Noble Marine RS500 Nationals during the Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta at Royal Torbay Yacht Club

RS500 Nationals during the Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta © www.digitalsailing.co.uk

A small but enthusiastic group of RS500 sailors from all sides of the country from Yorkshire to the Isle of Wight congregated in Torquay as part of the Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta.

With many of the fleet arriving on Friday for a practice sail there was there an opportunity for fleet newcomers to test their skills and speed before the main event - in what turned out to be the best conditions of the weekend.

The sailors enjoyed a fleet dinner at Royal Torbay Yacht Club on Friday evening and discussed not only this Nationals, but plans or the Worlds in Weymouth 2022.

RS500 Nationals during the Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta - photo © www.digitalsailing.co.uk

Saturday was predicted to be light winds and limited sunshine, and so it proved, but despite the conditions the enthusiasm of the entire RS family just to get on the water and do some racing overcame any shortcomings in the weather. Three 2 lap races were held in a very patchy and shifty Easterly breeze, the races were all very tight with the conditions producing lots of position changes right up until the finish.

Winners of race one James & Peter Curtis, struggled to break free of the pack in the remaining races as Tim & Heather Wilkins found their stride and showed their mastery of the conditions to win races 2 & 3. Mike Saul & Oliver Kent were near the front of every race but a 2,2,3 score line put them in 2nd overall just one point off the winners. Third place was taken by fleet newcomers Hugh & Luke Watson.

Tim & Heather Wilkins win the RS500 Nationals during the Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta - photo © www.digitalsailing.co.uk

Sadly, the weather predictions for Sunday proved correct with strong winds and a large swell making it impossible for the committee to lay the three safe and fair courses required for such a big event. With racing cancelled Tim & Heather Wilkins become the 2021 RS500 National Champions - congratulations to them for a classy performance in very tricky conditions.

Thanks to the Royal Torbay Yacht Club and all their volunteers for organising the event, Noble Marine for their Nationals sponsorship and Salcombe Gin for being the overall event sponsor.

Overall Results:

Prize winners in the RS500 Nationals during the Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta - photo © www.digitalsailing.co.uk