RS 800 Winter Championships 2009

17 RS 800s arrived at Grafham Water this Valentines Day to be greeted by a glassy lake surrounded by snow.  A poor turn out from the fleet which delivered the largest fleet at the Garda Eurocup prompting suggestions from some 200 sailors that this fleet is mainly made up of sun loving lotharios who like a good blow.  Still, all was in place for some tough competition for the first event of 2009 with the 2008 Eurocup winners, Pete Bartoni and Roz Allen, the 2008 National Champions Ben McGrane and Olivier Vidal and aiming to defend his winter title, Ben Schooling with new crew George Kingsnorth.  Also, a good sign that the tough racing of 2008 would continue with several new teams arriving for their first event.

Sadly Saturday saw no racing due to the lack of wind.  However this in no way inhibited the usual debates of what the minimum wind strength for racing is, and what it very well should be according to each and every individual who has ever laid eyes upon a boat.  Fortunately the few 200s that ventured out were proven to be lacking in brain power and the race committee sensibly decided to encourage a vigorous training session in the club lounge involving finger curls, arm crunches and several vocal excercises which conveniently coincided with the 6 nations.

Several discussion points were heard in the bar over the course of the evening and can be summed up as follows:

1)      Laurie and Dan are proof that intelligence and common sense are not correlated on the evidence that they decided to camp not one but TWO nights of the event.

2)      Jeremy Paxman was correct in his claims that Marks and Spencers underwear is lacking in both shape and support.  Thanks to Olivier who conducted a rigorous testing session.

3)      Adam Broughton is single-handedly helping RS beat the recession by inviting any members of the fleet with old boats to sail with him for each event.

4)      Is everyone going to Carnac and will it be the best Eurocup event yet.  Undoubtedly.

Sunday morning dawned with a chilly but hopeful 10-15 knot breeze with a plan for 4 races.  A much better plan than trying to fit one race into the drift conditions we’d had the day before. 

The first race of 2009 kicked off with a slight port bias and healthy 12 knots.  The fleet assumed the usual positions with Barton/Allen and McGrane/Vidal duelling for the front 2 positions and the rest of the fleet sailing for Bronze, McGrane/Vidal eventually taking first place from Barton/Allen, whilst Neil Baker and James Hughes managed to sneak through from the mele for 3^rd just ahead of Tom Halhead and Christian Humphrey.

Race 2 followed the same script with McGrane/Vidal once again taking the race from Barton/Allen.  Spod Olive and Guy Fillmore showed their usual turn of speed to take 4^th place after the body of the fleet was again changing positions regularly with the close racing of 2008 continuing.

The third race broke the usual pattern with a squeeze of extra breeze up to around very close first lap:  A mixed fleet at the first mark and the new team of Rob Watson and John Clifton challenging McGrane/Vidal for the lead.  By the second windward mark McGrane/Vidal had established another clear lead and the event, but the battle for 2^nd continued right to the line with Baker/Hughes just coming through ahead of Watson/Clifton, in turn just holding off the challenge from Barton/Allen at the finish.    David Pike and Fiona Lockwood sailed a good race to finish 5^th ahead of the main pack.

Race 4 gave the mere mortals some hope with Charlie Roome and Adam Broughton sailing an excellent race to lead from start to finish proving that McGrane/Vidal could be beaten into 2^nd place. 

A great day of very close RS800 racing was had by all and we look forward to seeing you at Chew Valley on the 14^th of March.