RS200 Open at Royal Harwich Yacht Club

RS200s at Royal Harwich © James Clayton

RS200s at Royal Harwich © James Clayton

RS200s at Royal Harwich © James Clayton

The feisty weather forecast put off a few crews who had indicated they would attend this event but didn’t deter 12 brave (or foolish) teams from entering. 4 races were held in a strong and gusty North Westerly which enabled the race officer to set a long and true windward leeward course up and down The Orwell. The key decision was whether to risk a number of gybes to keep out of the main channel or to get into foul current but reduce the risk of capsize.

In race 1 Andrew and Jill Peters quickly established a lead which they kept to the finish, Ben Palmer and Amy Seabright maintaining a secure 2nd.

The second race followed the same pattern initially but a capsize by Ben and Amy at the end of the first run enabled the Peters to break free. John and Judy Gill held onto 2nd for the majority of the rest of the race but safe sailing on the final run let Simon Cory and Sarah Styles through to take 2nd.

In the 3rd race the Peters and Palmer and Seabright swapped the lead with the latter leading around the final windward mark. The Peters needed to overtake downwind to secure the meeting which they duly did, however a particularly strong gust coincided with their gybe at the leeward mark leading to an untimely capsize and handing the race win to Palmer and Seabright. The Gills finished 3rd.

It was all to play for in the final race with either the Peters or Palmer and Seabright able to win the event. Palmer lead around the first windward mark with Peters a dismal last. However fortunes changed on the run with the Peters pulling through to 2nd and Palmer and Seabright stopping to test the water temperature. The Peters moved into the lead on the next beat which they held to the end to win the meeting. James Williams and Steven Clayton had their best race of the day holding onto 2nd and the Gills took their now customary 3rd.

Overall Results: