Results / GUL RS RACING CIRCUIT Grafham Water SC - 07/04/2001
The GUL RS800 Racing Circuit got back on schedule with the re-arranged GUL RS Racing Circuit event at Grafham Water on April 7/8. The event was programmed for Bristol Corinthian YC the previous weekend; unfortunately Foot and Mouth hit Somerset and BCYC was closed as a result. Grafham Water at very short notice agreed to step in and run the event; the short notice of change of venue and weekend meant there was a reduced fleet of 21 boats. Those that did make the trip were treated to a superb event, the race management was first class, there was good wind throughout and for the second weekend in a row a GUL RS Racing Circuit event produced a dead heat and racing that went right down to the wire.
Saturday racing was held in a good force 4 with bursts of stronger wind which produced superb sailing whilst testing boat handling skills to the full. In Race 1 the new 800 team of Steve Irish and Martin Gotrel looked as if they had been sailing RS800's for years as they pulled out a big lead. Unfortunately counting was not their strong point as they started a lap too many, canny West Country sailors Mike and Anne Way knew what was going on though and reached off to the finishing area to win the race with Tim and Jo Johnson second and Buzz Keck/Charlie Merchant third.
Buzz and Charlie really enjoyed the fresher wind for race 2 to win with Steve and Martin grateful for a pathfinder to lead the way in second; these two were well clear of Lee Sydenham/Anne Vaudry and Paddy Gamble/Lou Carter who pulled through the fleet to claim third and fourth. Race 3 was really decided just after the first windward mark, Sydenham in second gybed immediately and disappeared in the type of gust that takes you straight to the leeward mark you dream about. The Sydenham/Vaudrey team had such a big margin they could even survive trawling the kite on the final reach. Buzz won the fight for second from the Johnson's and Irish.
Most of the fleet were grateful for the more moderate conditions on Sunday after such hard sailing on Saturday and the Pete Vincent led rum assault course on Saturday night. The change in conditions allowed some of the teams that had moved into 800's over the winter to show their form and promise.
In a force 3-4 for race 4 Sydenham led but then fell into a hole at the third windward mark, Irish grabbed his chance to win the race from the Ways and Sydenham with Mike Speller/Rob Burridge fourth. Race 5 saw some big shifts on the first beat but the Irish/Gotrel team took this in their stride to win with the Johnson's second, Speller third and another Plymouth team, Dan Fellows/Clare Dudley, fourth. Behind places 6 to 15 gave the Race Officer a nightmare by all trying to finish at the same time.
Going into the final race there were four possible winners. Steve Irish and Lee Sydenham had the better results but both were carrying a disaster, Buzz had not been able to find Saturdays form but was the most consistent whilst the Ways also had four good results but a DNF. Mick Whitmore and Sarah Smith from the growing 800 fleet at Eastbourne enjoyed the conditions to record a good win. Behind Irish seemed to have everything under control in second place until the penultimate run when they trawled the kite allowing Sydenham and Spod Olive through. Then a real disaster struck, the kite trawl had damaged the spinnaker halyard block on the mast and they were unable to hoist the kite for the final short run to the finish. Mike Speller got through and the finish line could not come quick enough as the pair limped across in fifth as a whole pack of boats threatened to swallow them up. This left Irish and Sydenham tied on 13 points with Irish claiming a deserved victory on the basis of winning one more race than Sydenham.
With many new faces to the 800 fleet showing so well over the weekend we can guarantee that the GUL RS800 Racing Circuit is going to see plenty of action packed racing and more tight finishes this season.
Saturday racing was held in a good force 4 with bursts of stronger wind which produced superb sailing whilst testing boat handling skills to the full. In Race 1 the new 800 team of Steve Irish and Martin Gotrel looked as if they had been sailing RS800's for years as they pulled out a big lead. Unfortunately counting was not their strong point as they started a lap too many, canny West Country sailors Mike and Anne Way knew what was going on though and reached off to the finishing area to win the race with Tim and Jo Johnson second and Buzz Keck/Charlie Merchant third.
Buzz and Charlie really enjoyed the fresher wind for race 2 to win with Steve and Martin grateful for a pathfinder to lead the way in second; these two were well clear of Lee Sydenham/Anne Vaudry and Paddy Gamble/Lou Carter who pulled through the fleet to claim third and fourth. Race 3 was really decided just after the first windward mark, Sydenham in second gybed immediately and disappeared in the type of gust that takes you straight to the leeward mark you dream about. The Sydenham/Vaudrey team had such a big margin they could even survive trawling the kite on the final reach. Buzz won the fight for second from the Johnson's and Irish.
