Light winds disrupt RS Feva UK Nationals

by Event media on 25 May 2009
Day 2 at the Sekonda RS Feva UK Nationals started with a light S-E gradiant wind which died as the sailors came to the start area. The fleet were sent home after waiting for an hour but at 4pm the gradient returned & the fleet returned to do battle.

Getting back in the groove must have been really difficult. The breeze might have returned but it was still fairly unstable. Gold fleet were off first followed 5 mins later by the Silver. Both fleets used the same windward/leeward course so the Silver fleet was chasing hard!

Owen Bowerman & Charlie Darling were in scintilating form and picked the right shift and windlanes through the maze to take the early lead in the two lap race. Will Acres and Ed Bowman weren't letting them get away whilst a confident performance by Ruth & Tess Allan got them there in third.

The overnight leaders were all looking glum at this point. Tim Gratton & Chris Taylor were approx 8th, Debbie and Tom Darling were just behind & Will Lowes and Hugo Tucker mid teens.

Minor position changing went on from then on to bring the overnight leaders closer to the end that matters but still not close enough. Poor Ruth & Tess Allan sailed brilliantly until a random hole developed around them. They tried all the right things but no amount of changing gears was enough to make up for zero wind. Eilidh McIntyre & Vikki Payne had nailed the start and kept in competitive position throughout.

The final run is where it all happened. Debbie & Tom Darling engaged in battle with Tim Gratton & Chris Taylor. Only one result possible there as no one roll gybes better than Tim & Chris. That turned into a potential championship winning run with the boys coming through from 6th to win again. Owen Bowerman & Charlie Darling came a comfortable second even within range of having a shot at the winners.

Very maturely though they forewent a shot at creating a potential right of way incident and first place for a guaranteed 2nd. Third were Niall Houston & Syd Maclean in a brilliant effort. 4th were Debbie and Tom Darling whilst Cathy Lear and Francine Counsell came 5th. The other overnight podium placed boat with Will Lowes and Hugo Tucker managed to recover to 8th just behind Hugo Jones-Warner and James Poyner.

So going into the last day it is Tim & Chris with a good but not secure lead over Debbie & Tom with Owen & Charlie third. Fourth are Cathy & Francine with Will & Hugo 5th.

Certainly that was one of the most tiring days in a very long time. Not the physical effort of course but the sun, the concentration, the relaxing, the water fights, the getting a race head back on, etc. There are a lot of very tired bunnies around here tonight but whilst I'd expect most to take an early night they are all currently at the BBQ next to the hangar and inside the hangar racing the cars again.

The live tracking is providing such a giggle for parents and reports are in from viewers on the web from France, Spain, Canada and all parts of the UK. The Sekonda Nationals are set for a grand finale tomorrow with a possible four races on the water. Oh, and yes, there is no truth in the rumour that the race today was shortened because the BBQ was ready - honest, the wind was dropping again...

