Results / Bexhill Open Bexhill SC - 19/06/2004

Bexhill S.C. hosted an RS200 training session and open meeting as part of the South East Area Series (SEAS) over the weekend 19/20th June. Saturday morning was a sunny millpond with light northerly winds looking likely to be overcome by the building sea breeze. After a shore session discussing tuning and sailing techniques the matter of wave sailing was touched on as an afterthought, fortunately as it turned out. 12 boats took to the water for the training in a light now south westerly. Rapidly building winds meant most practiced capsize recovery at least once but the heavy weather experience was to prove useful for most at the following days open meeting, not least the full power charge at the beach required to get ashore in the post high tide surf. More RS200’s arrived for the Sunday open swelling the weekend attendance to 24 boats, though five did not start due to the conditions. An already building breeze greeted the competitors as they launched for the first race of three back to back. Fortunately a late decision was made to abandon the attempt at a lunch break after two races! After a clean start for race 1 Andrew and Jeraldine Peters were the only boat to tack up the shore out of the adverse tide on the first beat and consequently had a clear lead at the windward mark. Geoff Carveth and Vicky Cooper rounded second and their off wind pace took them into first place by the leeward mark which they held comfortably to the finish. A battle for second developed between the Peters and Chris Pilling and Natasha Philips Adams which the Peters looked to have won until a capsize on the finish line let Piling through to second. Peters recovered to finish 3rd with Sarah Allen and Jo Page 4th. With the wind now a solid force 4 to 5 another clean start for race 2 and again the Peters rounded the windward mark first followed by Piling. Race 1 winner Carveth was nowhere to be seen having been late to the start due to gear troubles. The Peters maintained a clear lead throughout this race with Piling comfortably in second. Carveth pulled off a recovery job to take 3rd on the final leeward mark rounding, Simon Howell and James Rogers finished 4th. With all to play for on the final race any one from Carveth, Peters or Piling could win the meeting. The tide had turned and was now running against the strong wind producing some steep sided waves. Great for screaming downwind legs if a little tricky for the tacks and gybes. Peters and Carveth lead away from the start drag racing each other to the port layline. Carveth was able to hold Peters to leeward and tacked first for the windward mark establishing a narrow lead. The positions remained like this for another round with Carveth a few boat lengths ahead of Peters until an untimely capsize by Carveth whilst gybing let Peters through into a lead. A lead the Peters maintained for the next 2 laps until the finish to win the open meeting. Piling took second again and Sarah Allen and Jo Page finished third. Obviously the training on Saturday helped prepare crews for the strong wind sailing on Sunday with 2 of the top 3 places being filled by boats that attended the training session. The next SEAS open is at Fishers Green on Sunday July 18th and this will also be preceded by training on the Saturday. This is followed by the (ever present) Bough Beech rerun on Saturday 24th, lets hope we get some wind. Andrew Peters