RS200 South West Winter Travellers Series 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The South West RS200 sailors showed just how keen they are by enthusiastically taking part in the Winter Travellers series. A total of 26 boats competed at the four events, held at Burghfield SC, Cotswold SC, Chew Valley Lake SC and Bristol Corinthian YC. The idea behind the series is to give RS200 sailors, who are keen to get racing practice in over the winter months, a chance to do just that. By meeting up at each other’s clubs, and joining in club racing, we get bigger turnouts, whilst keeping the organisation requirements to a minimum. Providing a fleet start for 200s in the normal club racing takes advantage of the race management already in place, but provides the opportunity for some great fleet racing practice. Ten boats turned up to the first event at Burghfield SC in January, with several new helm/crew combinations there to get some early-season practice in. After some close start line action, local Jon Lewis in his brand new boat, and with new crew Katy Nicol, kept the boat dent-free by taking a clear lead. Another new pairing taking advantage of the race practice, Trudie Danbury and Karen Baker, took 2nd, with the next 3 boats finishing within 20 seconds of each other. The afternoon race provided some exceedingly close racing, with Danbury/Baker taking the lead from Lewis/Nicol on the final beat to win. Valentine’s weekend saw most UK sailing clubs cancelling sailing due to gales. However, the race officer at Chew Valley Lake SC was happy to run racing for those brave enough to take to the water. Only one boat, Ian Mairs and Tally Watson, finished the first race, out of 6 starters. The 2nd race saw an increase in survival rates, with four boats finishing – Mike Dencher/Anna Harding took 1st place, followed by Dave Sweet, and Tim Greenwood/Amy Linguard in 3rd. The Cotswold SC event turned out to be a battle ground for Bowmoor brothers with Paul “Wizza” Dorer crewed by Ian Robertson taking the lead in the fist two races from Ian’s brother Andy Robertson crewed by Christina King. Andy/Christina managed to take the lead from Wizza/Ian in the last of the three races. An impressive 13 RS200s turned up at Bristol Corinthian YC for the last in the series. After a tricky start, there was plenty of place changing in the tricky, light conditions. Danbury/Baker almost lost their lead on a dodgy tack, but finished in first, just ahead of Mark Littlejohn with new crew Natalie Campbell. After spending the first race rethreading their main halyard Lewis/Nicol took first place in the dying breeze in the 2nd race, from Littlejohn/Campbell. Mike Dencher completed a consistent series finishing in 3rd. With top 3 results at 3 of the 4 venues, Mike Dencher and Anna Harding are worthy winners of the 2005 South West Winter Travellers series. Tim Greenwood, crewed by Amy Linguard or father Chris Greenwood, in their new RS200 put in just enough to take a good 2nd place overall from Danbury/Baker. A big thank you to each of the host clubs, and to Christian Humphries for organising the series. Look forward to more of the same next winter! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preliminary Results Sailed: 9 Discards: 4
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
