RS Games 2018 at the WPNSA: RS100 European Championship Day 1

RS100 Europeans day 1 at the RS Games © Alex & David Irwin / www.sportography.tv

Well you cannot say the organisation of the 2018 games is not slick. A slight weather glitch for those who did not arrive a day early - a rain front made for a soggy rig-up. But a warm welcome and efficient briefing promised the rain would clear to sun. It did.

Our OOD, Arky cracked on with a sense of purpose; the 5 minute AP was for the arrival of the sun he said (other newspapers are available), marks were dropped and we were off. The organisers even provided us with a warm-up act, the 300s starting first in case we could not work out which end to start or which way to go up the first beat.

Clearly paying attention was Frensham Pond's Ian Gregory. Modestly claiming it was his (lack of) weight, he was hiking like a demon (unlike the rest of us) took control up the first beat and was never headed. Slimmed down Mark Harrison looked equally secure in second, with his Gurnard club-mate Brett Aarons in third and not able to make further impression. Behind these three was a total topsy-turvey contrast, with the class's perennial tight and friendly racing to the fore. Somehow, your correspondent got his act together on the last beat and jumped from double figures to 4th by dint of tacking immediately at the right hand leeward gate. Wise beyond his years, Robert Richardson ("this is going to be difficult today" was his pre-race analysis) was next followed by Huw Powell, Greg Booth and reigning National Champion Al Dickson.

Race 2 and the 300s showed it was pin biassed this time. In our lead-up minute, dramatically so. More wind too. Arky rightly let us go, later moving marks as the wind continued to swing. Netley's Stewart Hawthorn made hay, pulling off the perfect port flyer, leaving much gybing off chaos in his wake. However, it was Greg Booth who really got his groove on, to take a comfortable lead, with Brett, Al and Huw ready to pounce. Whether they did, or Greg just fell asleep, bless 'im, I don''t think even he knows. But either way, he scored a 4 and retained his sense of humour. Behind them, once more, was lots of major place swapping, again ultimately led by Robert, then Steve Lee, Stewart with yours truly next, pipping Nick Heather by a centimetre or two on the line.

Special mentions go to Australia's David Williamson, who was looking very good in race 2 until he dropped his mainsheet and fell out. But this was trumped by Cowes Week winner Giles Peckham who did the same. Twice. One of which led to a big bear-away, gybe and swim. "At Cowes I had someone to do the mainsheet for me" he explained later.

Overnight, Brett is looking good on 4 points, Huw next on 9, but it's tight; that's only 3 points less than Clive in 7th. With 3 races scheduled in the bay for Friday, day 2, in a nice F3-F4, more great racing is guaranteed.

Post-race, it was bimbling time. Huw turned his boat over and polished it "because Greg's done his". Joe Scurrah was busy fitting new slot gaskets. Then Al persuaded Clive to re-rig his boat and talk the fleet through the various class bimbles he has curated. I'll collect my commission later, RS and Rooster.

Check out the photos from on the water by www.Sportography.TV

Results after Day 1: