RS200 Open 2011 at Weir Wood Sailing club

by David Giles on 11 Jul 2011 RS200 Open 2011 at Weir Wood Sailing club was held on Sunday 3rd July.

For the previous two years Weir Woods RS200 open has been blessed with perfect conditions. Sadly this year was anything but perfect with an all but nonexistent wind drifting across the reservoir from every point of the compass. This was a great pity as a good fleet of 23 boats including 15 visitors had assembled for this year’s event.

Despite this race officer Ernie Hatton and Peter Clifton set the best windward/Leeward course they could and race one got away on in a patchy mostly westerly 5 knot breeze. First into a slightly stronger wind band about half way up the beat was David Giles and Fiona Harrington from Weir Wood which allowed them to pull out a clear lead from the chasing pack led by Julian Bradley and Chloe Sineris from Wembley. The pack fought it out in the ever changing wind that rather amusingly turned the windward/leeward course into a windward/windward/windward course. In the end Giles held on to first, Sineris second and Andy and Jill Peters from Queen Mary Sailing Club crept into third.

Race two started in less wind that somehow managed to drop even further as the race progressed. First into a small zephyr this time was Matt Mee and Emma Norris from Hollingsworth Lake sailing Club closely followed by Dave Derby and Alex Porter from Bough Beech. These two created a gap from the chasing pack led by Giles, Peters and Bradley. Peters broke clear of the pack while Giles and Bradley got swallowed up by it. Mee held on for the win followed by Derby, Peters and David and John Beaney from Casterways Sailing Club.

Lunch saved the competitors from any additional misery for the time being and eating outside in Weir Wood glorious surroundings with the sun beating down made the morning racing seem worthwhile, although the ever present threat of having to go out again for the afternoon sailing was never far away. As it happened the threat was never realised for no wind appeared to ruffle Weir Woods mirror like appearance and the remainder of the races were abandoned.

For the record the event was won by Matt Mee, Dave Derby and Andrew Peters, all three being tied on six points from the two races. First Master was David Giles, first Youth Fiona Harrington and first lady Emma Derby. Thanks were given to the race officers as well as Barbara Hatton for taking the entries and working out the results.

Results:
1st - Matt Mee and Emma Norris
2nd - Dave Derby and Alex Porter
3rd - Andrew Peters and Jill Peters
4th - Julian Bradley and Chloe Sineris
5th - David Giles and Fiona Harrington
6th - David Beaney and John Beaney
7th - Matt Giles and Ian Gill
8th - Jonathan Ching and Peter Jenkins
9th - Simon Cory and Sarah Styles
10th - Martin Pascoe and Julie UK RS Association website