Reynolds leads Gul RS600 Nationals – Day 1

by RS media on 5 Sep 2008 Nineteen RS600s arrived at the South Caernarfonshire Yacht Club in Abersoch for the 2008 National Championships. Amongst the fleet were the previous two national champions, plus some new and old faces. Leader after day 1 is Christian Reynolds.

Wednesday’s training day was a bit of a disaster due to high winds and heavy rain. Despite this, seven hardy souls took to the water to show the RS300 fleet how it should be done. Dave Annan broke himself and Olly Straker managed to snap his mast. There was no safety cover so Olly was heroically rescued by George Smith (who got an A* in English Literature, clever boy) who towed Olly back to shore.

Race 1 started in 8 knots of breeze and sunshine from a very port biased line. Olly Straker led the race from the start, chased hard by Christian Reynolds, Ian Marshall and James Sainsbury (who had managed to get out on the water despite putting a hole in his boat whilst launching). Straker maintained his lead until the final reach of the Olympic style course when Reynolds rolled over the top of him very close to the final mark to take the win. Straker was second and Ian Marshall third.

The conditions were very similar at the start of race 2. Most of the fleet started at the pin end again and headed off to the left. Olly Straker and Jon Bradbury headed off to the right after a bad start which paid off. Reynolds reached the windward mark first with Bradbury second and Straker third.

Straker overtook Bradbury on the reach and then Reynolds while going upwind. Straker won, Reynolds second with Marshall third after a big luffing match between the top three. David Annan worked his way up the fleet to take fourth.

The wind dropped slightly and become patchy and flucky for the start of Race 3. The fleet spread fairly evenly across the course. Bradbury, Annan and Straker headed to the right. Annan impeded Straker and was forced to do a penalty turn which dropped him down the fleet.

Straker reached the windward mark first with Sainsbury second and Reynolds third. Straker lost five places in one leg leaving Reynolds to lead to the finish. Annan miraculously recovered from his penalty turn to pull back up through the fleet to take second with Marshall third. Sainsbury beat Straker to fourth place and emerging talent Bradbury fifth.

RS600 Nationals - Day 2 racing has been abandoned due to high winds.

RS600 Nationals - Day 1 leading results

1st Christian Reynolds 4 points
2nd Olly Straker 8 points
3rd Ian Marshall 9 points
4th James Sainsbury 13 points
5th David Annan 16 points
6th Jonathan Powell 21 points