Results / Gul RS200 Youth Championships Oxford SC - 09/09/2006
Gul RS200 Youth Championships 2006-09-12
An excellent turnout of 28 RS200s made the trip to Oxford for the Gul
Youth Champs and were greeted with a light south easterly wind. By the
time of the first start the wind had built a bit and was coming off the
hills leading to many large unpredictably shifts. The racing was
extremely close and big gains and losses could occur oh so quickly!
James/Ollie showed the fleet how it�s done by leading the first race
start to finish although closely pursued by his sister Frances/Fraje.
The second race of the day was extremely close with positions constantly
changing, an exciting last run where James/Ollie lost the chance to win
the race by colliding with Josh/Tom right at the last leeward mark
resulting in turns and forcing them into 3rd place behind Matt/Emma.
Their frustration increased when it turned out they had been over at the
start anyway.
The last race on Saturday was won by Josh/Tom who hitting hard left on
the first beat led the whole race from Sam/Alice who could not quite do
enough to get past. Frances/Fraje took third. Josh/Tom were overnight
leaders with an impressive score line of 3, 1, 1, considering the tricky
conditions.
Racing on Sunday was to be held on Farmoor 1, the smaller of Oxfords two
reservoirs and amazingly even shiftier!!! The wind was in the north
rather than in the forecasted south so the race officer, Mike Hobin, made
a great call postponing the racing for an hour by which time the wind had
gone round to the south. Race 4 was again a Peters affair with
James/Ollie winning the race and just beating Frances/Fraje.
Race 5 was another close race won by Natasha/Stephan, followed by
James/Ollie with Josh/Tom in 3rd.
Race 6 and the champs came down to a battle between Josh/Tom and
James/Ollie. Sam/Alice led round the windward mark and held the lead
until the third run when a large wind shift left the first 3 exposed and
allowed the fleet to close up resulting in a very exciting last beat with
all to play for. James/Ollie got it just right and won the race with
Sam/Alice in second and Natasha/Stephan third.
James/Ollie thought they had done enough to win the event but however
were protested out of race 4 and with their OCS on the Saturday meant
that Josh and Tom won the Youth champs for the second year running.
The event was really well organised by Oxford sailing club, many thanks
from all who took part.