Day 2 Nationals Reports

Gul RS National Championships 2002 – Day 2 RS300: More nail-bitingly close racing was had by the RS 300 fleet in a sea breeze which built from a Force 3 to a strong Force 4 during the course of the racing. Once again Steve Cockerill dominated, with a close thought battle all the way down the fleet behind. Race 3 began at the second attempt of a square line. Initially the boats that went left gained with Iain Baillie and Jamie Mawson showing well. But Cockerill and Matt Sargent were working the right hand side and picked up a starboard tack lift to provide close crosses mid beat. From the windward mark Cockerill escaped in front and a close duel developed behind between Sargent, Baillie and Phil Davies, with the latter lightweights gaining downwind and Sargent pulling out upwind. Jamie Mawson and Steve Cook also had their moments working the shifts but were never able to break through. Down the last run it was extremely tight for 2 3 and 4, but Davies and Bailie were just able to slip past Sargent at the leeward mark, and these three finished with not a boat length between them. The wind was up slightly for race 2, and Sargent’s hopes must have been raised as he rounded the windward mark overlapped with Cockerill. These 2 boats were still only a boat length apart at the leeward mark, but Baillie appeared to have attached an elastic to Sargent’s boat and these 2 boats were no more than 2 lengths apart at every mark for the next 3 laps. Cockerill, however was able to draw away from the fight behind. Davies led the chasing group from Cook and Mawson. All through the fleet racing was tight, with close racing down screaming reaches and tricky runs. Barry Steele was having his best racer yet in his new hiking shorts, and smiles were on everyone’s face in the superb conditions. It finished Cockerill, Baillie, Sargent, Davies, to leave the latter 3 tied on eight points in a thrilling battle for second place. More of the same tomorrow please! RS400: A really happy fleet came off the water today after what can only be described as a truly awesome day on the water. Racing started in 12 knots from the west which slowly built under the almost clear blue skies to 15 17 knots for the second race. PRO Frank Newton set excellent courses and the highly competitive 400 fleet revelled in the conditions. In race 3 Roger Gilbert /James Stewart and Craig Burlton/Andrew Bonsey started early out of the gate and were crossing the fleet very quickly. Gilbert and Stewart led at the first mark and blasted off into a huge lead to win by the country mile. Burlton/Bonsey were secure in second with Chris Jennings/Ed Nicklin third. Just as the fleet was getting very depressed about Gilbert/Stewart winning the last 7 races sailed at the RS400 Nationals the dynamic duo proved they were only human by rounding the windward mark 35th in race 4. Simon Potts/Alan Woosey had been the 4th boat through the gate and hit hard left to lead at the first mark, a lead they held to the finish despite the close company of pathfinder Dan Vincent/Adrian Lynham in second and Neil Freeman/Paul Freeman in third. Gilbert/Stewart showed their blistering downwind speed to make a remarkable recovery to 6th. Gilbert and Stewart are sitting pretty at the moment with 3pts but the very consistent teams of Burlton/Bonsey and Geoff Carveth/Mark Greaves are tied in second with 9pts for any slip. RS600: The RS600s sailed 3 races on their 2nd day. Race 3 started in a strengthening breeze, lots of place swapping was going on near the front of the fleet until Anthony ‘Chunky’ York pulled out a considerable lead and held on to win with Brian Greensmith in second and Alex Newton- Southon having a good race in third. Greensmith picked the shifts well in race 4, and combined it with considerable boat speed to pull out a considerable lead and took this race with ease followed by Richard Smith in second and Matt Chapman in third in the windiest race of the day. Race 5 was the most eventful race of the day. Due to a wind shift and dying breeze the start line had become impossible to cross on port tack; carnage ensued with a very predictable general recall. The restart was carnage take two. The race started the next time under a black flag, but had to be shorted very soon, due to falling wind. Ian ‘Jubby’ Jubb was fist to finish at the new finish line, the windward mark, with Andy Rice in second and Chunky in third.