Results / Bloody Mary Pursuit Race Queen Mary SC - 07/01/2012
Twenty eight RS800's braved a not very promising weather forecast to race
at Datchet Water Sailing on 16/17 April. The forecast proved true, with
light and shifty airs for the first race on Saturday, and winds dropping
as low as 0.5kn at points. Despite the lack of wind, it proved an
exciting race, with a multiple pile-up involving the majority of the
fleet trying to get over the start line. RS800's do not usually tack on
the shifts, but it was necessary in this race, and those with the best
boat handling managed to work their way to the front and miss the flat
calm that descended on the second half of the fleet on the final lap.
Steve Irish and Martin Gotrel finished first, followed by Justin Deal and
Sarah Marriot, with Ian Martin and Ben McGrane in third, and Ben
Schooling and George Puss in fourth, their best result of the weekend.
The race officer wisely abandoned sailing for the remainder of the day.
Sunday dawned sunny and totally windless, but by midday it had filled in,
the lighter crews were (almost!) twin wiring and the race officer did a
great job of fitting in three races and one general recall. Race 1 was
won again by Gotrel/Irish, with Martin/McGrane in second and Alan and
Jane Olive in third. The wind increased to twin wiring for Race 2, with
Irish and Martin repeating their scores, with Deal/Marriot in third and
Tim Boon and Rich Evans had their best race of the day to come fourth. A
special mention must go to the Olives - at the first windward mark they
were third last and managed to fight their way back to a very creditable
seventh place. Irish and Martin again held first and second in Race 3,
with Neil Ashby and Roz Allen scoring a third, and Andrew Smith and
Ashley Davison in fourth. Although Steve Irish discarded a 1st place, he
was heard to say afterwards that it was very close and exciting racing at
the front of the fleet.
1. Steve Irish & Martin Gotrel in Magic Marine, Draycote SC
2. Ian Martin & Ben McGrane, Datchet Water SC
3. Justin Deal & Sarah Marriot, Frensham Pond SC
4. Alan & Jane Olive in Sola Harken, Stokes Bay SC
5. Neil Ashby & Roz Allen, Wilsonian SC
6. Peter Barton & Susanna Bickford in Skifftastic.co.uk, Royal Lymington
SC
7. Andrew Smith & Ashley Davidson, Stokes Bay SC
8. Ian Martin & Heather Back in Sail 4 Cancer, Bough Beech SC
9. Tim Boon, Rich Evans, Felixtowe Ferry SC
10. Laurie Fitzjohn-Sykes & Sandy Douglas, Dittisham SC