Results / Gul RS400 Winter Championships Draycote Water SC - 15/02/2003
GUL RS400 WINTER CHAMPIONSHIPS, DRAYCOTE WATER SC
Two events took place at aptly named RS400 Winter Champs at Draycote over
the weekend of the 15/16 February. The events were held in winds that
varied from 5kts. to about 20kts. over the two days but with one constant
factor, the numbing cold which took its toll on the 22 hardy teams who
entered the events.
In the first event Roger Gilbert and James Stuart battled with themselves
to see just how far over the horizon they could get before the finish gun
sounded. Winning five out of the six races (being beaten by the cold in
the last rather than another competitor and wisely pulling out before the
start) they were only headed briefly in the second race following a poor
start. Plan �B� was executed and the downwind leg saw them blast through
from seventh to first with awesome downwind speed. Other than that it was
plan �A� and superior upwind speed and tactics on the first beat to set
themselves up for the win.
The second event was a tightly fought affair. In race one David Giles and
Fiona Clark from Weir Wood sailing club had a comfortable lead until the
last downwind leg when Phil Jackson and Gerard Barron found a patch of
wind on the left bank to overtake just before the finish line.
For race two the wind had risen considerably and the heavier crews came
to the front. A perfect pin end start by John Date and Neil Hughston saw
them sail into a comfortable lead at the windward mark. Pushed throughout
the race by Tom Halhead and Chris Priest, they hung on for the win.
With the wind rising further, Simon Potts and Alan Woosey showed good
speed to stay ahead of Dan Vincent and Adrian Lynham with the consistent
Jackson third.
Event two was finely balanced going into day two with the first four
boats separated by four points. The wind and (unbelievably) the
temperature had dropped and the men were really sorted out from the boys
when the race officer held the fleet on the water for forty minutes while
the course was adjusted before the start of race four. When those still
able to move eventually got away, on the second attempt, in a shifty 10
kt. breeze, Mark Reddington and Phil Scott led the way with Giles just
behind. Giles snuck past on the second beat to score the win with
Reddington hanging on for second ahead of Hywel Roberts and Melissa
Storey who seemed to be relishing the lighter conditions.
Race five saw Greg O�Brien and Colin Stait leading around the windward
mark ahead of a pack of boats that included Giles, Date, Roberts and
Potts. In the shifting wind fortunes changed. O�Brien dropped away and
Giles came through for the win. Date was second and Roberts third.
The wind had dropped to about five knots for the start of race six and
there was many an envious stare as Gilbert and James sailed off to call
it a day. The fleet split off the line with those heading to the left
eventually paying off. Potts lead around the first buoy followed by
Roberts. These two had a large lead and were not seriously challenged by
the rest of the pack. Roberts overtook Potts while Giles worked through
to third by the finish. With some relief the remaining boats sailed for
home and a hot shower.
Roger Gilbert thanked Draycote for running a challenging event, which
provided close racing for the majority of the competitors. The Saturday
in particular provided some superb racing and the off the water
hospitality was, as ever, superb. Thanks were also given to Gull for
their generous sponsorship of the event.
1st Roger Gilbert / James Stewart
2nd David Giles / Fiona Clark
3rd Simon Potts / Alan Woolsey
4th Hywel Roberts / Melissa Storey
5th John Date / Neil Hughston
6th Dan Vincent / Adrian Lynham
7th Pete Vincent / Pete Cruickshank
8th Neil Peacock / Rick Peacock
9th Phil Jackson / Gerard Barron
10th Mark Reddington / Phil Scott
11th Tom Halhead / Chris Priest
12th Jonathan Lewis / Paul Goodin
13th Jason Pyke / Barney Goswell
14th Martin Browne / Dinah
15th Greg O'Brien / Colin Stait
16th Rory Barr / Aliki Mastoroudes
17th Giles & Heather Chipperfield
18th Neil & Annabelle Miller
19th Graham Forshaw / Victoria Burr
20th Chris Bailey / Jane Sutor
21st Steve Middleton / Chris Rowland
22nd Jeremy & Kay Gorbold