Gul B14 TT Round 4 at Restronguet Sailing Club

Gul B15 Series at Restronguet © Oliver Beck

Wow what an event! Restronguet delivered the best of the Cornish Riviera with great weather, steady sailing breezes, unbroken sunshine, the smell of sun cream and the not-so-rare sight of Leaky's purple budgie smugglers!

Light winds kept most crews busy balancing in thin air somewhere between the foredeck and the wings, whilst the helms relaxed on the trampolines.

There was close tactical racing throughout the weekend with little to separate the boats with 4 different race winners in the 6-race series.

Gul B15 Series at Restronguet - photo © Oliver Beck

Race 1: Peter Knight (785), was racing towards the start line, under spinnaker, at the 1-minute gun (after crew Alex had stopped on the drive down to very sensibly sell his rs200); tacked under the fleet and started in the lead at the pin. After losing the lead on the first beat, Peter Knight regained it to win the first race.

Race 2: Steve and Elliot (765) worked up a secure lead. Peter Knight, pushing too hard, was over the line at the start and went back.

Race 3: Henry Metcalf and Jasmine (789) led all race and opened up one of the biggest leads of the weekend to take race 3.

Gul B15 Series at Restronguet - photo © Oliver Beck

Race 4: Crispin and Guy (762) had difficulty in counting to 3 and went for the finish line after 2 laps. Gary and Chris (788) hit turbo mode on the beat in race 4.

The overnight placings were close with five points the difference from 1st to 5th. In the lead was Peter Knight and Alex Smerdon (765) on equal points but leading on count back; with Steve and Elliot (762) 2nd, Henry and Jasmine 3rd and Liam Stackpole and Ryan Barnicoat (750) 4th.

After racing on Saturday, Master Chef contestant, Gary Parks, delivered a great barbecue and Team Raynes thanked him with numerous beers, wine and gin. Needless to say, a delicate Gary on Sunday morning collected several marks of the course in Race 5 with a full circumnavigation of the spreader mark up the first beat!

Gul B15 Series at Restronguet - photo © Oliver Beck

Race 5: Steve and Elliot took their second win, in a convincing manor, ahead of a tight pack fighting for second; with Crispin taking it on the line from Ben Lloyd King and Jez (620) in third. The battle at the back of the fleet was close, with Gerry and Leaky (786) persisting in challenging Gary and Chris to see who could sail the slowest.

The series was still open between the leading 3, Steve, Crispin, Peter at start of final race 6.

Race 6: This time, Steve tried too hard and was over the line and found it hard to recover after going back. With tide making the right-hand side of the beat favoured, most opted to start near the committee boat and tack early. Gary aced it, starting cleanly at the pin on port, sailing across the fleet to the favoured right-hand side. He was pursued by Peter throughout the race, with Liam, Gerry and Crispin at their heels. Peter took the lead at the end of the final run (and the event overall). Gary 2nd and Liam 3rd. With Crispin crossing 5th and Steve 7th, the battle for 2nd overall looked tight. When the adding-up was done, Steve had done enough to take 2nd overall, one point ahead of Crispin in 3rd.

Gul B15 Series at Restronguet - photo © Oliver Beck

Liam and his crew of Ryan on Saturday and Jack on Sunday, showed that Gary did not need a new boat just needed to learn to sail it better. He powered 750 around the course and showed that a well sailed Rondar with old sails, is still competitive amongst a fleet of Ovington and Seavolution boats.

Ben and Jez, out only for the Sunday racing, showed that they will be consistent and competitive when we all get to Paignton for the Nationals.

Thank you to the Race officers Guy English and Chris White and boat crews who made this event one to remember.

Overall Results: