Results / Gul RS400 National Championships East Lothian YC - 09/08/2004
Day 5
North Berwick Finally shines�
After a highly successful cowboys and Indians night, a bleary eyed fleet
awoke to the welcome sight of North Berwick drenched in sunshine, with
clear blue skies as far as the eyes could see. With a steady Force 3
blowing as well, North Berwick was at last showing it�s true potential as
of the greatest sailing venues in the country.
In Race one Nick Craig came out mid gate and worked his way up the centre
of the beat. At the windward mark Craig arrived with a convincing lead
and looked likely to sail on and take yet another bullet. However on the
final run the wind gradually vanished and it was the lightweight duo of
Dave Jones and Mark Hogan who expertly picked their way downwind to pass
Craig and astound the fleet by taking the bullet in the final stages.
Craig held on to finish 2nd keeping Owen Modral between himself and
nearest rival Hudson in fourth.
It looked as though Craig had it all tied up going into the final race,
although he wasn�t going to take any chances. Hudson came out of the
gate early with Craig not long after. Both boats worked hard but Craig�s
upwind speed gave him the advantage. At the first cross Hudson passed
behind Craig and Craig took the opportunity to tack on to Hudson and keep
a tight cover. Hudson tried to break cover but Craig kept him in tight
and after some jib flapping both boats arrived at the windward mark in
the mid fleet melee. At the front of the fleet Mark Littlejohn looked to
be building on his consistent week as he again led at the windward mark.
Hywel Roberts and Richard Sault were also going well arriving at the
windward mark just behind Littlejohn. Roberts sailed another excellent
downwind to pass Littlejohn and then sailed on the take the bullet.
Littlejohn took second with Chris Jennings and Ed Nicklin in third.
So having been runner up twice, Nick Craig & Keith Bedborough have
finally come out on top. After staying off the beer all week they came
off the water and headed straight into the bar, ensuring that by the time
of the prize giving, they were completely �de-stressed�. In spite of the
fog North Berwick will be remembered as a hugely successful event and
great thanks must go to East Lothian Yacht Club who despite only being a
small club, put in an amazing effort to ensure that all 170 boats all had
a great week.
Day 4
Nick Craig is not invincible�
After a lost day on Wednesday and a morning of delay to allow for the
perpetual mist to clear, day 4 finally got underway late this afternoon.
The fleet awoke this morning to the usual sight of North Berwick covered
in a blanketing fog. Principal Race Officer Jim Sinclair took the
decision to postpone all racing till 2 o�clock and typically the fog
quickly lifted shortly after his decision.
Race 5 got underway in a steady Force 3-4 with perhaps the clearest views
of the Bass Rock yet. Mark Littlejohn topped his earlier consistent
performance in the week to lead the fleet at the windward mark. Stuart
Hudson followed close behind and gybe-set to break for the other side of
the course. As the breeze gradually faded, Hudson powered through to
take the lead and sailed on to take a well-deserved bullet. A close
tussle ensued behind for second between Burlton and Littlejohn with
Littlejohn the eventual victor. Simon Potts and Alan Woosey started to
show some of their potential with a well deserved 4th.
Despite the Grimms attempt to mount the guard boat, Race 6 got underway
in an increasing breeze. Nick Craig came out the gate in the middle and
after hitting the left hand corner, arrived at the windward mark with a
substantial lead. Nick Holt and Derek put in an awesome performance to
arrive second at the windward mark, however couldn�t hold on and ended up
15th. Craig increased his lead and sailed on unchallenged to take his
fifth bullet of the week - a significant improvement on his 7th in the
first race. Craig Burlton put in another constant performance and looked
to have another 2nd in the bag. However, Bonsey tied a few knots in his
kite and ended up 6th. Hudson capitalised on Burlton�s mistake to take
2nd.
Mark Littlejohn continued his excellent day in Race 7 to arrive at the
windward mark first followed by the Fat Chandler - Greg O�Brien. The Fat
Chandler acted as an excellent rolling road-block to hold the fleet at
bay and allow Littlejohn to go on and take the bullet. Hudson hit hard
left on the final beat to move from 6th to 3rd by the windward mark.
Hudson split sides with O�Brien and by the leeward mark looked to have
finally got round the Fat Chandler. However a dropped wing-wang caused a
dodgy gybe and allowed Tubby O�Brien back through. Hudson continued an
excellent day to come in third.
With one to go it still looks like Nick Craig has done enough to win but
the rest of the podium positions have everything to play for.
Day 3
Thick Sea Fog Causes all racing to be abandoned�
The fleet awoke this morning to the sight of North Berwick clouded in
thick fog. Principal Race Officer Jim Sinclair postponed racing and
despite the weather onshore clearing up - with sun glasses and shorts
order of the day- the scene out to sea failed to improve.
At 2 o�clock Jim Sinclair took the difficult decision to abandon racing
for the day. The series continues with three races scheduled for the
next two days but the earlier start time of 11:30 is not proving popular
with some awesome socials planned for the next two days.
Day 1
East Lothian Yacht Club in North Berwick is the venue for the Gul
sponsored RS400 National Championships 2004. 75 boats made the journey
north to this picturesque seaside town to be greeted with marching
bagpipes and caber tossing at the East Lothian Highland games. Weather
forecasts predicting huge winds from the tail end of Hurricane Alex
failed to materialise. As he competitors stood on the shore awaiting the
start of Race 1 they had to endure watching the wind and visibility
gradually drop away to nothing as torrential rain hailed down.
Despite the rain, the fleet, accompanied by a couple of stray RS 200�s
that got lost in the fog headed out towards the course area near the Bass
Rock. Event favourites Nick Craig & Keith Bedborough made a good start
from the middle of the gate to lead to the windward mark. With the tide
favouring the left hand side and the wind favouring the left hand side,
Craig powered up the middle. The only boat that could match Craig &
Bedborough�s pace was Owen Modral and Dave Ellis who, pushing hard in
second, managed to cross them on the third beat. The wind was very
variable dropping away to virtually nothing on the third downwind leg
causing some huge place changes but Craig & Bedborough held on to win by
around 10 lengths. Stuart Hudson & Bevis Field (fresh back from Athens
as No. 2 470) finished third ahead of Phil Jackson & Gerard Baron in a
well deserved 4th,
Anyone who started more than 1 minute into the gate on the 2nd race might
have noticed the absence of a guard boat - after the Prince brothers
managed to almost sink it in an attempt to get an early start. As
torrential rain reduced the visibility even further the first beat became
a bit of a treasure hunt for the windward mark. Local boys Robbie Wilson
& JP McCaldin found it first closely followed by Craig & Bedborough.
However the emotional stress of winning proved to much as they took the
opportunity to make an impromptu hull inspection. This handed the lead
to Craig & Bedborough who sailed off to take a clear win. A long fought
battle for 2nd place ensued with Hudson & Field second ahead of Modral &
Ellis. Craig Burlton & Andrew Bonsey followed up in 4th.
Overnight, event favourite Nick Craig has set the benchmark high, taking
two bullets. However Owen Modral and Stuart Hudson are also both looking
fast and Nick may not have it all his own way yet.
Day 2
Nick Craig tightens grip on championship�
Day 2 of the Gul sponsored RS 400 National Championships dawned with the
typical Scottish weather of grey skies and a blustery force 3-5. A swap
of course area with the RS 200s meant that the fleet were treated to a
great power reach out to the West of North Berwick fixing a number of
hangovers from the previous evening.
Race 1, and a wind shift to the right on the first beat meant the late
starters on the gate could virtually lay the windward mark. In fact,
pathfinders Chris Jennings & Ed Nicklin only had to make a tiny port tack
to arrive at the windward mark 3rd behind Craig & Bedborough and Paul
Hillier & Toby Ashton.
