RS Games - Runners and Riders - RS600 fleet

Photo: Heather Davies, fotoboat

The AW Accounting RS600 National Championships will be contested in a series of 12 races, taking place between 23-26^th August at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. The event forms part of the RS Games, a unique multi-class championship extravaganza, which promises to be one of this summer’s biggest and most exciting dinghy racing events.

This will be one of the last RS Games events to get underway, but with the action promising to be fast and furious this fleet is one to watch, as 23 boats fight it out on the Olympic waters off Weymouth. Together with the RS400, the RS600 is the longest standing of the RS classes, and this pedigree single-handed trapeze boat with bullet-proof hull has a devoted following of hardcore sailors from around the UK.

The AW Accounting RS600 National Championships will be the 18^th Nationals held for this class, and all sensible money is on reigning National Champion, Jamie Mawson (Pennine and Ulley SC). Jamie has been on good form this year recording three circuit wins on the GUL Grand Prix.

But he will face plenty of competition for the 2011 National title. Pete Nelson (Northampton) has shown good form in the last 12 months, notching up a 2nd at the 2010 Inland Championships and two wins and two 2nds on this year’s GUL Grand Prix circuit. 

The only Gul Grand Prix this year that these two didn’t win was taken by Chris Tillbrook, who has shown himself to be a very capable contender. Andy Hessig (Lymington) returns in 2011 having skipped the 2010 UK season. Andy is bound to be a real force as his 3rd at the previous Nationals and 2nd place at the 2010 Eurocup in Garda, Italy, showed.

The wild card could be Giles Chipperfield (Lymington); whilst his 2nd at the 2010 Nationals came from a bit left field for many, Giles, aka Bob the Builder, could surprise many and move up a place.