Results / Easter Egg Waldringfield - 09/04/2023

RS200 Sailing Chandlery EaSEA Traveller Round 3 at the Waldringfield Easter Egg

9-10^th April 2023

A record turnout, 28 RS200s descended on Waldringfield Sailing Club to battle it out in the 3^rd round of the EaSEA traveller series.  It was a weekend of contrasts with wall to wall sunshine and light winds on Sunday, then Monsoon conditions and gusts over 30 knots on Bank Holiday Monday.

Race one started in a light Southerly with a long beat against the flood tide making for some fantastic early season tacking practice as the fleet worked the righthand bank.

Antony and Jo Gifford, having travelled all the way from the Royal Tay Yacht Club, made the starboard end of the start line their own and shot into an early lead from local favourites Ian and Alyson Videlo.  These two swapped places a couple of times but it was Antony and Jo who ultimately won through with Alan Krailing and Libbie Bush in 3^rd.

Race two and Antony and Jo were at it again this time port tacking the fleet from the pin end, having held the lead for most of the race they were overhauled late on by the super-fast pairing of Tom Ahlheid and Bee Nee taking the win, and Ian and Alyson coming through for another 2^nd place.

Race three with the breeze building to 10 knots, the Giffords and Videlos were battling it out once again, but this time it was the younger generation leading the way with James and Rory Gifford battling it out with Stephen and Chris Videlo.  Ultimately it was Team Videlo that took the win, with James and Rory in a very strong 2^nd , and Archie Penn and Alex Bell-Jones 3^rd.

Sunday’s weather turned out to be exactly as forecast and there was a distinct lack of enthusiasm for rigging as the rain continued to pour.  This temporary inconvenience ultimately proved more than worth it with most returning grinning ear to ear after some fantastic downwind legs (personally I was less keen on the upwind bit against the strong tide!).

Matt and Will Taylor showed that these were the conditions they had been waiting for - shooting off into an unassailable lead with Videl’s Stephen and Chris, and Ian and Alyson, vying for 2^nd.  In the end youth gave way to experience with Ian and Alyson finishing runners-up.

In the final race of the day it was again Matt and Will at the front early on with Stephen and Chris hot on their heels.  Ultimately it was Stephen and Chris who broke clear to take the win and with it the event.  Tom and Char Stewart showed that the breeze had blown away the early season cobwebs with a strong 3^rd place.

A big thank you to all the volunteers who made the event possible and thanks also to all those making long trips to compete, we hope to see you all again next year!

By Alan Krailing

Prize giving photos thanks to Will Taylor

Sailing photos thanks to Alexis Smith