RS400 Winter Championships at Grafham

by Matt Sheahan on 12 Mar 2014

With plenty of wind, sun, flat water and some close competition, there was little not to like at the RS400 Winter Championships at Grafham. Joining the RS800s and RS600s on the same windward/leeward course added to the high speed spectacle and made for some interesting passes as the fleets threaded their way through each other at high speed.

Saturday's conditions saw a reverse to the forecast wind strength and kicked off with some boisterous gusts nudging the mid twenties which had the fleet screaming downwind in flat water towards the leeward gate. The pace was frantic from the start with long beats allowing everyone to find some clear air.

Fortunately for those whose arms and legs were tiring, or for those who had swum enough for the day, the breeze tapered off to the high teens. But the result at the front of the fleet remained the same whatever the conditions with Nick Craig and Toby Lewis demonstrating what a comfortable winning margin looked like in practice with three straight wins. Joshua and Patrick Metcalfe demonstrated equal consistency with seconds in each race.

Sunday saw summer arrive for the day with the promise of lighter winds, around the mid teens and balmy conditions afloat.

Once again Craig and Lewis kept their results sheet tidy with another three bullets, chased by the Metcalfe's and James Downer and Jon Price - pecking order that followed through to the overall results.

If you were thinking of going but changed you plans at the last minute, now is the time to start kicking yourself and preparing for some tall stories from the rest of us during the next few circuit events.

RS400 Fleet

Sailed: 6, Discards: 1, To count: 5, Entries: 11, Scoring system: GWSC Open Meeting (1 course/PY/3 starts)

Rank	Fleet	Ranking	SailNo	Division	HelmName	CrewName	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Total	Nett	Notes
1st	RS400		1383	x	Nick Craig	Tobytastic Lewis	Frensham Pond SC	(1.0)	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	6.0	5.0	s100
2nd	RS400		1215	x	Joshua Metcalfe	Patrick Metcalfe	Y Felinheli	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	(3.0)	3.0	14.0	11.0	s100
3rd	RS400		1385	x	James Downer	Jon Price	Royal Victoria YC	(12.0 DNF)	3.0	3.0	8.0	2.0	2.0	30.0	18.0	s100
4th	RS400		1251/1418	x	H Farbrother	l Hosilen/D Martin	Queen Mary SC	(12.0 DNC)	4.0	4.0	3.0	7.0	4.0	34.0	22.0	s100
5th	RS400		1340	x	Sam Neal	Neil Cooney	GWSC	4.0	5.0	6.0	(9.0)	8.0	6.0	38.0	29.0	s100
6th	RS400		1043	x	Ian Watkins	Imogen Whittam	GWSC	7.0	6.0	5.0	6.0	(9.0)	5.0	38.0	29.0	s100
7th	RS400		1263	x	Rob Lennox	Ruth Lennox	Barnet Green SC	5.0	8.0	7.0	5.0	6.0	(12.0 DNC)	43.0	31.0	s100
8th	RS400		1051	x	Matt Sheahan	Ellie Sheahan	Netley SC	6.0	7.0	(8.0)	7.0	5.0	7.0	40.0	32.0	s100
9th	RS400		1342	x	Jack Holden	Ollie Miller		3.0	(12.0 DNF)	12.0 DNF	4.0	4.0	12.0 DNC	47.0	35.0	s100
10th	RS400		1275	x	David Hearsum	Ian Hearsum	Hickling Broad SC	(12.0 DNF)	12.0 DNC	12.0 DNC	10.0	10.0	12.0 DNS	68.0	56.0	s100
11th	RS400		1407	x	Jon Heissig	Nicky Grffin		(12.0 DNC)	12.0 DNC	12.0 DNC	12.0 DNC	12.0 DNC	12.0 DNC	72.0	60.0	s100