High entry sees Autumn Series start with a bang

by RYA on 20 Oct 2016 The first RYA Olympic Classes Autumn event went off with bang over the weekend at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy with over 70 boats taking to the water, the largest number of entries for two years.

The Autumn Series events bring together the best of the best within Olympic and Paralympic sailing, and the British Sailing Team were out in force alongside very new faces who were taking on an Olympic class event for the very first time.

There were a number of outstanding performances, with sailors revelling in the strong Portland Harbour winds, including Megan Pascoe in the 2.4mR who won all eight races in the eleven boat Paralympic class.

British Sailing Team’s Henry Wetherell only dropped concentration in race 2 posting a sixth alongside eight first place finishes in the nine race Finn series, finishing over 10 points ahead of second placed Peter McCoy.

In the Nacra 17, Tom Phipps and Nikki Boniface were the dominant force with a string of race wins, finishing five points ahead of new partnership John Gimson and Anna Burnet.

An 18 strong fleet of windsurfers took to the waters of Portland Harbour, with 2016 Youth Worlds representative Andy Brown winning the RS:X 8.5M class followed by close rival Josh Carey. Saskia Sills was a close third place and first girl, with Emma Wilson in fourth. Joe Bennett won the RS:X 9.5M class, counting six race wins and a third place finish.

Ben Hazeldine and Ryan Orr just pipped Martin Wrigley and Rory Hunter to first in the 470 men’s class. Georgia Booth and Esme Jones were the top 470 women.

Finishing on eleven points, Chris Taylor and Sam Batten led the 49er class results board, followed by Henry Lloyd Williams and Will Alloway in second. Tilly James and Steph Orton just pipped Megan Brickwood and Eleanor Aldridge to the 49erFX win.

Barrie Edgington, British Sailing Team Podium Potential Manager: “It was fantastic to see so many boats on the water at the first Autumn Series event, from seasoned professionals to some of our newest sailors who are transitioning up from the Youth Squad.

“The final event of the year in November is going to be a fantastic conclusion, and will cap of an incredible Olympic year for British Sailing and we are hoping to see even more boats out on the water.”