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.