18ft Skiff UK GP at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy
by Andy Richards 16 May 2005 19:29 AEST
14-15 May 2005
The Radii team of Andy Richards, Andy Fairley & Dave Richards win the 18ft Skiff Grand Prix in Weymouth © Mike Rice /
www.fotoboat.com
The second round of the UK 18ft Skiff Grand Prix was greeted by mixed conditions this weekend. Saturday was practically a winter's scene, as temperatures never ventured much above 10oC compounded with a biting easterly wind with rain. The only saving grace was 20 knots of breeze but
this soon died down to a leisurely 12 knots leaving everyone in the fleet wallowing a little with their chosen No2 rigs - still at least everyone made the same choice.
The top team to make the best of the conditions were on-form Radii, who took three bullets on the day from their main rivals Hermes and Barron & Smithers.
Sunday dawned a brighter with the breeze still around 12 knots. Rig choice was easier this time round, but it didn't change the outcome of the races much. Radii continued their dominating form with another two race wins to sew up the regatta with a race to spare, while Barron & Smithers and
Hermes battled it out for the runner up spot. In the end, Hermes stamped their authority on the last race from the start and never looked back. Grapefruit Graphics and new team Total Recall showed spurts of speed during the second day but never really challenged.
The next event on the circuit is the second round of the European Grand Prix in Sardinia in early June. This also doubles up as the second round of the World Series (following the Giltinan in Sydney in Feb, closing with the San Francisco event in September) - therefore the added spice of
calibrating how the UK and European fleets stack up against the best of the Australian and American teams.
Overall Results:
1st Radii
2nd Hermes
3rd Barron and Smithers / Henri Lloyd