Steve Bolland wins the RS300 Open at Lee-on-Solent

by Event media on 18 Jun 2009
A keen fleet of RS300s gathered for the latest round of the RS Racing Circuit at Lee-on-Solent over the weekend of 13/14 June, a venue shared with the 600s, 400s and 500s over two courses. After 2 days of intense racing only 1 point separated the first three boats.

In what was a predominantly light wind event the first race was the lightest of them all, barely force 1 being registered. It was no surprise, then, to see light air specialists Ian Smith (Craven) and Tim Keen (Sheffield Viking) among the contenders at the first mark, but it was Roy Sievers (Thorney Island) in his first event leading the way ahead of ultra-lightweight Emlyn Davies (Tewkesbury). However, on the long run back to the finish it was Steve Bolland (Bristol Corinthian and Royal Torbay) who managed to drift marginally faster than the others to take the win narrowly ahead of Keen and Smith.

After a short postponement race 2 got underway in slightly more breeze with Smith, Keen and Davies in particular being seen on the side-decks, a particularly unsporting manoeuvre given that those of us more physically adapted to heavier winds were still scrunched up in the bottom of the boat. Smith led handsomely for the first 2 laps but both Bolland and Keen came through towards the end of the final beat, positions maintained to the downwind finish. But, disaster!, for Bolland at least, who crossed the line to silence having been pushed over the start early by that rascal Keen. Matt Sargent (Thorney Island) took 3rd place.

Keen got his comeuppance in the final race of the day, having to return from a premature start. With conditions now allowing full hiking for the majority of the fleet, Bolland pulled out a good lead initially but Smith pulled back steadily on the final run as the wind softened to be only a few boatlengths behind at the finish. Keen was 3rd with Sievers taking his third 4th place of the day.

If anything, Sunday was even sunnier than the Saturday and the wind was marginally stronger. Race 4 saw those that went inshore benefit from less tide and the race was led away by Sargent, Alastair Wood (Bough Beech) and Smith. As the race progressed Wood used his downwind speed to advantage to take a well-deserved win. Both Bolland and Smith managed to sniggle past Sargent on the last reach to take 2nd and 3rd places respectively.

Race 5 saw the fourth different race winner as Smith led from start to finish. Keen pushed him all the way, however, and Wood, Sargent and Davies were also in the mix throughout the race.

Going into the final race any one of three boats could win overall with Smith and Keen being tied on 8 points with Bolland a point adrift. As the see breeze picked up waiting for the start it was Bolland with the smile on his face as the fleet was fully hiked. After a lot of crossed tacks it was close at the first mark, though, with Bolland a few lengths clear of Smith and Keen. Bolland edged ahead as the race progressed while Smith and Keen had a ding-dong battle all the way round, Keen eventually finishing in 2nd spot.

In the closest event of the year so far, Bolland won on countback from Keen with Smith only 1 point behind. Wood also had a good event, finishing 4th overall.

RS300 - Lee-On-Solent Open

1st 411(BLACK) Steve Bolland Bristol Corinthian YC 10.0 pts
2nd 411 (RED) Tim Keen Sheffield Viking SC 10.0 pts
3rd 368 Ian Smith Craven 11.0 pts
4th 422 Alastair Wood Bough Beech SC 19.0 pts
5th 524 Matt Sargent ASA Thorney Island 21.0 pts
6th 398 Elmyn Davies TCSC 35.0 pts
7th 460 Roy Sievers TISC 36.0 pts
8th 31 Phil Underwood Thornbury 36.0 pts
9th 525 Barry Steel Aldenham SC 37.0 pts
10th 374 Russ Hopkins Tewkesbury SC 42.0 pts
11th 516 Stephen Sharpe Aldenham SC / RAFSA 52.0 pts

Many thanks to LOSSC for the event management, both on the water and onshore, and a special thanks to Katherine Wood for being an exemplary trolley dolly and organising the curry house on Saturday evening and the entire Wood tribe for handing out doughnuts as we came ashore. Superb!