Sail-World.com : Baker & Hughes lead day 1 of RS800 Nationals
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Baker & Hughes lead day 1 of RS800 Nationals |
The RS800 fleet assembled at Porthpean Sailing Club for their national championships. The first day’s racing showed the strength in depth which has developed in the fleet recently. Neil Baker and James Hughes lead overall by two points ahead of Charlie Roome and Steve Hall tied in second with Spod Olive and Guy Filmore.
Race 1 set off after the wind settled in a gusty force 3-4, with a port biased line. The breeze favoured the left hand side, and Spod Olive & Guy Filmore, fresh back from a year in Auckland, were fastest out of the blocks and lead round the windward mark. Tom Halhead & Christian Humphrey were close behind, while some of the other main contenders ended up in less breeze out right.
The three lap race continued with the fleet spreading out in a slightly building breeze. By the finish Halhead and Humphrey held their lead from Olive and Filmore, with the chasing pack at the finish including Ian Martin and Adam Broughton (Kingfisher Yacht Ropes), Neil Baker and James Hughes and Alastair & Penny Shires (Contender Sailcloth).
Race 2 saw the fleet heading for the left hand side again, but this time Aaron Barden and Rob Hopper took the lead round the windward mark, chased hard by Laurie-Fitzjohn Sykes and Dan Allin, Brett Elway and Jay Bick (Ronstan) and Charlie Roome & Steve Hall (PwC).
Barden/Hopper held their lead until the final beat, where Roome and Hall overhauled them as the fleet split across the course. By the finish Roome and Hall just held their lead from the fast finishing Baker and Hughes, and Ben McGrane and Olivier Vidal (Selden) claimed third.
Tonight sees the Commodore’s Reception at Porthpean SC, with slightly lighter breezes expected for a further two races tomorrow. Racing continues until Friday, when the last of the 12 races are due to be completed.
RS800 - Leading Results (after 2 races)
1. Neil Baker & James Hughes (5 points)
2. Charlie Roome & Steve Hall (7 points)
3. Spod Olive & Guy Filmore (7 points)
4. Ian Martin & Adam Broughton (11 points)
5. Ben McGrane & Olivier Vidal (12 points)
6. Tom Halhead & Christian Humphrey (15 points)
by Charles Roome
10:24 AM Mon 25 Aug 2008 GMT
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