Results / "The RS200 Cornish Nationals" Restronguet SC - 24/06/2023
John Teague and Liz Mainwaring crowned 'Cornish National Champions'!
But they're not from Cornwall, so maybe it should be Henry Hallam and Ashley Hill?!
West Country Boat Repairs South West Ugly Tour
With warm water lapping against the sheltered shores of the launching area, visiting RS200s were unsure if they’d arrived in Cornwall or the Caribbean. After an RS200 standard greeting of bacon baps whilst setting up boats, the fleet gathered for a friendly brief from the race officer John Calvert, eager to get boats racing in the champagne conditions. The Carrick Roads were a spectacle to behold, with a constant 8-10 knots across the course and some sharper gusts leading to marginal planing on the downwind.
As befitted National Armed Services Day, the racing started with military precision on timing, with Henry Hallam and Ashley Hill leading the charge to the windward mark sneaking in front of other local pair Kyle Brown and Madeline Strugnell just before rounding, and using their local’s knowledge of the tide to hold the lead to the finish.
With an increasing wind and a surprising left shift at go, Ralph Singleton and Hannah Lennox were quick out of the blocks and led the drag race to the first mark of race two. Swift action by the race team saw the course realigned for the next lap, which, after a lot of jostling in the pack with some boats choosing to plane and others choosing to soak, led to a mighty tacking battle on the now periodically shifting wind up the beat. Hallam and Hill had taken the lead by now, however, John Teague and Liz Mainwaring were hot on their heels, waiting to pounce at any second! Not taking their eyes off the ball, Teague and Mainwaring spied a huge gust forming to windward, and Teague pushed the stick hard. Now up and planing, they sped past to take the lead into the finish.
Again, the third start began with a sharp left shift, giving advantage to all those boats who’d positioned themselves with the ability to tack out early. New to the boat, Bryony and Francesco Spiezia were quick to lead at the windward mark, closely followed by Rose Hallam and Sam Hollingsworth, and Freya Brown and Scarlett Sheperd hot on their heels. As tensions built on the downwind with boats neck and neck, the skies were split apart with the roar of jet engines as the Red Arrows flew over head, turning on their red, white and blue streamers. Now, unsure where to look, helms ensured their crew’s gaze was fixed firmly on the spinnaker, and then, unbeknownst to their crews, settled down onto the bench to enjoy the display! Restronguet SC had certainly blown the budget for this event. Once the Red Arrows decided enough was enough, other air displays began: helicopter acrobatics, parachutists and other Eurofighter stunts. With upwind tactics now decided by which tack would give the best view of the show, Teague and Mainwaring, and Cliff and Beck Milliner made their moves, clawing their way to first and second place. On the following run, Hallam and Hill snuck through to second place, following Teague and Mainwaring to the finish.
The final race saw a dropping wind with holes beginning to form over the course. Jostling ensued, no place was secure for long with sailors awaiting God’s next decision regarding where to throw out the next gust. From deep within the pack, we saw an almighty comeback from Hallam and Hollingsworth storming through the fleet to finish in fourth place.
After a hot day’s racing, the fleet returned to shore to be greeted by cream teas (jam first, of course), with extra helpings of clotted cream (with thanks to Rodda’s, one of the event sponsors).
Sunday delivered more wind. Again, the first race started punctually, with the fleet pressing on upwind through leg-aching squalls. Several boats took the opportunity to test the water temperature, but, deciding it was still too cold to stop for a swim, continued racing swiftly. Initially, the racecourse was booby-trapped with numerous large holes. Local pairing Milly Tregaskes and Taryn Banks used their light weight to their advantage and selected a high mode to pick a storming path through holes on the downwinds. New to the RS 200, the Spiezias had found their angles by now, and enjoyed a baptism by fire into windy RS200 racing. David Sweet and Anna Mason were on fire, never missing a shift and making life difficult for all sailors in the front pack! The day’s racing culminated in an epic downwind battle between Hallam and Hill, and Teague and Mainwaring in which Teague and Mainwaring used a passing ferry as leverage to get out to the windy side of the course. A nail-biting drag race ensued in which Teague and Mainwaring got the better of Hallam and Hill to take the final race win. But perhaps even more impressive was the race for fourth and fifth places. Like a ballistic missile, the Milliners caught a huge gust, with barely any hull in the water, and with the look of sheer terror on their faces a vapour trail could be seen as they screamed down the starboard side of the course. And from the port side came Sweet and Mason with smoke coming off their RS200 as it ‘burned up’ on approach to the gate. The Milliners slammed the boat into a gybe just inches off the bow of Sweet and Mason in an incredibly high-pressure manoeuvre. But the pressure was no problem for the Milliners as they raced through the line just ahead of Mason and Sweet.
The winners of the event (and RS200 Cornish National Champions) were John Teague and Liz Mainwaring, with Henry Hallam and Ashley Hill taking second place, and Cliff and Beck Milliner taking third. First under 18s were Milly Tregaskes and Taryn Banks. Special mention was made to Max Phypers and Emma Sellwood, who showed promise in their first RS200 event.
The next installment of the West Country Boat Repairs South West Ugly Tour will be in Exe in September and all is still to play for with three events still to come. We look forward to seeing you there.
Report by Henry Hallam
Day 1 to follow!