Volvo End of Season Championship - RS800s at Datchet

by Hugh Shone on 12 Nov 2014 For the last weekend fixture of the year, the RS800s were greeted by a grey and blustery Datchet. Low water levels combined with the high winds and two race courses led to a bit of a squeeze in terms of space. Dealing with the massive gusts, huge wind shifts and minefields of slower classes was the key to success on the Saturday.

Race one saw Hugh and Hannah ping it off the pin to reach the windward mark with a good lead over Phil and John and James and Toby. However, as the race progressed, it was Tim and Sam who put the pedal down and missioned their way to the front. Tim and Sam took the win after James and Toby's challenge evaporated with a bit of a boat handling nightmare at the final gate. Second went to Roger and Will with Hugh and Hannah in third.

Race two saw a front pack of four contend for the lead. By the finale Tim and Sam once again took the bullet with impressive speed and cornering. Second went to Laurie and Dan, with the McEwens in third.

The last race of the day saw an excellent first beat from Steven Greaves and Caroline Edwards who led round the windward mark closely followed by Hugh and Hannah. By lap three it was James and Toby and Tim and Sam battling at the front. On the last beat Hugh and Hannah took a bit of a gamble and banged the opposite side of the course, gaining about 150 metres on the leaders in the process to lead at the top mark for the final time. Their good fortune was slightly balanced out by a poor last downwind letting James and Toby through for the bullet.

Sunday dawned millpond-esque with mist hanging over the lake. The forecasts were less optimistic than the race officer who set forth towards the racecourse with much more gusto than the bewildered competitors who were ready to pack boats up.

So began a drifting exercise as we waited for wind. This led to a number of casualties who aborted having lost all hope. Racing eventually kicked off and top marks must go to Tim and Sam who ditched both a Jesters induced hangover nap and a steaming bowl of chips to make the start just in time. However, it was Ralph and Sophie who did a port flyer on the fleet to lead all the way to the finish...a lap early. Luckily for them, most of the fleet only fancied doing two laps as well. This was apart from the McEwens who were the only boat to head around the cans for the third time. Due to everyone being generally very confused due to finishing hooters for the two lappers, an act of diplomacy followed with the McEwens being given the win followed by the two lappers in the original order.

This tightened things up heading into the final race. Ralph and Sophie once again disappeared followed by the McEwens with Hugh and Hannah in third. Fourth place for Jesters' number one fan (Tim) and Sam was enough to secure the title after a stellar performance on Saturday. Second overall went to the McEwens with James and Toby and Hugh and Hannah tied for third. The tight point scenario sums up the whole season which has seen fierce competition throughout the whole Grand Prix. In terms of final standings in the Grand Prix, James and Toby took the win followed by Tim and Sam in second and Hugh and Hannah in third.

Special thanks must go towards Clare who helped turn carnage into controlled chaos. We must also pay our respects to two teams who have until the 2014 EOS graced many an RS800 podium and dance floor but are sadly moving on. For me, both James and Toby and Laurie and Dan have contributed a lot to the fleet in terms of top-notch sailing and laughs - so hurry up and change your minds!

As part of its support of RS Sailing and the RS Class Associations, Volvo Car UK had a strong presence at the End of Seasons, putting on a variety of shore side activities, including a colouring competition, remote controlled cars and the Sail for Gold Game. Team Volvo sailor and London 2012 silver medallist Luke Patience who was competing at the event in the RS200 class.

Results

RS800 Class
Sailed: 5, Discards: 1, To count: 4, Entries: 14, Scoring system: Appendix A
Rank	Fleet	Class	Sail No	Club	HelmName	CrewName	Rating	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Total	Nett
1st		RS800	1203	GWSC	Tim Saxton	Sam Littlejohn		1	1	3	-6	4	15	9
2nd		RS800	1129	Royal Lymington YC	Luke McEwen	Emma McEwen		-7	3	4	1	2	17	10
3rd		RS800	1195	Port Dinorwic SC	James Date	Toby Wincer		4	4	1	3	-6	18	12
4th		RS800	1189	Castle Cove SC	Hugh Shone	Hannah Tattersall		3	-6	2	4	3	18	12
5th		RS800	1166	DWSC	Ralph Singleton	Sohpie Singleton		6	-7	6	2	1	22	15
6th		RS800	1148	Rickmansworth SC	Steven Greaves	Caroline Edwards		-10	8	8	5	7	38	28
7th		RS800	1204	Emberton Park SC	Roger Philips	Will Crocker		2	5	7	(15.0 DNC)	15.0 DNC	44	29
8th		RS800	1124	QMSC	Laurie Fitzjohn-Sykes	Daniel Allin		8	2	5	(15.0 DNC)	15.0 DNC	45	30
9th		RS800	1144	Littleton SC	Daniel Goodman	Debbie Robertshaw		11	(15.0 DNC)	15.0 DNC	8	5	54	39
10th		RS800	1187	NCSC of Draycote	Ade White	Joe White		(15.0 DNC)	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	7	8	60	45
11th		RS800	913	Great Moor SC	Adrian Howe	Jake Holmes		(15.0 DNC)	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	9	9	63	48
12th		RS800	1178	Draycote Water SC	Phil Walker	John Mather		5	(15.0 DNC)	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	65	50
13th		RS800	817	Arun YC	Jack Holden	Jack		9	(15.0 DNC)	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	69	54
14th		RS800	1050	Bristol Corinthian SC	Joe Joynor	Will Broom		(15.0 DNC)	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	15.0 DNC	75	60

Event website

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