Magic Marine RS800 Grand Prix at Eastbourne Sovereign SC

by Andy Jeffries on 22 Sep 2016 A smaller than expected fleet of 10 boats, made the annual trip to Eastbourne, for what was to be one of the most exciting sails of the season so far!

As both the RS400 and RS800 sailors received their briefing from the PRO, Gary Smith, in the calm and tranquillity of the lee of the club house, it was hard to fully judge the conditions out on the course, although he did mention that they had seen some gust up to 25 knots on the committee boat. However, the real state of the breeze became very clear once the fleet left the beach for the fast run straight to the far end of the course. It took less than four minutes!

Once the fleet had assembled at the start line, hasty depowering adjustments were the order of the day. With boards raised, jib track positions moved out (right out) and everything else pulled right on, it was off upwind into the gusty offshore wind. Wisely the course had been set in as close to the shore as possible, with the windward mark and spacer just 200m from the beach, giving the spectators on the shore a real feeling of just how fast RS800s could be sailed.

What was also clear to see was just how fast Paul and Peter Jenkins were sailing. This father and son team combined the wisdom of experience with the power of youth to smash out three straight bullets, in some of the windiest conditions the fleet have raced in for years with the committee boat recording one gust of 30 knots and regular ones in the 27 knot range.

Hot on their heels for most of the day were Luke and Emma McEwen who pushed the Jenkins hard all the way despite a three-foot tear in their spinnaker. A little off form were Andy and Allyson Jeffries, who seemed to struggle with the conditions, scoring a 2,3,6. One other notable result was from Ella and James Morland, who made a welcome return to the RS800 fleet and finished race three in a strong third place. Once back ashore, stories were shared, beer drunk, food consumed and repairs completed.

Day two saw a complete change in conditions. Summer had returned and the sailors were greeted with a 5-15 knot warm offshore breeze. These conditions would favour the sailors who were able to keep their heads out the boat and their nerves steady, with 30 degree shifts and huge differences in pressure meaning that huge gains and losses were possible.

In the first race of the day National and European champions Luke and Emma showed just why they have been so dominate this year finishing a full post code in front of the fleet. Behind them a great race long battle between the Morlands and Andrew Blundell and Maddie Fenner was won by Andrew and Maddie. Race two was won by the Jeffries by less than a bowsprit length from Luke and Emma, with Andrew and Maddie third.

So as the fleet headed into the final race first place was already secured by Luke and Emma but second overall would be decided between the local boats of the Jenkins or the Jeffries. The Jenkins recovered their day and sailed a solid race to finish second and take second place overall, with the Jeffries close behind securing the final place on the podium.

It was a great weekend of excitement and close racing. At the prizing Luke thanked Eastbourne Sovereign SC for their hard work and expertise in letting the fleet race safely in 30 knots, a day that will remain long in the minds of the sailors who braved it!