RS300 Grand Prix at Oxford
by Richard Kennedy on 7 Apr 2011
SW
The Gul RS300 Grand Prix was held at Oxford Sailing Club.
11 Boats made it to Farmoor and were greeted with a bracing force 4-5 breeze. Race one got under-way with Bees, Kennedy, Ellis and Hart finding their way to the front. Half way up the beat Kennedy's 'I'm sure it will be fine' halyard cleat failed dropping the sail by 6 inches. Luckily it was windy and after a bit of downhaul an A rig was formed! Kennedy, Bees and Hart all swapped the lead around the first lap as the wind continued to build. After three laps, a couple of swims and Hart getting cosy with the windward mark, it finished Bees, Kennedy and Ellis.
Race two got under way with the nice force 4-5 still blowing. Towards the windward mark this provided for some shifty conditions. Kennedy got the right side of these shifts and lead from start to finish with Carnague and Bees finishing second and third respectively.
Whilst fitness levels in the 300 fleet have been compared to that of Tour De France riders an increase in wind strength for race three made for a testing first beat. At the top mark it was between Kennedy, Carnague, Ellis and Bees. Following a blistering reach and a slightly nervy downwind leg Kennedy managed to find some nice shifts up the second beat taking the lead with carnague finishing second and Ellis Third.
Day two and the wind had dropped to a force 2 - 3. As the wind filled in it shifted from right to left and back to the right again causing the race officer to postpone the start. When the race got under way most of the starters opted for a mid line starboard tack start only to be taught a lesson by Barry Steel as he pulled off a port hand flyer crossing the fleet! Following a shifty first beat the top three at the windward mark was Bees, Kennedy and Steel. After another three laps Bees took the win with Kennedy second Carnague and Brooks managed to take third and fourth with Steel finishing fifth.
The second race of the day and the conditions remained much the same. After a general recall the race was started under black flag conditions. A shifty beat provided a number of snakes and ladders and Bees capitalised on these shifts giving him an early and commanding lead. Kennedy managed to hold off Hart and Wood enough upwind and remain in second place following a nervy light wind leg to the leeward mark.
The final race and it was joint points between Bees and Kennedy for the event. Kennedy got off to a good start and was first to the windward mark closely followed by Hart and Bees. Hart managed to make the most of the downwind legs and took the lead from Kennedy. Upwind Kennedy and Bees both caught Hart. At the windward mark it was Kennedy closely followed by Hart and Bees. Bees proved to be very quick in the lighter downwind conditions and managed to take second from Hart. This gave Kennedy a nervous final reach which could not have finished soon enough. The race finished Kennedy first Bees second Hart third and Ellis fourth.
With flat water and some good courses Oxford proved to be a great venue to start the Gul Grand Prix Series. Thanks to the organisers, caterers, race officer and support team for a very well run event.
The next RS300s are at the Scottish Championships at Prestwick on 7th and 8th May, where Steve Bolland will be defending his title.
RS300 Class
Sailed:6, Discards:1, To count:5, Entries:11, Scoring system:Appendix A
| Boat |
Class |
SailNo |
HelmName |
Club |
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
R4 |
R5 |
R6 |
Total |
Nett |
| |
RS300 |
432 |
Richard Kennedy |
Thorney Island SC |
(2.0) |
1.0 |
1.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
9.0 |
7.0 |
| |
RS300 |
520 |
Mike Bees |
Brightlingsea SC |
1.0 |
3.0 |
(4.0) |
1.0 |
1.0 |
2.0 |
12.0 |
8.0 |
| |
RS300 |
509 |
James Carnague |
Aldenham SC |
4.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
3.0 |
(6.0) |
6.0 |
23.0 |
17.0 |
| Oh My Wallet |
RS300 |
500 |
Pete Ellis |
Aldenham SC |
3.0 |
(7.0) |
3.0 |
6.0 |
5.0 |
4.0 |
28.0 |
21.0 |
| |
RS300 |
422 |
Alastair Wood |
Bough Beech |
5.0 |
4.0 |
5.0 |
(9.0) |
4.0 |
5.0 |
32.0 |
23.0 |
| Rock Steady |
RS300 |
476 |
Terry Brooks |
Oxford |
7.0 |
5.0 |
6.0 |
4.0 |
7.0 |
(8.0) |
37.0 |
29.0 |
| Trim Taut Terrific |
RS300 |
525 |
Barry Steel |
Aldenham SC |
6.0 |
6.0 |
7.0 |
5.0 |
(8.0) |
7.0 |
39.0 |
31.0 |
| |
RS300 |
475 |
Chris Hart |
Alton Water |
(12.0 DNF) |
12.0 DNF |
12.0 DNC |
8.0 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
50.0 |
38.0 |
| Casualty |
RS300 |
406 |
Samuel Knott |
Blackwater SC |
8.0 |
8.0 |
(12.0 DNC) |
7.0 |
9.0 |
9.0 |
53.0 |
41.0 |
| |
RS300 |
318 |
Gary Morris |
South Cerney |
9.0 |
(12.0 DNF) |
8.0 |
11.0 |
11.0 |
11.0 |
62.0 |
50.0 |
| |
RS300 |
517 |
Gareth Lincoln |
Northampton SC |
10.0 |
(12.0 DNF) |
12.0 DNC |
10.0 |
10.0 |
10.0 |
64.0 |
52.0 |
RS Class Association website
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