Most of the fleet were grateful for the more moderate conditions on Sunday after such hard sailing on Saturday and the Pete Vincent led rum assault course on Saturday night. The change in conditions allowed some of the teams that had moved into 800's over the winter to show their form and promise.
In a force 3-4 for race 4 Sydenham led but then fell into a hole at the third windward mark, Irish grabbed his chance to win the race from the Ways and Sydenham with Mike Speller/Rob Burridge fourth. Race 5 saw some big shifts on the first beat but the Irish/Gotrel team took this in their stride to win with the Johnson's second, Speller third and another Plymouth team, Dan Fellows/Clare Dudley, fourth. Behind places 6 to 15 gave the Race Officer a nightmare by all trying to finish at the same time.
Going into the final race there were four possible winners. Steve Irish and Lee Sydenham had the better results but both were carrying a disaster, Buzz had not been able to find Saturdays form but was the most consistent whilst the Ways also had four good results but a DNF. Mick Whitmore and Sarah Smith from the growing 800 fleet at Eastbourne enjoyed the conditions to record a good win. Behind Irish seemed to have everything under control in second place until the penultimate run when they trawled the kite allowing Sydenham and Spod Olive through. Then a real disaster struck, the kite trawl had damaged the spinnaker halyard block on the mast and they were unable to hoist the kite for the final short run to the finish. Mike Speller got through and the finish line could not come quick enough as the pair limped across in fifth as a whole pack of boats threatened to swallow them up. This left Irish and Sydenham tied on 13 points with Irish claiming a deserved victory on the basis of winning one more race than Sydenham.
With many new faces to the 800 fleet showing so well over the weekend we can guarantee that the GUL RS800 Racing Circuit is going to see plenty of action packed racing and more tight finishes this season.
RS200/RS800 Open Meeting
Grafham Water Sailing Club 7th/8th April
Results for RS800 from race 1 to race 6 (5 to count)
Printed at 15:21 on Sun Apr 08 2001 page 1
1 922 Steve Irish 17 2 4 1 1 5 13.00 Draycote SC Martin Gotrel 17.00 2.00 4.00 1.00 1.00 5.00
2 935 Lee Sydenham 4 3 1 3 9 2 13.00 HISC Anne Vaudry 4.00 3.00 1.00 3.00 9.00 2.00
3 819 Buzz Keck 3 1 2 6 7 8 19.00 Oxford SC Charlie Merchant 3.00 1.00 2.00 6.00 7.00 8.00
4 908 Mike Way 1 DNF 5 2 6 10 24.00 Mayflower SC Anne Way 1.00 22.00 5.00 2.00 6.00 10.00
5 874 Tim Johnson 2 8 3 11 2 9 24.00 CVLSC Jo Johnson 2.00 8.00 3.00 11.00 2.00 9.00
6 853 Mike Speller 9 9 6 4 3 4 26.00 Minnis Bay/Weirwood Rob Burridge 9.00 9.00 6.00 4.00 3.00 4.00
7 903 Mick Whitmore 6 6 7 12 8 1 28.00 Eastbourne Sovereign Sarah Smith 6.00 6.00 7.00 12.00 8.00 1.00
8 911 Dan Fellows 10 5 9 7 4 12 35.00 RWYC Clare Dudley 10.00 5.00 9.00 7.00 4.00 12.00
9 858 David Maclay 7 11 8 10 15 6 42.00 GWSC Susanne Maclay 7.00 11.00 8.00 10.00 15.00 6.00
10 867 Keith Willis 12 7 12 14 5 7 43.00 Lymington Town Karen Evans 12.00 7.00 12.00 14.00 5.00 7.00