RS Feva UK Nationals - Gold Fleet

1st 1 GOLD GBR 2686 Tim Gratton Chris Taylor Hayling Island SC 2 QUAL 1 3 3
2nd 45 GOLD GBR 1 Debbie Darling Tommy Darling Hayling Island SC 3 QUAL 4 7 7
3rd 28 GOLD GBR 3105 Owen Bowerman Charlie Darling Hayling Island SC 6 QUAL 2 8 8
4th 3 GOLD GBR 2915 Cathy Lear Francine Counsell Oakham / Rutland SC 5 QUAL 5 10 10
5th 32 GOLD GBR 1226 Will Lowes Hugo Tucker Whitstable YC 3 QUAL 8 11 11
6th 48 GOLD GBR 3307 Robert Baddeley James Taylor Burghfield SC 6 QUAL 6 12 12
7th 59 GOLD GBR 380 Niall Houston Syd Mclean Hayling Island SC 10 QUAL 3 13 13
8th 69 GOLD GBR 1518 Peter Curtis James Curtis Island Barn SC 7 QUAL 9 16 16
9th 38 GOLD GBR 3000 Hugo Jones-Warner James Poyner Hayling Island SC 14 QUAL 7 21 21
10th 9 GOLD GBR 576 Will Acres Ed Bowman Emsworth SC 15 QUAL 10 25 25
11th 35 GOLD GBR 3030 Eilidh McIntyre Victoria Payne Hayling Island SC / Emsworth SC 15 QUAL 11 26 26
12th 37 GOLD GBR 1671 Jessica Lavery Georgie Mothersele Emsworth SC 8 QUAL 19 27 27
13th 29 GOLD GBR 3100 Stephanie Harding Katherine Colvin Hollowell SC 12 QUAL 15 27 27
14th 66 GOLD GBR 3184 Suzy Peters Emily Peters Hayling Island SC 16 QUAL 14 30 30
15th 7 GOLD GBR 839 Libby Watkins Abbie Heathcote Dabchicks SC / West Mersea YC 20 QUAL 12 32 32
16th 4 GOLD GBR 2821 Jack Hawkins Chris Thomas Restronguet SC 16 QUAL 16 32 32
17th 70 GOLD GBR 655 Tim Norris Mollie Knowlden Warsash SC 20 QUAL 13 33 33
18th 46 GOLD GBR 3027 Ben Davies Tristen Ellis Aldeburgh YC 13 QUAL 22 35 35
19th 20 GOLD GBR 2574 Charlie Warren Harry Derbyshire Emsworth SC 15 QUAL 20 35 35
20th 62 GOLD GBR 2215 Ollie Cooper Callum Ellis Wraysbury Lake SC 6 QUAL 30 36 36
21st 36 GOLD GBR 2920 Alice Kent Lucy Childs Oakham / Rutland SC 13 QUAL 27 40 40
22nd 2 GOLD GBR 2600 Ruth Allan Tess Allan Emsworth SC 16 QUAL 24 40 40
23rd 68 GOLD GBR 1918 Robert Loveridge Emma Loveridge Draycote Water SC 16 QUAL 25 41 41
24th 71 GOLD GBR 365 Amber Brown Jamie Brown Burghfield SC 25 QUAL 17 42 42
25th 39 GOLD GBR 2837 Alexandra Orton Stephanie Orton Chichester YC 13 QUAL 31 44 44
26th 11 GOLD GBR 1404 Robert Morris Rebecca Morris Shropshire SC 27 QUAL 18 45 45
27th 42 GOLD GBR 3120 Alex Curtis Andrew Clarke Queen Mary SC 25 QUAL 21 46 46
28th 53 GOLD GGY 3383 Graham Beck Matthew Beck Guernsey YC 25 QUAL 23 48 48
29th 17 GOLD GBR 1465 Alison Grennan Ellie Gaddes Delph SC 23 QUAL 28 51 51
30th 58 GOLD GGY 3098 Adam Goddard Hannah Rickards Guernsey YC 25 QUAL 26 51 51
31st 5 GOLD GBR 1664 Harry Bowerman Cameron Stewart Hayling Island SC 20 QUAL 32 52 52
32nd 6 GOLD GBR 1140 Rebecca Anthony Finbar Preston Emsworth SC 25 QUAL 29 54 54
33rd 55 GOLD GBR 3360 Jemima Lawson Morgan Dibb Emsworth SC / Warsash SC 28 QUAL 33 61 61
34th 12 GOLD GBR 1799 George Shelley Edward Shelley Shropshire SC 26 QUAL 36 62 62
35th 34 GOLD GBR 2582 Toby Hodge Abbie Page Chichester YC 27 QUAL 35 62 62
36th 54 GOLD GBR 2416 Robert Masterman Tom Stewart Hayling Island SC 29 QUAL 34 63 63

RS Feva UK Nationals - Silver Fleet

1st 21 SILVER GBR 2617 Jacob Barnett Emma Barnett Royal Torbay YC 33 QUAL 4 37 37
2nd 57 SILVER GBR 3018 Tristan Bracegirdle Sam Barker Castle Cove SC 38 QUAL 1 39 39
3rd 47 SILVER GBR 1434 Jim Sowden Jamie Tarrant Highcliffe SC 39 QUAL 2 41 41
4th 60 SILVER GBR 2890 Joshua Potts Peter Budden Spinnaker Club / Hill Head SC 36 QUAL 6 42 42
5th 30 SILVER GBR 1800 Meghan Fletcher Hannah Eskritt Scaling Dam SC 31 QUAL 13 44 44
6th 52 SILVER GGY 3075 Abigail Tanguy Clare Chapple Guernsey YC 49 QUAL 3 52 52
7th 31 SILVER GBR 2587 Adam Kay Lisa Kay Warsash SC 41 QUAL 11 52 52
8th 63 SILVER GBR 1307 Tom Johnson Tom Neate Oakham / Rutland SC 37 QUAL 16 53 53
9th 44 SILVER GBR 3066 Morgan Peach david Mckinlay Royal Torbay Yacht Club 45 QUAL 10 55 55
10th 19 SILVER GBR 3357 Matilda Dolin William Dolin Burghfield SC 38 QUAL 17 55 55
11th 22 SILVER GBR 2045 Emily Nagel Sarah Kent Oakham / Rutland SC 37 QUAL 20 57 57
12th 24 SILVER GBR 524 Edward Condor Edward Panek Gurnard SC 49 QUAL 9 58 58
13th 40 SILVER GBR 3001 Sophie Andrews Alice Masterman Hayling Island SC 44 QUAL 14 58 58
14th 51 SILVER GBR 1768 Sarah Hussey Esme Jones Royal Torbay YC 55 QUAL 5 60 60
15th 49 SILVER GBR 2995 Gemma Bird Rafaella Quinton Hayling Island SC 31 QUAL 30 61 61
16th 56 SILVER GBR 1250 Jovian Short James Barlow Royal Torbay YC 51 QUAL 12 63 63
17th 65 SILVER GBR 843 Steph Webber Meadhbh Hogg Hill Head SC 58 QUAL 7 65 65
18th 72 SILVER GBR 34 Delane Rutter Islay Grant Emsworth 58 QUAL 8 66 66
19th 67 SILVER GBR 2508 Robert McPherson Herbie Harford Royal Torbay YC 48 QUAL 18 66 66
20th 64 SILVER GBR 1306