RS200 Open at Frensham Pond Sailing Club

RS200s at Frensham Pond © Gavin MacLachlan

Stephen and Rebecca Videlo win the RS200 open at Frensham Pond © Roger Stollery

On Sunday 14 April, three visitors joined the Frensham Pond RS200 home fleet for an Open shared with the Larks. A chilly easterly wind greeted competitors and gave Race Officer Bruce Hill a challenging first race as the wind veered to the south.

At the end of the first leg there were even a couple of spinnakers to be seen! First to the "windward" were cousins Stephen and Rebecca Videlo followed by Katrina Gilbert and Jenny Rust who had made the best of the interesting leg despite an uncharacteristically late start. Matt Shorrock crewed by mum, Katie were in third and these three boats had a comfortable lead gap over the rest of the fleet ultimately finishing in this order.

Race two saw a course change and the wind picked up producing a few interesting moments in the gusts. Katrina and Jenny had a much better start and looked to have the first beat won. However, the Videlos rounded mark 1 first followed by Freya Darnton and Crispin Beaumont and then John Brooker and Yasmin Sfaxi. The increased wind led to some screaming reaches and a few bundles at marks. The Videlos retained their lead after a good battle with Katrina and Jenny, with the Shorrocks in third.

After lunch the wind seemed to die and became even more southerly. Freya and Crispin were first to the windward chased by FPSC class captain Stefan Bennett crewed by Nicki Yelland with Katrina and Jenny third. As the wind came back there was a real tussle for supremacy with the lead being shared between those mentioned plus the Shorrocks and the Videlos. The Videlos prevailed to take their third bullet and the win overall. They were followed by Freya and Crispin and then Katrina and Jenny.

In Race four Stefan and Nicki were first to the windward mark but in a fickle wind were unable to hang on. The usual suspects were involved in the battle and this time Matt and Katie Shorrock won from Katrina and Jenny with the Videlos third.

So overall the top 3 were Stephen and Rebecca Videlo, then Matt and Katie Shorrock and then Katrina Gilbert and Jenny Rust.

Prizes were presented by Stefan Bennett and everyone enjoyed warming up over cups of tea and the famous Frensham "spread". Congratulations to Race Officer Bruce Hill for getting four races sailed in tricky conditions... he earned his bottle of wine.

Overall Results: