Results / Volvo Noble Marine RS800 UK National Championships Eastbourne Sovereign SC - 08/08/2013

Introduction

Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club hosted the 2013 RS800 nationals, seen by much of the fleet as the start of a new era of RS800, with a new modernised sail plan introduced, the square top main bringing the boat into the modern era of sailing.  The jib and the spinnaker remain unchanged, and the addition of country flags to the head of the mainsail strengthens the 800’s growing international presence. Before the event much of the talk was about who would adapt to the sails quickest, but in reality it was those who could cope with Eastbourne’s fantastic conditions who would prevail. 

DAY 1

Day one at the 2013 RS800 Nationals was a real belter, 48 shiny boats arrived on the beach race ready and eager for action. With bright sunshine and warm winds around 10 knots the fresh new square top mains were a modern glimpse for the future of the class.

Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club’s slick race management got racing under way on time in the bay just off the beach.  After a general recall and a subsequent black flagged start (a theme for the remaining nine races) the fleet split up the first beat and re-converged at the windward mark with Roger Phillips and Will Crocker leading from fleet newbies Seb Baucutt and Alex Farrall followed closely by James Date and Toby Wincer in RWO.

The majority of the fleet opted to head out to the right hand side of the course downwind in an effort to keep clear air. Laurie Fitzjohn-Sykes and Dan Allin found flatter water and less tide in shore and made large gains coming in from the left.  Hugh Shone and Hannah Tattersall sailed well fighting through to second by the end of the second lap followed by Laurie and Dan.  There was not too much change for the subsequent laps with the exception of Laurie and Dan who suffered a snapped rudder stock ending their racing for the day.

Race two saw the breeze freshen to a steady 15knots and the fleet got away at the 2^nd attempt with the pin end favoured. Local gnomes Andy Jeffries and Chris Feibusch came out from the trench and shot out of the blocks to the left. RWO rounded 1^stbut couldn’t hold the momentum and saw Nick Charles and Christian Humphrey leap out from behind them closely followed by the gnomes. The front three jostled for position while Saxon ad Clegg headed to the beach, flatter water and possibly slightly more breeze saw them leap from RWO and the Gnomes. First in was Charles and Humphrey followed by Saxton and Clegg with RWO rounding off the podium once again.

DAY 2

Day two dawned overcast, drizzly and looked pretty light. Local knowledge proved correct, with Andy “Stand By for a Foam Up” Jefferies correctly picking up the extra sea breeze once the sun came out. 

Race three started in a steady 13-15 knots with the right paying heavily due to the lesser tide, flatter water and bend heading in on Port. Many of the fleet had picked this leading to a few failed Gardaesque port tack start line approaches Laurie took the lead on the second beat followed by Roger and Will. These positions were held to the finish with Dave Hivey and Rob Partridge picking the best line through the traffic at the final windward to come through and take third. 

The breeze had built significantly for the race 4, starting in about 17-18 knots. Tim Saxton / Jonny Clegg and Dave / Rob went for the right hand end of the line, tacked and headed for the beach immediately. Tim & Jonny’s pace saw them rounding the 1^st mark with a ten metre lead over Dave / Rob, with Roger and Will rounding in third. The breeze continued to build to over 20 knots during the race with the final downwind getting pretty spicy, and a graveyard of 7’s / 8’s near the gybe point and bottom of the course. Tim and Jonny took a big win, with Dave / Rob in second and James Date / Toby Wincer coming through to take third.

With the breeze continuing to increase and tide turning to increase the chop, the race 5 was sensibly deferred for another day, leaving everyone to head back for an early bath and time to hit the charity shops ahead of the “tight and bright” pub crawl. 

DAY 3

The fleet awoke to a light Northerly offshore wind but with the sun out the promise of a sea breeze was on the cards. The race officer was keen to get away on time so after a general recall on the first start which saw 4 boats binned the fleet got away on the 2^nd start in a light 5-7kt northerly. The race was then was abandoned half way up the first beat as the breeze flicked to the normal sea breeze direction and the fleet had to hoist kites to the windward mark!

Race 5 was then restarted in a building 12 -14kts and fairly flat sea with the last of the incoming tide. Local boys Dave Pike and Nick Jerkins picked the shifts well and came in from the left to lead at the windward. They held onto the lead to the finish with James Date and Toby Wincer breathing down their necks into the finish and Andy Jeffries and Chris Feibusch in 3^rd.

In race 6 the wind had built to 18kts and the sea state starting to get lumpy on the turned tide. A couple of boats opted for the port start to take the header and flatter water into the shore. Jeffries / Feibusch picked the layline and led round the windward from Ben Schooling / Tim Hirst and Date / Wincer in 3^rd. Schooling / Hirst gybed inside and led round the leeward and the positions remained the same round the 2^nd lap. Date / Wincer pushed hard down the last run and picked a well timed gybe to take the bullet. Jeffries / Feibusch crossed in 2^nd but with no whistle were OCS promoting Schooling / Hirst to 2^nd and Laurie F-S and Dan Allin 3^rd.

By race 7 the sea breeze had ramped up to 20kts and the sea built to full on scary. Schooling / Hirst opted for the punchy port start again and squeezed through a gap to lead out from the left. Hugh Watson and Andy Watkins picked the starboard layline and led round the windward from Schooling / Hirst and a gap back to Tom Halhead & Stu Jagger in 3^rd. The fleet enjoyed some epic downwind sleigh rides in champagne Eastbourne conditions with crews working hard over-sheeting the kite to avoid driving in the wave in front. Watson and Watkins went down the mine and pitch-poled out of the gybe to hand Schooling / Hirst the lead which they then held to the shortened 2 lap finish, showing that an older boat with the old main is still capable of winning races in this competitive fleet. Halhead /Jagger also binned it in so Fitjohn-Sykes / Allin brought it home in 2^nd with Date and Wincer rounding out a great day in 3^rd.

DAY 4

Going into the last day James Date / Toby Wincer had a good lead cemented by their consistency all week an only needed one top 3 result with Roger Philips / Will Crocker or David Hivey / Rob Partridge not winning all 3 races. A tall order and generally the feeling was that the battle was for 2nd. 

In race 8, to add some tension Roger/ Will duly won and James/Toby came 4th meaning that they just needed to ensure that Roger/Will did not win one of the remaining races to be named champions.  

At the start of Race 9, the team racing skills came out and a luffing match on the start line actually managed to kill two birds with one stone.  James and Toby managed to block both Roger/Will and Dave/Rob at the starboard end of the start line for a few precious seconds, meanwhile Laurie Fitzjohn-Sykes / Daniel Allen also got caught up in the mess, capsizing and not managing to better the second they got in the previous race.  With Roger/Will only managing to catch up to 10th.  And James/Toby showing their superior boat speed and handling to catch up to win the race they were deserved winners of the event with a race to spare. Andy Jefferies / Chris Feibusch finished second with Dave/Rob pulling back though the fleet to third.

The final race and Tim Saxton / Jonathon Clegg who still had an outside chance of a podium, duly stamped their authority on the race by showing great speed to hit the right side of the race course and amass a good lead by the first windward mark.  This meant that Dave/Rob had to finish seventh to hold third over all.  They were having a great race with Will/Roger, and just managed to sneak seventh to take the last spot on the podium by just one point.  James/Toby finished second again with Laurie/Dan consolidating their good day to finish third.

So overall, James Date and Toby Wincer in RWO secured the title after 10 years of trying.  We all believe the Bart sticker they had on the back of their boat sent some help down from above as well!  Roger Phillips and Will Crocker finished in a deserved second and David Hivey with Robert Partridge (Sponsored by MAGIC MARINE and LDC sailing) finished off the podium.

Winners of the Silver fleet and youth prizes, Seb & Alex deserve a mention for a fantastic 18^th at their first nationals, narrowly beating Ella Mitchell who got the first lady helm prize in 19^th overall.

Eastbourne delivered 10 excellent races with great conditions to test our skills but more importantly made us feel incredibly welcome, with almost the entire club membership helping out with the running of the event.

The event was a great success and with 48 boats it was brilliant for the class as a showcase for high performance sailing that is accessible to all.  The verdict on the new sail plan was a resounding success with the new modern look, slightly easier handling and responsiveness of the rig, and the fact that the older boats and rigs have not been materially disadvantaged by the changes.  The one design nature of the class remains strong and the fleet is sure to take this momentum forward and continue to grow.

If you want a go in the re-vamped RS800 we will be running some RS800 coaching over the Autumn / Winter where you can be coached in your boat or jump in with one of the top 10 sailors in the country (so won't need your own boat).  If you think you would be interested in joining in, then email David Hivey at [email protected] for more details.  

Twin wiring flat out in 20 knots is something we should all do at some point in our lives!