RS Feva Grand Prix at the WPNSA

by Debbie Darling on 10 Jul 2013 The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) hosted the last UK Grand Prix of the 2012/13 season on July 6/7 for the RS Fevas. Volvo Car UK are the new 2013/14 sponsors of the circuit and gave a free coaching day away to one lucky entrant whose sail number was pulled out of a hat. Dom Lewis and John Jones from Tonbridge School will receive coaching from a Team GBR Olympic sailor.

What a change to the weather from two weeks ago at the Inland Champs. The 44 boat fleet travelled from as far afield as the Isle of Man in hot, steamy conditions, to be greeted by fog hugging Portland Bill and rolling over Chesil Beach .

However, after a one hour postponement the fog lifted and the fleet headed into the harbour in sunny, hot conditions and four knots of breeze. The boats got away all clear for the first race with six knots of sea breeze filling in. First at the windward mark was Hannah Bristow and Bobby Hewitt with Sophie Hempsell and Emily Covell in second; third Will and Matt Taylor. Sophie and Emily lead at the leeward gate, and climbing into second was Sam Grade and Katie Prescott; third Hannah and Bobby. Emily and Sophie were still ahead at the second windward mark; Sam and Katie in second but Jamie Smith and Piers Nicholls had pulled through to third, positions they held to the finish.

The second start got away after a short delay to alter the course for a wind shift. Sophie and Emily were caught over the line OCS. Leading at the windward mark was Dan Discombe and Oscar Wright; second Jamie and Piers; third Hannah and Bobby. As the wind dropped to five knots it was Jamie and Piers leading at the gate; Hannah and Bobby in second; Elliott Wells and Jake Todd third. With the wind dropping further to four knots, Jamie and Piers extended their lead from Will and Matt with Elliott and Jake third at the final windward mark. By the finish of race two, Jamie and Piers took the win whilst Elliott and Jake climbed to second; third Will and Matt. The fleet finished but the wind disappeared altogether so a postponement went up.

The course was re set as a gradient six knot breeze returned for race 3. The fleet got away all clear. Elliott and Jake were ahead at the windward mark; second Daniel Lewis and Elliott Marshall; third Arthur Brown and Niamh Davies. By the leeward gate, Jamie and Piers were in front with Elliott and Jake just holding onto second. Race 3 was won by Jamie and Piers; second Will and Matt; third Hannah and Bobby.

As the wind was holding at six knots, the race team decided on a fourth race as the forecast for Sunday was for even less wind. A left shift before the start allowed Jamie and Piers who were ready at the pin, to tack on the gun and cross the fleet on port. The wind started dropping again benefiting Arthur and Niamh who lead at the windward mark from Jamie and Piers. The committee boat decided to move to the windward mark ready for a shorten course before the wind disappeared again. Jamie and Piers took the lead by the gate and held on to the finish. Second to finish was Arthur and Niamh; third Jamie Jobson and Daniel Armstrong.

Sunday arrived as expected, hot and sunny with very little wind. The race team went out in the harbour to wait for the sea breeze to fill in. The fleet were held ashore before being called out in the hope of some wind. Unfortunately, the sea breeze failed to materialize and racing was abandoned.

This left results as before with first Jamie and Piers; second Sam and Katie; third Will and Matt.

The overall GP Circuit winner for 2012/13 is Jamie Smith and Piers Nicholls winning with a 2/3/1 in the best of three series.

Overall

Sailed: 4, Discards: 1, To count: 3, Entries: 44, Scoring system: Appendix A

Rank	SailNo	HelmName	CrewName	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total	Nett
1st	4883	Jamie Smith	Piers Nicholls	Hayling Island SC	(3.0)	1.0	1.0	1.0	6.0	3.0
2nd	4924	Samuel Grade	Katie Prescott	Hayling / Lymington Town	2.0	(6.0)	4.0	4.0	16.0	10.0
3rd	5028	Will Taylor	Matt Taylor	Burnham / Alton Water SC	6.0	3.0	2.0	(14.0)	25.0	11.0
4th	4610	Hannah Bristow	Bobby Hewitt	Leigh and Lowton	5.0	4.0	3.0	(12.0)	24.0	12.0
5th	4768	Arthur Brown	Niamh Davies	Royal Burnham Yacht Club/Burnham Sailing	7.0	(13.0)	5.0	2.0	27.0	14.0
6th	4332	Elliott Wells	Jake Todd	HISC	(11.0)	2.0	6.0	10.0	29.0	18.0
7th	1883	Harvey Martin	Will Ward	Ogston Sailing Club	8.0	5.0	9.0	(15.0)	37.0	22.0
8th	5146	Daniel Lewis	Elliott Marshall	Draycote Water Sailing Club	9.0	9.0	(11.0)	5.0	34.0	23.0
9th	4251	Sophie Hempsell	Emily Covell	HISC	1.0	(45.0 OCS)	13.0	13.0	72.0	27.0
10th	4530	James Eales	Henry Collings	Rlyc/Hisc	(18.0)	12.0	7.0	9.0	46.0	28.0

http://www.rsfeva.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Sailwave-results-for-Volvo-RS-Feva-Grand-Prix-at-WPNSA-2013.htm" target="_blank">Click here for full results