RS Feva Grand Prix at Hayling Island SC

by Debbie Darling on 5 Sep 2011 The RS Feva Grand Prix, hosted by Hayling Island Sailing Club, welcomed 60 entries many of whom were competing in their first Feva event. The GP is the first qualifier for the 2012 Worlds and the first selector for the 2011/12 winter squad places.

Saturday was near perfect with a steady 12 – 15 knots and the sun even made an appearance later in the afternoon. Five boats mistakenly started prematurely thinking the line was between the leeward mark and the committee boat. Race one was won by one of the few experienced teams remaining in the fleet. Anna Prescott and Jess Eales took first from Hannah and Graeme Bristow. The pair first sailed a Feva at the Worlds when dad helmed, they enjoyed it so much that Hannah has now taken the helm and plans to sail with her sister in the future. Another new pairing on ‘the scene’ but experienced HISC sailors are Jamie Smith and David Brand in third.

The start for race two was tight with three boats caught over the line. All returned but it was Anna and Jess who turbo charged back through the fleet to post a second just behind Jamie and David.

After a general recall the third race started on a black flag. At the windward mark it was Jamie and David showing the way which they kept to the finish. Elliott and Jake were second but it was Tom Darling and Will Dolin who turned on the pressure downwind to climb from fifth to second leaving Elliott and Jake in third. So the overnight leaders were 12 year old Jamie crewed by 13 year old David pretty impressive for their first big Feva event.

Day two started well with cloudy skies and a punchy 15 knots. However by the time the sailors arrived at the start line the rain began to pour, the visibility decreased and the wind was gusting 21 knots. A few boats turned back to shore but the majority stuck it out and literally flew off the huge waves. 41 boats managed to finish although many took a tumble. Brother and sister team Will and Lucy Harris won the race with the Bristows in second whilst Elliott and Jake held onto third. Overnight, leaders Jamie and David finished with a bent mast after a capsize and had to head to shore.

The weather cleared and the wind dropped to 12 knots for race 5. Robert Masterman and Marcus Payne sailed a great race to take the win from Will and Lucy with Anna and Jess in third.

This left the event wide open going into the last race. Two boats were OCS at the final start but at the top mark it was Chay and Stirling Taylor in front with Elliott and Jake in second with Tom and Will in third. A huge rip in the kite stopped Chay and Stirling from flying their kite so it was a battle between the two HISC boats. Elliott and Jake hoisted too early on the reach to the spacer mark and struggled to make it, this allowed Tom and Will to overtake them and post a win.

The overall win went to the 11 year old RS Tera World Champion Elliott Wells and 13 year old crew Jake Todd who sailed an incredibly consistent series to discard a sixth. Three teams of parent and child made in into the top 11. Six out of the top ten were under 15’s so the coming season is set to be very exciting indeed.

RS Class Association website