Craig Burlton and Andrew Bonsey who having been 10th at the windward
mark, made an early gybe and powered down the left hand side, taking
advantage of the fact that many of the fleet had gone too far right to
take the lead. A battle for the lead then ensued between Burlton &
Bonsey and Craig & Bedborough with Craig having the edge upwind, but
Burlton continually catching him downwind. By the end of the race it all
looked sewn up for Craig & Bedborough who had pulled out a good lead and
only had to drop their kite, gybe and 2 sail reach to the finish to
secure their 3rd bullet. Incredibly, a moments inattention led him to
the beginners error of getting the tiller stuck between the mainsheet and
the hoop causing a quick swim. One of the quickest capsize recoveries
ever seen meant that they managed to pull it up and hold onto the win
ahead of Burlton & Bonsey. Hudson & Field built on their previous days
success by leading the chasing pack in third.
With the wind strengthening and the visibility lifting for Race 2, North
Berwick began to look a little more like the idyllic spot we know it to
be. The usual suspects made their starts about 2 minutes into the gate.
Steve Venables & Rich Brown bagged the last spot out of the gate and
arrived at the windward mark 2nd behind the apparently invincible Craig
and Bedborough. By the leeward mark however it was the fat chandler Greg
O'Brien that powered through from 8th at the windward mark to 2nd. Craig
& Bedborough sailed away to a substantial lead, while Burlton & Bonsey
led the chasing pack ahead of O�Brian & Grebo who were fighting to defend
3rd -something they failed to do on the last run allowing Hudson & Field
and Wilson & McCaldin through to 3rd and 4th.
With 3 days left to race, it seems like Craig & Bedborough have one hand
on the trophy already, with Burlton & Bonsey leading the chasing pack
ahead Hudson & Field.
1 169 1237 Nick Craig Keith Bedborough Frensham Pond SC 1 1 1 1 7 1
4 2 16 11.00 G
2 168 1211 Stuart Hudson Bevis Field Spinnaker SC 3 2 3 3 1 2 3 4
14 17.00 G
3 147 1215 Craig Burlton Andrew Bonsay Northampton SC 11 4 2 2 3 6
5 6 4 26.00 G
4 176 1174 Mark Littlejohn Paul Heath Lancing SC 7 5 10 8 2 3 1 9 2
28.00 G
5 166 1221 Owen Modral David Ellis Ullswater YC 2 3 7 15 5 8 9 3 5
33.00 G
6 128 1238 Chris Jennings Ed Nicklin Burghfield SC 8 10 8 7 8 4 6
15 3 44.00 G
7 130 1216 Hywel Roberts Richard Sault Parkstone YC 5 15 9 11 13 7
7 7 1 47.00 G
8 114 1228 Greg O'Brien Mark Greaves Bartley SC 14 13 14 5 9 13 2 8
6 56.00 G
9 104 1007 Syman Potts Alan Woosey Leigh and Lowton SC 12 11 4 13 4
12 8 10 RTD 61.00 G
10 110 1059 Steve Venables Richard Brown Shustoke SC RTD 18 6 6 12
5 18 5 10 62.00 G
11 132 1161 Robbie Wilson John Mccaldin Wormit Boating Club 15 8 13
4 6 17 11 20 7 64.00 G
12 143 1121 Paul Hilliar Toby Ashton Frensham Pond SC 9 12 5 12 17
9 DSQ 11 19 75.00 G
