Results / GUL RS800 National Championship WPNSA - 27/08/2006

And they say Sunday is to be lightest day of the week�. The first of six days of racing kicked off atWeymouth & Portland Sailing Academy with a bang for the GUL RS800 National Championship�. A solid 18 knots of breeze and beautiful sunshine! The 56 strong fleet set off without a hitch on the first race of the day working the boats through the gusts and chop. By the top mark fleet newcomers Ian Martin and Ben McGrane (ROOSTER sailing) fresh from the 49er scene rounded in first place and showed the rest of the fleet how to do it down the run. Close behind Spod and Jane Olive (sola harken) worked their boat impressively while defending champions Steve Irish & Martin Gotrel (Magic Marine) rounded in third place and set about finding their way around the 800 again after almost a season�s break! By the finish line the top three positions remained: Martin and McGrane took the first bullet of the championship, Olive and Olive bagged a convincing second while Irish and Gotrel picked up a third. Race 2 and the breeze began to freshen�. Another solid start from Olive & Olive (Sola Harken) saw them round the top mark with a healthy lead in hand. Martin and McGrane flew round in second place but come the bottom of the course a spectator boat put an end to their glory causing a cheeky capsize and widening Olive & Olive�s buffer on the fleet. While the majority of the fleet put in some great capsize and recovery practice Irish and Gotrel (Magic Marine) were finding their race winning form� and by the end of lap three they pulled through Olive & Olive to take victory. Olive & Olive forced to settle for second while James Ross and Heather Back pipped Andy Jeffries and Ally Ody to take third place. Three races forecast for tomorrow and even more breeze�. Bring it on!!! Sarah Marriott RS800 1054