Results / GUL Grand Prix Stokes Bay SC - 24/04/2010

Stokes Bay RS800 GUL Grand Prix Event

24^th / 25^th April

The Venue for round 3 of the Gul Grand Prix was Stokes Bay and the first sea event of the season for the fleet. A decent forecast coaxed 34 boats to the start line in a pleasant 7-12kt south easterly and hazy sunshine with the promise of more on the Sunday.

As the 800’s were sharing the start line with a combined RS700 / Musto Skiff fleet, the 8’s were routed on the outer loop which added a different dimension to the standard course and presented new opportunities for place changing.

After a last minute postponement on start 1 then a general recall on start 2 the fleet got away third time lucky under black flag with the majority aiming for the shore to benefit from the slacker tide. The lead three boats of McGrane/Allen, Jeffries/Ody and Wilson/Broughton took up a decent lead which they maintained in that order to the finish.

Race 2 and the change in the tide caught a few of the teams out with the majority heading inshore again. Those who banged out right into the main tide came out with a decent lead at the top mark with Wilson/Broughton taking line honours. Russ Gibbs and Megan Fileman took the bold call to the gybe early and head back into the stronger adverse tide but bigger breeze and twin strung it back across the line in 2^nd.

With the breeze dying the tide became even more influential by race 3 and the black flag caught out several teams. Those who broke right early benefitted from the lifting tide and Simon Grundy / Guy Whitby rounded in first. By the finish the boys in blue had slipped back to third with Jeffries/Ody taking the bullet and Watson/Clifton in 3^rd.

Sunday dawned grey and still but by the time of the first start the sun had burnt through and breeze kicked in to a fresh 15-17kts to give near perfect conditions. Justin Deal/Emma Johnson sailed a great first beat in race 1 to take the lead with the pack close on their heals across the exciting “two sail reach of death”. By the leeward mark Schooling/Kingsnorth had pulled through with Jeffries/Ody close behind. McGrane/Allen showed devastating pace to work their way through the fleet and take line honours on the last run from Schooling/Kingsnorth with Wilson/Broughton 3^rd.

Deal/Johnson had their spurs sharpened and pulled off a blinding port flyer in race two. The wind was shifting a little more which allowed for some place changes but by the finish Wilson/Broughton had managed to pull out a lead that McGrane /Allen couldn’t overhaul.

The final race saw a big left shift up the first beat that provided Derek and Elaine Buchanan first place round the top mark with Ed Whitehead/Christian Humphries and Jon Bennet/Paul Hargreaves all in the mix. By the finish fleet newcomers and Laser 4000 veterans Hugh Watson and Susanna Bickford narrowly managed to edge the bullet from McGrane/Allen with Bennet/Hargreaves a strong 3^rd.

Overall results saw Nick Charles and Chris Martin take 1^st in the handicap fleet (again Derek?) and Rob Watson & JC 3^rd overall. Second was Stevie Wilson/Kermet the Frog and the usual suspects Ben McGrane and Roz Allen – Selden took the victory. Speaking with Andy Jeffries tonight as he was stitching me up with report (it’s definitely 3^rd) we were agreeing on the calibre of the fleet at present and the fact that any 1 of 15 boats can win a race. It’s a great fleet to be racing in and I look forward to seeing you at Lymington on 8^th/9^th May.

Ben Schooling

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