Results / Oxford SC - 29/04/2001
23 RS 400's enjoyed some very varied conditions at the combined RS300/400
Open Meeting at Oxford SC on Sunday April 29th. The weather forecast
promised thunder storms and gusty conditions but the afternoon produced
pleasant sunshine. The wind started at around an encouraging force 3-4 but
slowly faded all day with the fleet almost stationary for part of the final
race. The breeze also became more patchy as the day progressed leading to
major place gains and loses; often on the same lap.
The first race saw a chapter of mishaps for boats in the lead. Hywel Roberts and Melissa Storey (Queen Mary) had read the first beat very well and had a useful lead at mark one. They then led a number of boats round the wrong leeward mark. Nigel and Helena Hammond from Oxford, recovering from being over the line, hit hard right on the second beat to lead. Pete Vincent and Trudie Danbury then gained the lead on a very shifty third beat and pulled out a good lead with Mike Hobin and Martin Gibson sailing fast to windward pulling up to second. Just as the race order seemed to be settled the Vincent/Danbury team had a major problem on a spinnaker hoist resulting in a big hole in their kite. Mike Hobin grabbed his chance to win the race with Vincent just beating Hammond by 2ft for second place.
Race 2 saw the wind become very patchy, if you were in the wind on the run you could jump right up the fleet so it was no surprise that the race did not settle down to a pattern. Roberts and Storey again led early on before Charles Duchesne /Dan Sanders had a short burst in the lead. Barney Goswell/Pauline and Mike Hobin were always in the leading group and Hobin gained the lead at the halfway point. Hobin showed a great deal of skill to hold on to his lead as Vincent, Duchesne, David Brown/Sheena Craig, Adam John/Sharkie(Tewkesbury) and Goswell all found big shifts at various stages to press hard. On a nervous final run Hobin held on to win from Duchesne and Brown.
The final race started in a force 1-2 and featured some huge shifts up the first beat. Vincent led at the first mark closely followed by Jane Norris/Dave Fewings. On the second beat the wind faded to almost zero, Martin Kersley (Notts County)found his own zephyr to move from third to first. As a gentle breeze returned Vincent and Norris moved back into first and second with the first three boats now well clear. The first two swapped places regularly but it was Vincent that started the final run in the lead. Norris though gained the vital extra pressure at the end of the run and won the race beating her old helm much to her pleasure!!! Martin Kersley was third with George Barker (Oxford) fourth.
Mike Hobin/Martin Gibson had deservedly won the Open Meeting at their home club despite retiring from the last race. The RS400 racing scene now hots up with Gul RS Racing Circuit events at East Lothian YC and Lee on Solent on the next two weekends.
Overall.
1. Where's my road trailer Mike Hobin Martin Gibson Oxford SC
2. Ugly and Doris Pete Vincent Trudie Danbury Bristol Corinthian YC
3. Who is Charlie anyway Jane Norris Dave Fewings Oxford SC
4. After you madam Charlie Duchesne Dan Sanders RORC
5. Lets hit that corner David Ding Brown Sheena Craig Burnham YC
6. Nice new mast Barney Goswell Pauline Burghfield SC
The first race saw a chapter of mishaps for boats in the lead. Hywel Roberts and Melissa Storey (Queen Mary) had read the first beat very well and had a useful lead at mark one. They then led a number of boats round the wrong leeward mark. Nigel and Helena Hammond from Oxford, recovering from being over the line, hit hard right on the second beat to lead. Pete Vincent and Trudie Danbury then gained the lead on a very shifty third beat and pulled out a good lead with Mike Hobin and Martin Gibson sailing fast to windward pulling up to second. Just as the race order seemed to be settled the Vincent/Danbury team had a major problem on a spinnaker hoist resulting in a big hole in their kite. Mike Hobin grabbed his chance to win the race with Vincent just beating Hammond by 2ft for second place.
Race 2 saw the wind become very patchy, if you were in the wind on the run you could jump right up the fleet so it was no surprise that the race did not settle down to a pattern. Roberts and Storey again led early on before Charles Duchesne /Dan Sanders had a short burst in the lead. Barney Goswell/Pauline and Mike Hobin were always in the leading group and Hobin gained the lead at the halfway point. Hobin showed a great deal of skill to hold on to his lead as Vincent, Duchesne, David Brown/Sheena Craig, Adam John/Sharkie(Tewkesbury) and Goswell all found big shifts at various stages to press hard. On a nervous final run Hobin held on to win from Duchesne and Brown.
The final race started in a force 1-2 and featured some huge shifts up the first beat. Vincent led at the first mark closely followed by Jane Norris/Dave Fewings. On the second beat the wind faded to almost zero, Martin Kersley (Notts County)found his own zephyr to move from third to first. As a gentle breeze returned Vincent and Norris moved back into first and second with the first three boats now well clear. The first two swapped places regularly but it was Vincent that started the final run in the lead. Norris though gained the vital extra pressure at the end of the run and won the race beating her old helm much to her pleasure!!! Martin Kersley was third with George Barker (Oxford) fourth.
Mike Hobin/Martin Gibson had deservedly won the Open Meeting at their home club despite retiring from the last race. The RS400 racing scene now hots up with Gul RS Racing Circuit events at East Lothian YC and Lee on Solent on the next two weekends.
Overall.
1. Where's my road trailer Mike Hobin Martin Gibson Oxford SC
2. Ugly and Doris Pete Vincent Trudie Danbury Bristol Corinthian YC
3. Who is Charlie anyway Jane Norris Dave Fewings Oxford SC
4. After you madam Charlie Duchesne Dan Sanders RORC
5. Lets hit that corner David Ding Brown Sheena Craig Burnham YC
6. Nice new mast Barney Goswell Pauline Burghfield SC
Full set not available