Results / Gul UK Inland Championships Grafham Water SC - 12/10/2013

A good turnout of 37 boats arrived at Grafham on Saturday for the RS400 GUL Inlands, with the forecast for a light 5-7 knots on Saturday and, following several changes through the week, settling on a forecast 12-15 knots for Sunday.

After bacon butties and,for some, a bit of boat bimbling, the fleet launched into the forecast light winds, and sharing the water with the RS300s, 600s and Vareos, a 3-2-1-Go start sequence. After a clean start the lead swung from right to left and back again as the fleet progressed up the first beat with Ben and Hannah Robertson rounding first from Lee Sydenham/Gerard Barron and Joshua and Patrick Metcalfe.

In a patchy breeze and 20-30 degree shifts the lead changed several times between this trio, with Nick Hunt and Martin Cooper also sailing the shifts well to work their way through and challenge. With the wind dropping on the last lap, the Metcalfes led around the final windward and, after a few nervy moments downwind, held on to win from Sydenham/Barron and Hunt/Cooper.

With the average wind below the required 5 knots a postponement was flown before the fleet then got away in a light and patchy breeze. As the wind died from the first windward to a struggling downwind and a drift back up towards the clubhouse the Race Officer was left with little choice but to abandon for the day.

The new caterers did a sterling job for those staying for the evening meal in the clubhouse as the fleet completed the AGM and relaxed in the luxurious surroundings of the Grafham top bar.

With rain testing the hardy campers overnight, Sunday dawned breezier than forecast with gusts over 30mph leading to a 1.5 hour delay and more good business for the caterers.

The postponement was dropped with the wind still averaging over 20 and gusting over 30. This turned out to be very well judged by the Race Office as, by the time rigging was complete, the fleet launched into a perfectly manageable 10-15 knots, catching many by surprise and leading to some last minute rig changes on the water.

After a General Recall, Race 2 was started under Black Flag. The Metcalfes rounded the windward with enough of a lead to extend downwind whilst the rest of the fleet fought to establish the running order. Sam Neal/Elaine Seymour, Sydenham/Barron, Jim Downer/Jon Price, Paul & Mark Oakley and Brett Aarons/Robbie Southwell fought hard in the still shifty and patchy conditions with positions changing at every cross. The Metcalfes maintained their lead to the finish line only to cross to silence having fallen victim of the Black Flag as they returned to the line having completed their rig changes moments before the start. Sydenham/Barron found good pressure on the downwind legs to gratefully accept the win with Aarons/Southwell and the Oakleys rounding out the top three.

Race 3 and it was the turn of Sydenham/Barron to extend on the first run and build a convincing lead they held to the end. Another battle ensued behind with Roger Carter/Ian Robertson joining in the action and Jon Heissig/Nicky Griffin sailing some great downwind legs in pressure to also challenge alongside the Metcalfes and Hunt/Cooper. With 4 boats converging on the final mark together, Carter Robertson nosed around ahead of Heissig/Griffin to complete the top 3.

A 4th and final race was started under Black Flag just before the stated 14:30 cut-off. With the virtual lead swinging from side to side up the first beat, Sydenham/Barron led around the first mark closely followed by Howard Fairbrother/Dan Martin and the Metcalfes. Fairbrother/Martin gybed early and looked to benefit from more pressure on the left as the pressure dropped on the run. As the pressure evened out across the course, Sydenham/Barron held on to round the leeward ahead and extend away. However, having benefited earlier in the day from the Metcalfes’ misfortune, it was their turn to cross the finish line to silence. After another close battle, the Metcalfes passed Farbrother/Martin on the last run to take the win with the Oakleys again taking 3rd.

This left Sydenham/Barron the overall victors and Inland Champions from the Metcalfes, with the consistent Hunt/Cooper taking third by a point from the Oakleys. Another great event, with thanks to Grafham Water Sailing club and class sponsors Gul for making things possible.

The RS400's round out the season with the Dalgety Bay Scottish Series event still to come next weekend and the combined RS Classes Crewsaver End of Season Championships at Datchet Water over weekend of 9th/10th November - one not to be missed!