11 829 John Harvey 8 10 15 8 13 11 50.00 Thornbury SC Adrian Earland 8.00 10.00 15.00 8.00 13.00 11.00
12 848 Alastair James 5 13 11 13 12 15 54.00 GWSC Steph Pilkington 5.00 13.00 11.00 13.00 12.00 15.00
13 902 Gary Smith 13 12 13 9 11 14 58.00 Eastbourne Sovereign Lynn Whitmore 13.00 12.00 13.00 9.00 11.00 14.00
14 834 ??? DNF DNF DNF 5 16 3 68.00 22.00 22.00 22.00 5.00 16.00 3.00
15 854 Paddy Gamble 11 4 10 DNF DNF DNF 69.00 HISC Lou Carter 11.00 4.00 10.00 22.00 22.00 22.00
16 925 Phil Elford 14 14 DNF 15 14 13 70.00 Eastbourne Sovereign Neil Arnott 14.00 14.00 22.00 15.00 14.00 13.00
17 888 Paul Taylor 15 15 14 16 19 17 77.00 Julie Taylor 15.00 15.00 14.00 16.00 19.00 17.00
18 830 John Leal 16 16 16 DNF 18 DNF 88.00 Mayflower SC Mel Holt 16.00 16.00 16.00 22.00 18.00 22.00
19 890 Matt Adams DNF DNF DNF DNF 10 16 92.00 Riki 22.00 22.00 22.00 22.00 10.00 16.00
20 857 ??? DNF DNF DNF DNF 17 18 101.00 22.00 22.00 22.00 22.00 17.00 18.00
21 1 K McQuillin DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF 110.00 RAFSC (GW) R Birchenhall 22.00 22.00 22.00 22.00 22.00 22.00
1 922 Steve Irish 17 2 4 1 1 5 13.00 Draycote SC Martin Gotrel 17.00 2.00 4.00 1.00 1.00 5.00
2 935 Lee Sydenham 4 3 1 3 9 2 13.00 HISC Anne Vaudry 4.00 3.00 1.00 3.00 9.00 2.00
3 819 Buzz Keck 3 1 2 6 7 8 19.00 Oxford SC Charlie Merchant 3.00 1.00 2.00 6.00 7.00 8.00
4 908 Mike Way 1 DNF 5 2 6 10 24.00 Mayflower SC Anne Way 1.00 22.00 5.00 2.00 6.00 10.00
5 874 Tim Johnson 2 8 3 11 2 9 24.00 CVLSC Jo Johnson 2.00 8.00 3.00 11.00 2.00 9.00
6 853 Mike Speller 9 9 6 4 3 4 26.00 Minnis Bay/Weirwood Rob Burridge 9.00 9.00 6.00 4.00 3.00 4.00
7 903 Mick Whitmore 6 6 7 12 8 1 28.00 Eastbourne Sovereign Sarah Smith 6.00 6.00 7.00 12.00 8.00 1.00
8 911 Dan Fellows 10 5 9 7 4 12 35.00 RWYC Clare Dudley 10.00 5.00 9.00 7.00 4.00 12.00
9 858 David Maclay 7 11 8 10 15 6 42.00 GWSC Susanne Maclay 7.00 11.00 8.00 10.00 15.00 6.00
10 867 Keith Willis 12 7 12 14 5 7 43.00 Lymington Town Karen Evans 12.00 7.00 12.00 14.00 5.00 7.00
11 829 John Harvey 8 10 15 8 13 11 50.00 Thornbury SC Adrian Earland 8.00 10.00 15.00 8.00 13.00 11.00
12 848 Alastair James 5 13 11 13 12 15 54.00 GWSC Steph Pilkington 5.00 13.00 11.00 13.00 12.00 15.00
13 902 Gary Smith 13 12 13 9 11 14 58.00 Eastbourne Sovereign Lynn Whitmore 13.00 12.00 13.00 9.00 11.00 14.00
14 834 ??? DNF DNF DNF 5 16 3 68.00 22.00 22.00 22.00 5.00 16.00 3.00
15 854 Paddy Gamble 11 4 10 DNF DNF DNF 69.00 HISC Lou Carter 11.00 4.00 10.00 22.00 22.00 22.00
16 925 Phil Elford 14 14 DNF 15 14 13 70.00 Eastbourne Sovereign Neil Arnott 14.00 14.00 22.00 15.00 14.00 13.00
17 888 Paul Taylor 15 15 14 16 19 17 77.00 Julie Taylor 15.00 15.00 14.00 16.00 19.00 17.00
18 830 John Leal 16 16 16 DNF 18 DNF 88.00 Mayflower SC Mel Holt 16.00 16.00 16.00 22.00 18.00 22.00
19 890 Matt Adams DNF DNF DNF DNF 10 16 92.00 Riki 22.00 22.00 22.00 22.00 10.00 16.00
20 857 ??? DNF DNF DNF DNF 17 18 101.00 22.00 22.00 22.00 22.00 17.00 18.00
21 1 K McQuillin DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF 110.00 RAFSC (GW) R Birchenhall 22.00 22.00 22.00 22.00 22.00 22.00