RS200 Winter Series at Royal Harwich Yacht Club - Week 1

Week 1 of the RS200 Winter Series at Royal Harwich © Kathryn Deaton / RHYC

Week 1 of the RS200 Winter Series at Royal Harwich © Kathryn Deaton / RHYC

Week 1 of the RS200 Winter Series at Royal Harwich © Kathryn Deaton / RHYC

The inaugural day of RHYC's RS200 series delivered some challenging conditions for the 8 stalwart crews. With a big tide and a strong SW, racing was shore to shore. Flukey winds on the windward beach tested even some of the most experienced sailors who sought out the ever changing optimum route to the windward mark.

Having rounded and eventually filling their spinnakers, it was a case of holding on tight as increasing gusts of 20+ knots charged through the downwind leg. A number of sailors were pleased to establish their safety vests were still buoyant, with placings consequently swapping on most laps, particularly in race 1.

Alan Krailing and Fran Gifford (786) showed the way in race 1 until their only mistake of the day on the final lap let through Ben Alexander and Cameron Harris from Deben YC to take the win. However, with a flaw-free race 2, 786 took the honours for the day overall.

A notable second in race 2 came for the youngest helm of the day, Issy Taylor Jones, and crew Harvey O'Sullivan, but with consistency proving difficult for most, the series is now wide open with marginal difference in overall results.

The next round will take place on 25 November, start time 10:30am.

Week 1 Results:

Week 1 of the RS200 Winter Series at Royal Harwich - photo © Kathryn Deaton / RHYC