Sail-World.com : RS800 Gul Grand Prix at Hayling Island SC

News Home

Text Only News

Powerboat-World

MarineBusiness World

Video Gallery

Animated Knots

Cruising

2013 America's Cup

Sail-World.com : RS800 Gul Grand Prix at Hayling Island SC

RS800 Gul Grand Prix at Hayling Island SC

RS800 Gul Grand Prix was held at Hayling Island Sailing Club over the weekend of 30th June and 1st July 2012. Continuing the breezy theme to the summer’s Grand Prix circuit, Hayling Island, was not to disappoint. 30 competitors turned out to the top class venue which later this year will host the nationals, but as many predicted, 25knot gusts and wind against tide brought a halt to early proceedings. Talk of two meter waves over the infamous bar was tested by an intrepid group of local RS200 sailors who launched aiming to show us what we were missing – four fully masted boats launched, a short while later three came back. The race officer had made the right call.

Later in the day, with the wind easing the race officer selected a just-for-practice knock out format for those that had hung around in the sunshine. Dave Hivey donned his objective hat and ranked the fleet, splitting us into two seeded flights. Debbie handed out the tallies, explaining the first five in each qualifying race would get finishing guns and would qualify for the final and with that the phrase, 'get a hoot or go home' was born! The wind was still gusting into the low 20’s and so the harbour was used for the short course races. With the windward mark in the lee of the clubhouse any mistakes were on show for all the non sailing competitors and baying crowd. A few were noted and forever they shall remain stories for the bar, helms and crews never likely to live down the humiliation. James and guest crew Harvey, team RWO, took the win in the final. Bottles of wine awarded for their efforts.

With more water in the harbour, the second day was to hold races no question and although the wind had only eased a knot or two there was no keeping the fleet on shore. Nick and Christian launched early, before the release, allowing a short period of acclimatisation to the conditions that they used to maximum effect. After a smart start they were not to be caught despite James and Toby and Laurie and Dan’s best efforts. The wind and the traffic continued to build on the course leading to some big calls and some inevitably big capsizes. This was to prove too much for some and the fleet was whittled down to 17 by the second start. Laurie and Dan and James and Toby were again battling it out at the front, with Roge and Will keeping the pack at bay. A fast moving game of snakes and ladders was being played for the remaining top ten positions with mistakes being costly. If this is a sign of how closely fought Garda will be, it is shaping up to be a good one – if you are looking for a fleet with strength in depth, then the 800s have a lot to offer.

The final race saw the fleet whittled down again, with many of the sensible teams calling it a day. James and Toby finally got the bullet their upwind speed deserved and with it overall honours for the day. Local pairing Nick and Caroline rocketed into second place with Ella and James rounding off the podium spots. Luke and Emma completed a consistent days sailing in fourth – three mixed crews in the top four on the final race of the day, speaks for itself.

Laurie and Dan and Roge and Will completed the overall podium – only the winners finished all three races in the top five, consistency ultimately proving the key.

Thanks must go to Hayling Island SC and the race officer. Engaging the fleet for opinion on day one and quick turn-around of starting on day two lead to a great weekend of champagne or 'Glamour' (Credit Tom Morris') sailing.

Thoughts inevitably turn to Garda. One weekend of fine tuning remains before the 12h/16h/20hr (depending on who you talk to) drive to Italy and with a turnout of 40 teams already entered, it is good to see the fleet continues to strengthen.

Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	Pts
1st	1195	James Date	Harvey Hilliary	Port Dinorwic SC	2	2	1	5
2nd	1124	Laurie Fitzjohn	Daniel Allin	QMSC	3	1	7	11
3rd	1089	Roger Phillips	Will Crocker	EPSC	4	3	6	13
4th	1129	Luke McEwen	Emma McEwen	Royal Lymington	8	4	4	16
5th	864	Ella Mitchell	James Marland	Weston	15	7	3	25
6th	1162	Alan Roberts	Chris O'Neil	HISC	6	11	9	26
7th	1198	Nick Peters	Caroline Wilkinson	HISC	11	15	2	28
8th	1160	Dan Kilsby	Bart Bridgen	Stokes Bay	9	12	12	33
9th	1047	Simon Grundy	Guy Whitby		19	6	10	35
10th	1142	Oli Woods	Nikki Gruwen		16	17	8	41
11th	1171	Antony Mee	James Penty	RYA	21	8	13	42
12th	1099	Alistair Hodgson	Sue Ogg	Draycote SC	22	9	11	42
13th	1058	Toby Linell	Jody Warner		17	10	15	42
14th	1133	Justin Deal	Emma Deal	Datchet SC	10	5	DNC	45
15th	1131	Anthony Harvey	Michael Stone	Mumbles	20	14	14	48
16th	1061	Kevin Burnard	Emma Warner	South Cerney	13	BFD	16	59
17th	1144	Nicholas Charles	Christian Humprey	Datchet Water SC	1	DNF	BFD	61
18th	806	David Hand	Georgina Hand	Grafham Water	18	16	DNC	64
19th	949	Tracey Covell	Chris Feibusch	HISC	DNF	DNC	5	65
20th	1187	Dave Hivey	James Barlow		5	DNF	BFD	65
21st	1178	Frances Peters	Nicola Groves	HISC	7	DNF	DNC	67
22nd	966	Hugh Watson	Andy Watkins	Emsworth	12	DNF	DNC	72
23rd	1145	Martin Orton	Ian Brooks	CYC	DNF	13	DNF	73
24th	1179	Neil Farmer	Alex Nolson	Datchet	14	DNF	DNC	74
25th	1135	Ally Martin	Claire Lasko	Burghfield SC	DNF	DNF	DNC	90
25th	1196	Andrew Smith	Simon Ledley	Stokes Bay	DNC	DNC	DNC	90
25th	1128	Mary Rook	Ollie Spensley-Corfield	Lyme Regis	DNC	DNC	DNC	90
25th	1169	David Williams	Nick Searle		DNC	DNC	DNC	90
25th	1188	Philip Poyner	Lucy Kenedy	HISC	DNC	DNF	DNC	90

RS Class Association website

by Debbie Darling

Tweet

Click on the FB Like link to post this story to your FB wall

http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=99302

1:37 PM Wed 4 Jul 2012GMT

Click here for printer friendly version
Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.

Click for further information on

Related News Stories:

04 Jul 2012	European Optimist Championship - Tas Kolman and Giulia Sarti lead
04 Jul 2012	Jubilee Bowl at Queen Mary SC – Registration open
03 Jul 2012	2012 470 European Championship day 5 - Hunting the wind + Video
03 Jul 2012	Irish Fireball National Championships at Howth YC
02 Jul 2012	470 European Championship day 4 - Perfect recipe for racing + Video
01 Jul 2012	470 European Championships - Pole position to Great Britain + Video
01 Jul 2012	Finn Silver Cup - Sailors set for battle
30 Jun 2012	Musto Skiff World Championship day 4 - Blowing dogs off chains + Video
30 Jun 2012	Europe Nationals at Brixham YC - Win to Chris Gill
30 Jun 2012	470 European Championships - Changes plentiful on day 2 + Video