RS Vareo Inland Championships at Rutland SC

by PR on 25 Oct 2007 The 2007 RS Vareo Inland Championships were held at Rutland SC on the 20 and 21 October.

Mark Williams not only convincingly won the Inland Trophy but showed exceptional consistency in difficult conditions. Nigel Tinkler was 2nd, Chris Larr was 3rd and Martin Barrett 4th.

The weather was dominated by very light shifty winds all weekend, making in it a bit of a nightmare for both the sailors and race officer. The positive side was that the sailing took place in glorious sunshine.

First race off and John Regan took a storming lead to the first mark and led by about 50 meters. The rest of the pack followed with gains and losses both left and right with no logical pattern to any of it. Eventually Mark Williams with exceptional downwind speed won convincingly followed by five boats coming to the line all at once. Nigel Tinkler nudged second and John Regan third.

The 2nd race was very similar to the 1st, however it was Chris Moore who got away well with John on this occasion. John eventually became buried by the chasing pack but Chris sailed well and again it was Mark who emerged as front runner.

Approaching the finishing line and Chris had closed Mark right down but a Port and Starboard incident yards from the line meant Mark 1st. Chris spinning but coming second and Andy Filcroft who has only recently returned to sailing becoming a very credible third. The 3rd race was cancelled due to time running out.

Sunday dawned with a similar forecast, some of the sailors did not relish the idea of a day doing extreme yoga in the bottom of the boat and stayed ashore. 3rd race and again there was no pattern to the wind and it was a toss of a coin whether to go left or right. Mark was 1st and was showing consistency in difficult conditions. Martin Barrett second and Matt Moore third.

Race 4 and Chris Larr, who is the strong wind expert, showed good speed to knock Mark off the top and finished first, Mark second and Nigel third.

Race 5 and there was a little bit more wind Mark and Nigel had a real tussel at the front. Nigel having the edge upwind and Mark downwind. On the line it was Mark by three feet. Nigel second and Chris again doing well in the light stuff coming third.

Final race and Mark had done enough and headed for home leaving the rest to battle for the minor places. Martin was a well deserved first, Chris second and Cheryl Wood who had been showing good speed on occasions during the weekend third.

Final results and Mark Williams who not only convincingly won the Inland Trophy but showed exceptional consistency in difficult conditions. Nigel Tinkler was 2nd, Chris Larr was 3rd and Martin Barrett 4th.

RS Vareo - Final overall results

1st 483 Mark Williams Llandegfedd 1 1 1 2 1 (DNC) 29 6 pts
2nd 484 Nigel Tinkler Llandegfedd 2 6 6 3 2 -9 28 19 pts
3rd 361 Chris Larr Grafham Water SC 8 -9 8 1 3 2 31 22 pts
4th 354 Martin Barrett Yorkshire Dales -9 8 2 6 7 1 33 24 pts
5th 244 Richard Willows Northampton 12 (DNC) 4 4 4 6 53 30 pts
6th 188 Matt Moore Middle Nene 5 10 3 7 6 -13 44 31 pts
7th 422 Andy Flitcroft Bolton 6 3 -13 8 12 4 46 33 pts
8th 140 Chris Moore Hayling Island SC -13 2 10 9 11 7 52 39 pts
9th 334 Nick Crickmore Waveney & Oulton Broad -14 4 11 10 10 5 54 40 pts
10th 261 Martyn Peters Llandegfedd 10 7 5 -14 13 11 60 46 pts
11th 346 Geoff Shaw Roadford SC 7 11 -14 11 5 12 60 46 pts
12th 519 Antony Lynall Avon 11 5 9 13 8 -14 60 46 pts
13th 391 John Regan Llandegfedd 3 12 15 -16 9 8 63 47 pts
14th 511 Cheryl Wood Pennine -19 13 16 12 14 3 77 58 pts
15th 490 Jim Hood Calshot 4 17 21 5 15 (DNC) 85 62 pts
16th 369 Martin Dyer RSC -17 16 7 17 16 10 83 66 pts
17th 166 Adrian Theal Filey 15 14 12 15 (DNC) DNC 102 79 pts
18th 212 Nigel Best 18 19 18 -20 20 15 110 90 pts
19th 461 Anthony Oakes Nantwich & Border Counties -21 20 19 19 17 16 112 91 pts
20th 243 Gavin Clark Swanage 20 18 17 18 18 (DNC) 114 91 pts
21st 181 Tim Hattersley Yorkshire Dales/Yeadon -22 21 20 21 19 17 120 98 pts
22nd 510 Richard Kemp Salt Brightlingsea 16 15 (DNC) DNC DNC DNC 123 100 pts