Results / Open Yorkshire Dales SC - 03/06/2017
The RS200 Northern Tour and National Series event took place over the weekend in pretty much ideal conditions with a F3-5 wind blowing down the length of the reservoir both days.
10 visitors joined 5 home club boats and it was great to see Matt & Emma rediscovering their Northern roots as the only out of area visitors.
It soon became evident that this was going to be a two horse race with Matt & Emma taking the first two races from Ollie & Esther on the Saturday, but having to fight from behind in the third.
On Sunday Matt & Emma took the fourth race win, but Ollie & Esther came back with a win in the fifth.
This gave Matt & Emma the event win without sailing the final race, which Ollie & Esther duly won.
It was close for third to fifth overall, with Martin & Tim taking third from Matt & Faye by two points with Sam & Lewis two points further back in fifth. Tim will be satisfied to have had the last laugh in the battle of the Wallers after being 'sacked' by Sam (or so he was claiming).
Probably for the first time on the Northern Tour there were more youth sailors than oldies with five all youth boats and only three oldies out there and five other boats with youth crews. Matt said one of the youths "gave us the closest and toughest competition we have experienced for a long time". This really bodes well for the future of the class up North.
Many thanks to RS Sailing for their series sponsorship; to Rope 4 Boats for their raffle prizes, which were won by John Turley and Alistair Scott; and to Mike Saul for providing the club prizes.
Next stop on the Northern Tour is Filey on 17th/18th June.
Check out these fantastic photos from Paul Hargreaves, including some stunning stills of fabtastically executed high wind gybes !