13 142 1182 Phil Jackson Gerard Baron Parkstone YC 4 17 11 9 14 11
13 25 15 77.00 G
14 146 962 Dave Jones Mark Hogan Port Dinorwic SC 21 14 16 19 11 10
23 1 8 79.00 G
15 154 1240 Tom Halhead Ruth Johnson Bristol Corinthian YC 17 6 12
10 10 18 24 26 11 84.00 G-LC
16 140 429 Ian Maclean Lucy Mathews Royal Forth YC 10 9 18 17 15 27
10 17 31 96.00 G-Y-LC
17 134 1186 David Exley Nigel Hall Leigh and Lowton SC 6 16 15 30
19 25 15 13 24 108.00 G
18 162 1155 Paul Allen Michael Allen Leigh and Lowton SC 19 20 22
27 20 16 12 16 13 116.00 G
19 152 1146 Stewart Robertson Ben Robertson Royal Forth YC 13 24 25
18 16 14 17 14 DNC 116.00 G-M
20 145 1189 Nick Holt Derek Hill Blackpool & Fleetwood YC 23 39 21
14 18 15 16 40 20 127.00 G
21 155 1051 Andrew Fox Simon Burchill Leigh and Lowton SC 33 29 19
25 22 31 26 22 9 152.00 G
22 151 1180 Ian Robson Sandy Johnson Aldeburgh YC 41 27 20 21 51 24
14 27 33 166.00 S
23 119 1129 Martin Browne Dinah Holmes Great Yarmouth & Gorleston
SC 16 7 DNC 38 27 37 21 41 23 169.00 G-LC
24 121 1170 Sally Styles Martyn Styles Downs SC 28 30 27 55 34 23
19 19 25 171.00 G-L
25 161 1205 Chris Bailey Matt Bailey Bartley SC 37 22 17 16 43 26
22 45 32 172.00 G
26 131 829 John Hookway Dan Wood East Lothian YC 25 36 DNC 26 21 41
25 18 28 179.00 G-M
27 106 1191 Louise Mckeand Phil Bishop Leigh and Lowton SC 20 43 40
37 47 21 20 31 17 186.00 G-L
28 102 1201 Bill Handley Linda Handley Greystones SC 24 37 23 28 26
20 DNC 33 41 191.00 G-M-C-LC
29 125 1050 Cathy Partington Michael Partington Leigh and Lowton SC
31 32 28 42 45 28 31 24 18 192.00 G-L
30 124 968 Kevan Gibb John Cockburn Largo Bay SC 27 23 26 32 33 29
43 23 37 193.00 G
31 117 1217 John W Cooper Becci Wigley Lymington Town SC DNC 19 33
20 24 62 39 34 26 195.00 G-M-LC
32 118 1236 Chris Gillard Alan Gibbon Leigh and Lowton SC 29 DNC 24
35 29 33 42 21 27 198.00 G-M
33 139 849 Lloyd Walker Jerramy Rippon Leigh on Sea SC 40 34 30 29
25 22 34 28 34 202.00 S
34 127 1055 Colin Prince Tony Prince Weir Wood SC 34 DNC DNC DNC 32
19 29 12 12 212.00 G-M
35 144 1219 Mark Reddington Jonny Lynd Bartley SC 32 35 31 31 48 30
32 46 22 213.00 S-M
36 115 1235 Russell Collister June Collister Isle of Man YC 35 45
29 48 31 34 30 29 30 218.00 S-C-LC
37 123 874 Derek Gibb Keith Milroy East Lothian YC DNC 44 32 34 28
32 35 30 29 220.00 S
38 140 1187 Stephanie Gunn Martin Gunn Nottinghamshire County SC 22
33 49 40 36 38 28 42 36 233.00 S-LC-C
39 148 451 Matt Jenkins Del Jenkins Sheffield Viking SC 18 21 43 49
44 52 46 44 21 237.00 G
40 108 953 Alistair Reid Calum Reid Largo Bay SC 38 40 42 41 23 42
27 39 35 243.00 S-M
41 165 1190 Stephen Jones Stephen Browne Leigh on Sea SC 36 41 39
23 30 DNC 36 43 38 243.00 S
42 120 1098 Carl Mayhew Julie Mayhew Island Barn Reservoir SC 30 38
35 33 38 35 DNC 35 46 244.00 S-C-LC
43 105 589 James Downer Jess Olden Gurnard SC DNC 25 34 39 40 39 41
