Gul RS200 Youth Champsionship at Netley SC

by RS Media on 16 Jul 2009
18 RS 200s turned up at Netley sailing Club on Friday morning for the three day Under 22 youth championships.

Two races were sailed in an increasing breeze, a fresh 18 knots saw some of the lighter crews struggling to stay upright. Itchenor members George Yeoman and Georgie Akin- Smith gave us a taste of things to come, with two bullets, leaving the rest of the fleet in their wake.

Overnight, Itchenor boats occupied the top three slots, with Ex 420 sailor Andy Shaw crewed by Archie Law in second place, and Rob Struckett, who has returned from Yale College for a few weeks 200 sailing, crewed by Hattie Marsden in third place.

Behind them 29er youth world champions Frances Peters, sailing with Georgie Andrew and Ed Fitzgerald crewed by Katie Jones were joint on points.

Saturday brought more wind and a lot of rain. More familiar faces today as Sam Littlejohn and Nicola Groves arrived to give the Itchenor sailors a run for their money.

Three races were sailed round a short course so the sailors’ boat handling was really put to the test in the 18 knot breeze. George Yeoman and Sam Littlejohn battled it out through the first race, it was a race of two boats, as they left the rest of the fleet behind them. George followed his trend by taking a third bullet, and Sam in second. Sam sailed consistently and made secnd his worst result. Andy Shaw took three thirds, which pulled him up to second overnight behind George.

Sunday was the windiest yet, and with storms forecast for the afternoon, the race committee were keen to get racing underway. The second and third races were survival sailing for most of the fleet, with lots of capsizes on the gybes and at the leeward mark, the fleet was quickly spaced out. Josh Flack, Crewed by Tom Brophy from Parkstone won the first race, closely followed by George. Frances and Georgie from HISC took third.

Sam had his worst result, finishing fourth, before ending the day with two more bullets. In the second race Frances and Georgie chased Sam round the track, finishing second, just managing to hold off George. In the final race, Sam did a horizon job, with Rob Struckett in second and Josh flack finishing third.

It was a convincing win overall by George Yeoman, who won with a race to spare, with Sam Littlejohn taking second place having not sailed on the first day. Andy Shaw discarded his final two results to finish third overall.

http://www.rs-association.com/index.asp?fleet=RS200&selection=Results&resultyear=2009