GUL RS500 Inland Championships

by Debbie Darling on 14 Oct 2009
Gul Inland Championships report.

An impressive turnout of 22 RS500s in a growing fleet joined the massive RS contingent that descended upon Grafham Water Sailing Club last weekend to do battle for the Gul Inland Championships. With six races scheduled and a perfect force 3 to 4 breeze over the weekend, the racing was fast paced, exciting and close throughout.

A very enthusiastic start from the fleet led to a general recall on the first race, and the race officer responded with a black flag to keep the competitors in line, which remained throughout the weekend and claimed a few scalps.

National champ Alex Taylor was away representing the 500s at the Endeavour Trophy (congrats on a very creditable 11th place), but crew Bryan Mobbs was sailing, joined by ex-Laser 2 partner Graeme Bristow for the Saturday of the event. Despite this being Graham’s first go in a 500, they showed good form. However Andy Palmer-Felgate, also sailing without regular crew Liz, but joined by Fiona Ramus, showed his intentions in the first race with very good speed upwind and down to stamp their authority on the race right from the start. A close battle was had for second place, with Graeme and Bryan showing great upwind speed, but a few teething problems downwind. Also in the chase were Russ and Ali Cormack (Budworth SC), and Ivo and Piran Tedbury (Hawes SC) at their first RS500 event, having travelled all the way from Cornwall. In the end it came down to finding the pressure downwind, and it was Tim Wilkins and Heather Martin from Sully SC who came through on the last downwind charge to snatch second place from Graeme and Bryan.

The second race in an increasing breeze saw Graeme and Alex find some more form and during a gruelling five lap race overhauled Andy and Fiona with impressive upwind speed, and reading of the shifts. Race three saw a drop in wind strength, which seemed to suit Tim and Heather who led comfortably from start to finish. A second place for Graeme and Bryan, and third for Andy and Fiona left a three way tie for the lead after day one, with all three scoring a first, second and third.

To celebrate an enjoyable day on the water the fleet headed up to the bar and managed to make some decent inroads on the beer stocks before the 200s had even got off the water after all their ‘starting practice’. However the 200s eventually joined in and with a lively cover band a fun, blurry evening was had. A special tribute goes out to the support band, who we thought were great despite being green, inflatable and silent.

Day two was colder and windier, and with three convincing bullets it was clear that Andy and Fiona were going for gold, which left close battles for silver and bronze. And close battles were had, putting everybody’s boat handling skills and knowledge of the rules truly to the test on the mark roundings. James Goss and Emma Mackley gave a good performance and the leading boats a real run for their money using their slick manoeuvres and fast upwind pace. They just missed out on podium positions with two fourth places, but were never far behind giving them fourth place overall in the competition. And kicking at their heels were Alex Good and Tom Crockford from Datchet SC who secured fifth overall with a set of good results on the first day of racing.

Richard and Sue Morley from Burghfield SC claimed the Merit prize finishing 10th overall.

A fantastic weekend was had by all and it was great to see some new faces on the circuit.

Although the racing season has drawn to a close training is planned through the winter & spring in preparation for the first RS 500 World Championships in Holland. A training day is taking place at Datchet Water Sailing Club on Saturday 17th October.

For more information see http://www.dwsc.co.uk/rs500training.html

 RESULTS:

1st	RS 500		584	Andy Palmer Felgate	Fiona Ramus	Burghfield SC	1.0	2.0	(3.0)	1.0	1.0	1.0	9.0	6.0
2nd	RS 500		625	Tim Wilkins	Heather Martin	Sully SC	2.0	(3.0)	1.0	2.0	2.0	3.0	13.0	10.0
3rd	RS 500		606	Ivo Tedbury	Piran Tedbury	St Hawes SC	5.0	4.0	(7.0)	5.0	3.0	2.0	26.0	19.0
4th	RS 500		560	James Goss	Emma Mackley	?	6.0	5.0	6.0	4.0	4.0	(23.0 DNC)	48.0	25.0
5th	RS 500		678	Alex Good	Tom Crockford	Datchet SC	4.0	6.0	5.0	(11.0)	8.0	11.0	45.0	34.0
6th	RS 500		534	Russ Cormack	Ali Cormack	Budworth SC	9.0	(23.0 BFD)	10.0	3.0	12.0	4.0	61.0	38.0
7th	RS 500		637	Michael Clapp	Mark Bond	Datchet SC	11.0	9.0	(13.0)	9.0	5.0	5.0	52.0	39.0
8th	RS 500		620	Jack Munnelly	Jack Holden	Arun YC	(17.0)	10.0	15.0	8.0	6.0	6.0	62.0	45.0
9th	RS 500		525	James Tanner	Lucinda Blain	Burghfield SC	12.0	13.0	9.0	(17.0)	7.0	7.0	65.0	48.0
10th	RS 500		517	Richard Morley	Sue Morley	Burghfield SC	(13.0)	11.0	12.0	7.0	9.0	9.0	61.0	48.0
11th	RS 500		799	Graeme Bristow	Bryan Mobbs	Budworth SC	3.0	1.0	2.0	(23.0 DNC)	23.0 DNC	23.0 DNC	75.0	52.0
12th	RS 500		566	Jeni Tod	Kate Tod	Lymmington Town	8.0	8.0	8.0	(23.0 DNC)	23.0 DNC	8.0	78.0	55.0
13th	RS 500		747	Arthur Howard	Cameron Talbott	Royal Hospital School	(16.0)	14.0	11.0	12.0	15.0	10.0	78.0	62.0
14th	RS 500		680	Kevin Gerald	Wendy Martin	Budworth SC	7.0	7.0	4.0	(23.0 BFD)	23.0 RTD	23.0 DNC	87.0	64.0
15th	RS 500		519	Simon Payne	Hope Halstad	Whitefriars SC	(19.0)	15.0	16.0	13.0	10.0	12.0	85.0	66.0
16th	RS 500		746	Robert Moritz	Christian Procter	Royal Hospital School	14.0	(16.0)	14.0	14.0	11.0	14.0	83.0	67.0
17th	RS 500		671	Tim Hulley	Linda Hulley	Weirdwood SC	15.0	(23.0 BFD)	17.0	6.0	14.0	23.0 DNC	98.0	75.0
18th	RS 500		712	Jim Watterson	Andy Watterson	Blithfield SC	(20.0)	17.0	18.0	15.0	13.0	13.0	96.0	76.0
19th	RS 500		633	William Bovington	Tom Richardson	Hastings and St Leonards SC	10.0	12.0	(23.0 BFD)	10.0	23.0 DNC	23.0 RTD	101.0	78.0
20th	RS 500		550	Stewart H	Walter R	Datchet SC	(23.0 DNC)	23.0 DNC	23.0 DNC	16.0	16.0	23.0 DNC	124.0	101.0
21st	RS 500		623	Jessica Dawkes	Alison Wareing	?	18.0	(23.0 DNC)	19.0	23.0 DNC	23.0 RTD	23.0 DNC	129.0	106.0
22nd	RS 500		748	Anna Zmura	Keith Sykes	Gorleston SC	(23.0 DNC)	23.0 DNC	23.0 DNC	23.0 DNC	23.0 DNC	23.0 DNC	138.0	115.0

http://www.rs-association.com