nautique Loctudy were welcoming new guests on Monday with a ride on a foiling catamaran. For others there was the chance to start training with their international competitors and the first practise race was sailed in perfect conditions.

After Int. Chairman Michiel Geerling-van Susante's opening on Tuesday morning, the sailors were all very excited to race. The first day of racing took place medium to light winds with a moderate ocean swell rolling in from the Southeast. Tim and Heather sailed their first bullet of the week in the first race. The second race was won by Mike and Meg after some stunning downwind sailing. Competition seems to get higher every year with some protest filled on the first day, but no serious problems or damages. Fun and fair sailing seems to be the continuing spirit in the RS500 class. The friendly people from Loctudy prepared a nice opening BBQ for us. Lots of stories were exchanged at the large dinner tables with French wine and cheese.

The second day proves to be difficult sailing with big competition in light winds and choppy waves. Two races were sailed and being new to parenthood and sleepless nights didn't seem to slow Tim and Heather down. Lots of typically French games were played in the evening before the traditionnal Dutch party took place. We saw old friends and new faces all enjoying the orange madness and red-white-blue drinks. Heather Chipperfield was voted best red-white-blue outfit of all attendees, although she was wearing a bit of an English orientated dress (I.e. Union Jack)... Christopher Tuckert won best Dutchie of the night, but that was mainly because he won the limbo dance competition. For the rest, let's just say some teams performed a little less than normal the next day... Thanks to all the sailors this RS500 Worlds is already a big success with more great racing days and socials to come!

Nick van Alphen - RS500 965

Medium winds arrived late in the afternoon on day three with crews finally able to stretch their legs on the trapezes.

In race 5 Mike Saul and Meg Fletcher’s GBR legendary downwind talent brought through for the win. The favoured right hand side of the beat gave second and third to Peter Barton and Heather Chipperfield GBR and Hannah and Graeme Bristow GBR respectively. The ever consistent Tim and Heather Wilkins GBR kept up to fourth.

Race 6 had a long port biased start line but with evidence of the right paying. Barton and Chipperfield on port skimmed across the bows of the fleet to win the race to the right and extended for their first win. Saul and Fletcher again pulled through for second with team Wilkins keeping the points tight in third.

The points at the front of the fleet had compressed a little, keeping the title chase wide open.

The party was a ‘500 Likes’ social media party, where the Dutch made a presentation on the 2015 Worlds. Within an hour, there were almost 20 entries ….

After a morning ashore admiring a moderate onshore breeze with some waves the fleet launched into a dying breeze on day four. After a long wait the direction shifted with over 20knots coming in from the opposite direction. After some time for consideration a course was set close under the shoreline as the breeze began to drop and become unstable.

The heroes in the charge to mark one were Johan Van Veen and Floris Stapel NED who intelligently banked the port layline for a big lead with Team Bristow hot on their heels. Clever judgment of the offshore gusts and gybe angles was the ticket to downwind success. Team Bristow pulled away for a big win with Saul and Fletcher gaining on the left inside the reefs and out of the tide. This race was one for Team Sweden with Martin and Axel Johansson SWE sailing cleverly for third and Malin Broberg and Johan Rook SWE pulling through the fleet for a fifth.

Team Wilkins made a comeback for a useful fourth to keep the series tied at the top with Saul and Fletcher, leaving it all to play for going into the final day!

CN Loctudy hosted an amazing Hog Roast in the massive marquee, which was very welcome after such a long day …

An early launch into a light breeze on day five and a possibility of three races produced high tensions for the final battles throughout the fleet, especially for the title and podium places.

As it happened there was only just enough wind for one light race which allowed the second discard, much to many team’s relief. The race officer wasted no time in starting a sequence, all be it with a biased start line and windward leg. It took the whole five minute sequence to sail the length of the start line close hauled in the light breeze but those who made it to the port end were generously rewarded by tacking onto the long port tack. Young Italians Lucas Abergo and Andrea Dellepiane ITA showed lightening upwind speed to cruise into the distance for first with French Team Nico and Thomas Honor FRA second. A solid third was enough for Team Wilkins to take the title with Saul and Fletcher back in 12th. Fourth went to Jane Olive and Chris Tuckett GBR jumping them up to eighth overall. Fifth went to another French team of Olivier and Paco Thomas FRA, slipping in their best result.

Tim and Heather Wilkins regain the World Title that they have won twice before with consistency, speed and solid tactics making the difference. Mike Saul and Meg Fletcher pushed them hard but ultimately had to settle for second. Peter Barton and Heather Chipperfield rounding out the podium in third.narrowly edging out 2013 RS Feva World Champion fourth placed Hannah and Graeme Bristow. The biggest movers of the final day were the Italian race winners Lucas Abergo and Andrea Dellepiane who discarded a 25th for their first and jumped from 11th to fifth, only narrowly missing out on the podium.

Category Champions:

1st Parent/Child team; Hannah and Graeme Bristow GBR (4th)
1st Lady team; Martina Gommellini and Beatrice Xodo ITA (19th)
1st Youth team; Matteo Cara and Leonardo Pizzagalli ITA (14th)
Youngster award; Martin Riou FRA (10 years) crewing for local Vendee Globe hero, Vincent Riou.

With five countries well represented in the 51 boat World Championship and four counties in the top seven places the RS500 continues to go from strength to strength internationally.

Massive thanks must go the helpful and smiling staff and volunteers of CN Loctudy, who worked hard to make the event a great success. A wonderful venue – we will return!

Next years Worlds are in the Netherlands from 2-6 August with the promise of sensational Dutch hospitality. 22 boats are already entered and with the Dutch fleet growing rapidly with tremendous enthusiasm and team spirit this promises to be a fabulous event with every likelihood of the Orange team mounting a full assault on the top ten. For more information and to enter, click Click here for full results