Results / GUL RS Nationals Pwllheli SC - 28/08/2005

Day two of the Gul RS800 Nationals at Pwllheli SC will go down in history as being one of the windiest and waviest days the 800s can expect to sail in. With winds of around 32 knots and short, steep waves of over six feet, conditions were testing to say the least. Launching was tricky, with several boats coming a cropper on the way out due to the gusty winds crossing the shore, and then slamming into the boats as they sailed out of the sheltered bay. Staying upright near the committee boat was testing also, and when the race sequence started off, it was noticeable that all the boats were doing their best to keep clear of everyone else. After a clean start, the majority of the fleet battled upwind on a one- tack beat. The monster waves combined with the strong wind made survival a key issue, and the boats who made the windward mark without retiring deserve commendation just for getting there. The usual suspects led the fleet to the windward mark, with Steve Irish & Martin Gotrel in Magic Marine, Andy Jeffries & Allyson Oddy, Chris Haworth & Stuart Aston, Neil Ashby & Doug Horner, Justin Deal & Sarah Marriot and Matt Adams & Jaemi Gebhard in the top pack. Steve & Martin impressed the opposition with a spectacular pitchpole just after their first gybe, and the lead changed hands several times during the entire race. Chris Haworth allegedly didn�t capsize and scored his first win of the regatta. Second place went to Neil Ashby, and third to the recovered Irish/Gotrel pairing. Matt Adams & Jaemi Gebhard notably did not hoist their spinnaker for the entire race, and this conservative strategy paid off, as they finished in fifth. Other notable finishers were Adrian Coatsworth & Julia Jenkins, who came ninth and are now lying in fourth overall. Adrian puts their success in the windy stuff down to the bulk of their weight being firmly at the back of the boat, allowing the petite Julia to dash around and do her stuff without any danger of pitchpoling them. Kate Gillow, sailing with a guest male crew instead of her usual all-girl team, appreciated the extra weight and did amazingly well to finish the race in good order with no breakage to boat or people. The 800 is a beast of a boat in a breeze, so Kate�s result is brilliant. Apparently the new aft mainsheet arrangement, which reduces mainsheet loads, is a great help. James Ross & Heather Back were one of the few to stay upright throughout the entire race � Heather kept the spinnaker pinned in almost to the block at all times, which seemed to pay off, although she was too busy to wipe James�s face clean and had to do so after the race to great amusement in the dinghy park. After race one, Rob Wainwright�s committee sensibly decided that enough was enough and canned racing for the day. A wise move, with five broken masts, countless sails with people shaped holes but thankfully no broken people. (didn�t fly kite, ended up 5th, playing it really safe) Babs Emmans