RS Vareos at TATA Steel SC

by Debbie Darling on 9 Oct 2012 A fleet of 72 boats entered this year’s Tata Steel Sailing Club’s October Regatta, to include seven RS Vareo's for the Gul Grand Prix Circuit of which four were club boats and three visitors.

Three races were planned for the Saturday with the first race postponed until 14:30hrs due to no wind.

In race 1, all crept off with a drifter of a start, but Jeremy Symons managed to break away leaving the rest almost standing still while he rounded the first mark. Eventually Alex Howard rounded in second and Mark Govier third. Jeremy finished first out of sight, Alex Howard second and Andrew Davies managed to come into the bottom mark on starboard to get through to a lucky third.

In race 2, it was another drifter of a start with Jeremy over and needing to return and restart. Mark made his way to round in first place followed by Jeremy who managed to make his way past everyone else and John Locket third. Mark had a problem with his spinnaker halyard causing him to lose several places. Apart from Jeremy clearing off into the distance again, there was a close battle with the rest, with places changing on the downwind legs. Jeremy Symons finished first, John Locket second and Andrew Davies third.

Sundays racing was due to start at 10:30hrs, but again no wind so racing began at 11:30hrs.

During race 3, a force two gusting three was welcomed by all as they made a clean start. A close first beat with boats tacking for clear air. Andrew Davies made his way to the first mark on starboard with Andy Howard almost getting there first from port, had to go behind causing him to round in fourth behind Alex Howard in second and Jeremy in third. Andrew broke away down wind and finished clear ahead in first place while Jeremy changed places with Alex to finish in second and third.

In race 4, there was another clean start with boats tacking for clean air. Jeremy rounding in first, Andy second and Alex third. Andrew gybed off and past Andy and Alex before rounding the bottom mark. On the second downwind leg Andrew caught Jeremy and after a close gybing battle managed to pass and finish first, Andy held his position to finish third in front of Alex.

For race 5, the wind had shifted direction slightly, allowing Jeremy who had spotted it, to come in for an impressive port flyer, passing all and leading to the first mark, with Alex rounding in second and Andy third. Jeremy had gybed left ahead towards the handicap fleet with Alex opting to stay right for clean air. Alex gybed for the bottom mark and passed Jeremy with a big lead that he held for the next lap to finish first. Jeremy held on to second place, while Andy was caught by the handicap fleet on starboard causing him to go wide of the bottom mark allowing Andrew to stay high to get ahead and cross the line for a cheeky third.

Results:

1st Jeremy Symons Llandegfedd
2nd Andrew Davies Tata Steel
3rd Alex Howard Llandegfedd
4th Andy Howard Llandegfedd
5th Mark Govier Tata Steel
6th John Locket Tata Steel
7th Alan Clarke Tata RS Vareo website