Results / Gul RS800 National Championships Tenby SC - 28/08/2009

Gul RS800 Nationals at Tenby 2009 – Day 1

Justin Deal & Ollie Page won the day and the sponsored Harken goodies to boot with a solid two 3^rds, “Glamour sailing conditions. We’re delighted to be in front. But it is a long way to go and it has hardly started” said Ollie.

2^nd overall is Laurie Fitzjohn-Sykes & Dan Allin with a 7^th & 2^nd. Then Alan Olive & Guy Fillmore’s ‘Harken’ with two 5^ths. Comeback kids Stevie Wilson & Jamie Stewart ‘Synthesize’ took the Race 2 win after a lacklustre first race to hold 4^th overall. “The first one was our practice now we’re into it” warned Jamie.

Several quality pitch poles were spotted with Charlie Room & Tom Jeffcoate ‘Gill’ pulling off a near perfect 9/10 head over heels whilst ‘backing off’ in 3rd, closely followed by Peter Barton & Roz Allen’s ‘Marlow’ 8/10 manoeuvre moments later whilst in 2^nd.

With brisk gusts and an unpredictably bouncy ride at the leeward end of the course several title contenders are already looking forward to the discard. Race 1 winners Andy Jefferies & Adam Broughton ‘Kiss My RS’, 2^nd placed Chris Webber & Jim Baldwin and 4^th placed Peter & Roz all collected big scores or DNF in the 2^nd race.

There are 3 races planned Sunday and many key players will be hoping to bring home straight counters to keep their chances alive. But with 20 knots plus forecast that isn’t going to be a reality for all. Stay tuned. 

Day 3 -  Last men standing

After a four hour postponement looking out over a bay full of white horses and 34 knot gusts the PRO called ‘GAME ON!’ with 2 short races planned as the front passed through mid afternoon.

The day was to prove that speed was not everything. You had to keep your gear intact and your bow from crashing into the waves downwind with a very challenging combination of rolling swell and wind vs chop kicking up treacherous wave sets.

For some it was over before it began. Several competitors started their watches early as Peter Barton & Roz Allen’s ‘Marlow’ shroud terminal exploded like a rifle shot prestart.

Big wind chubsters Stevie Wilson & Jamie Stewart ‘Synthesize’ showed ballistic pace around the track leading both races but on an approach to the finish were caught out by one of the rogue holes in the ocean. Likewise gale force gurus Andy Jefferies & Adam Broughton ‘Kiss My RS’ had speed a plenty but multiple wipe outs left them with little to add to their race 1 win. Overnight leaders boy band Justin Deal & Ollie Page failed to add another top finish when whilst leading race 1 Justin was violently bounced out the back of his boat mid gybe, twisting his ankle in the process.

The day belonged to the last men standing, Laurie Fitzjohn-Sykes & Dan Allin. Not necessarily the fastest in the fleet but one of the only teams to keep their transom on the water and gear intact all day. They kept in touch and as other teams fell by the wayside they found themselves in front by the finish to record a 2,1 to add to their 7,2. With one more windy day to go they now have a race in had over the fleet but they are going to have to maintain their form as any nasty downwind pitch pole could cost 15 places or even a finish altogether.

An exhausted but delighted Laurie said “The RS800 was awesome fun today in those conditions. We did twin string the whole time downwind but were quick to pin in the kite to slow whenever we were about to spear the bow into a bad set of waves.” The plan for tomorrow? “We wont trying any clever stuff if it is similar conditions. We will stick with the plan of recording safe counters”

After Day 3;

Best injury - Tom Jeffcoate ‘Gill’ after face planting the shroud will be looking for sympathy in the night clubs.

Top Lady – Nicola Groves with Tim Saxton in 9^th after a 4^th in race 4

Top Silver Fleet – Ed Whitehead & Karen Baker in 9^th

Top Master – Spod Olive with Guy Fillmore in 7^th

Duckhams prize for gross under achievement;

D1 - Jamie Stewart for filling his dry kit bag up with water when getting changed in the shower