36 39 252.00 G-Y-LC
44 136 796 Stephen Tubby Gareth Jenkins Leigh on Sea SC 39 31 36 22
37 57 DNC 50 40 255.00 S
45 111 1046 Malcolm Ritchie Andrew Ritchie Hykeham SC 26 28 53 46
50 36 40 48 45 269.00 G-M
46 159 818 Ian McCarlie Douglas Watson East Lothian YC 43 DNC 44 43
39 45 33 47 DNC 294.00 S
47 153 735 Robert Jones Liz Jones Weston SC 42 42 45 45 49 40 38 52
44 296.00 S-C-LC
48 ? 1006 Michael Alexander Edward Waite East Lothian YC 46 26 48
50 35 54 48 53 53 306.00 S-M
49 177 448 Tom Gosden Steven Macintyre East Lothian YC DNC DNC 41
47 46 51 37 38 48 308.00 S
50 179 1100 Mark Goalen Angus Stevenson East Lothian YC DNC 48 37
52 55 53 47 37 43 317.00 S
51 138 1177 Nick Barrett Charlie Burns w. o. b. y. c. DNC 47 50 51
54 48 44 54 42 336.00 S
52 156 1115 Martin Ward Darren Addington Girton SC 57 DNC 47 DNC 41
43 45 59 47 339.00 S
53 163 877 Phil Britton Susan Britton Dalgety Bay SC 55 46 38 36 42
DNC DNC 51 DSQ 342.00 S-C-LC
54 167 608 David Mckay G Whyte East Lothian YC 49 DNC 46 24 52 46
56 DNC DNC 347.00 S
55 137 587 Patrick Randall Verity Sharpe Queen Mary SC 56 54 52 56
71 44 49 57 DSQ 368.00 S
56 133 857 Fiachra Etchingham Findlay Macdonald Greystones SC 48 49
51 54 66 59 57 60 50 368.00 S
57 126 658 Hugh Marston Mike Willis East Lothian YC 52 DNC 54 57 60
66 DNC 32 49 370.00 S
58 103 602 Andrew Harris Madeleine Harris Chew Valley Lake SC 47 53
DNC 44 63 61 54 64 51 373.00 S-C-LC
59 157 1233 Nick Francis Simon Edwards Queen Mary SC 50 50 DNC DNC
56 63 50 62 55 386.00 S-M
60 175 782 Gordon Auld Oliver White H M Forces 59 55 DNC DNC 53 47
61 58 54 387.00 S
61 122 816 David Sykes Julie Sykes Ullswater YC 44 DNC DNC DNC 59
56 51 55 52 391.00 S-C-LC
62 ? 744 Stephen Lowe Michael Lowe South Shields SC DNC 52 56 53 69
55 DNC 66 59 410.00 S
63 150 1106 Nick Fribbens Louise Hill Island Barn Reservoir SC DNC
DNC DNC DNC 58 49 52 49 57 413.00 S-M-LC
64 107 924 Simon Mathews Penny Atkinson Brighton SC 51 DNC 57 DNC
65 64 53 65 58 413.00 S-M
65 164 1092 Alan Cooke Giles Owne Grafham Water SC DNC 51 55 58 64
65 DNC 70 61 424.00 S-M
66 129 1199 Tim Sands Peter Warburton Lee on Solent SC 54 56 DNC
DNC 67 58 60 56 DSQ 425.00 S
67 149 824 Paul Clark Mike Wake Brighton SC 45 RTD RTD DNC 57 60 58
63 DNC 431.00 S
68 116 842 Bruce Millar Mark Millar East Lothian YC 53 DNC DNC DNC
61 DNC DNC 61 62 459.00 S
69 112 1003 Jane Telford Mel Vause South Windermere SC DNC DNC DNC
59 72 67 59 69 63 463.00 S-L-M-LC
70 113 787 Alister Green Sean Connor Starcross YC 58 DNC DNC DNC 62
DNC DNC 67 56 465.00 S
71 ? 656 Jane Scott Niall Campbell-morrison East Lothian YC RTD DNC
RTD DNC 68 50 55 DNC DNC 469.00 S-L
72 109 688 Chris Horn Jane Horn Leigh and Lowton SC DNC DNC DNC DNC
70 DNC DNC 68 60 494.00 S-M-C-LC
73 101 921 Giles Chipperfield Heather Chipperfield Lymington Town
SC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 518.00 S-C-LC