Results / Inland Championships Grafham Water SC - 05/10/2002
Tradition has it that the Inland Championships, camped at the end of the
season are cold, wet and windy. But nobody was complaining that only one
of these traits was present at the RS Inlands at Grafham this year, and
some were heard to mention that a bit less of that might have been
welcome! With a good force 4 blowing with gusts well into 5, the fleet
of 700s made a spectacular sight as they raced at high speed around the
reservoir. Short courses and all the other RS's put boat handling a
priority, with physical fitness also being tested to the fore.
With 4 races on the Saturday, it was no day for the faint hearted. Newly
crowned National Champ Paul Bayliss had a great day on the water, with
only a quick dip in the third race spoiling a perfect score line.
Consistently on the pace upwind, Bayliss dominated downwind with
aggressive sailing and tactics. Tim Johnson had frequently challenged
Bayliss's lead, but suffered with the wobbles on the downwind corners.
Capsizing is a strength sapping business and a very tired Johnson had a
shocker in the last race of the day to give Bayliss a good overnight
lead. Even the normally conservative Carl Vining had a few swims,
underlining how demanding the conditions had been.
The Sunday had promised to moderate slightly, and dawned with bright
sunshine for the last two races. The fleet were in for a surprise
though... just before launching it became apparent that the wind was
nearly reaching the same strength as yesterday. Bayliss could win
overall with one race in the top 5, and who would have bet against that?
To the sound of spectators drawing of breath, a big capsize round the
leeward mark just yards from the shore temporarily put him down to about
8th place. Johnson had by now raced into a huge lead, but Bayliss,
obviously incensed at the swim, took the fight back to Johnson and
eventually caught and overtook him using the tactic of sailing into the
most vicious gusts downwind and riding them to victory. With the title
decided, it was good to see class newcomer Dave Geal first round the top
mark in the last race. Johnson's experience showed, and he went on to
secure his second place overall, and Carl Vining did more than enough to
secure third. Fourth place went to Hayling's, Dave Smithwhite, who being
smaller than the average proved that you don't have to be big or heavy to
do well in this boat. A special mention must also be made of Paul
Halliwell who only took delivery of his 700 on the day before the event,
and peeled off the wrappers just before the first race. Paul went on to
finish every race, and finished a creditable 12th overall, which given
the conditions was a superb performance.
1 800 PAUL BAYLISS 1 1 2 1
1 DNF 6.00 RORTCHESTER SC
1.00 1.00 2.00 1.00
1.00 22.00
2 762 TIM JOHNSON 7 2 1 6
2 1 12.00 CHEW VALLEY
7.00 2.00 1.00 6.00
2.00 1.00
3 716 CARL VINING 6 3 9 2
4 2 17.00 DWSC
6.00 3.00 9.00 2.00
4.00 2.00
4 824 DAVE SMITHWHITE 5 4 3 7
5 3 20.00 HAYLING ISLANDS
5.00 4.00 3.00 7.00
5.00 3.00
5 823 ANDY IRONS 10 5 7 3
3 9 27.00 BBSC
10.00 5.00 7.00 3.00
3.00 9.00
6 832 DAVE GEAL 4 6 DNF 4
7 7 28.00 EASTBOURNE
4.00 6.00 22.00 4.00
7.00 7.00
7 822 TONY FREER 2 DNF 5 10
10 4 31.00 BOWMOOR
2.00 22.00 5.00 10.00
10.00 4.00
8 755 NEIL McCALLON 9 8 4 5
9 8 34.00 DWSC
9.00 8.00 4.00 5.00
9.00 8.00
9 780 LEIGH AIBRECHT DNF 9 11 8
6 5 39.00 QUEEN MARY
22.00 9.00 11.00 8.00
6.00 5.00
10 753 EDDIE GATEHOUSE RET 7 8 DNF
8 6 51.00 CHICHESTER
22.00 7.00 8.00 22.00
8.00 6.00
11 751 RHYS MAINWARING 12 12 6 DNF
13 13 56.00 KING GEORGE
12.00 12.00 6.00 22.00
13.00 13.00
12 835 PAUL HALLIWELL 14 11 10 11
12 12 56.00 QUEEN MARY SC
14.00 11.00 10.00 11.00
12.00 12.00
13 733 PETER HALLIWELL 16 10 14 9
11 DNF 60.00 QUEEN MARY
16.00 10.00 14.00 9.00
11.00 22.00
14 704 A MACKIE 8 15 13 12
DNF 14 62.00 LOCH LOMOND
8.00 15.00 13.00 12.00
22.00 14.00
15 773 M OSBORNE 15 16 15 DNF
DNF 11 79.00 CAERPHILLY
15.00 16.00 15.00 22.00
22.00 11.00
16 749 ANDRIA HODGESON DNF DNF 12 DNF
14 10 80.00 BALA
22.00 22.00 12.00 22.00
14.00 10.00
17 718 TIM GARVIN 3 14 DNF DNF
DNF DNF 83.00 QUEEN MARY
3.00 14.00 22.00 22.00
22.00 22.00
18 834 DAVE MERCHANT 13 13 DNF DNF
DNF DNF 92.00 HAYLING ISLANDS
13.00 13.00 22.00 22.00
22.00 22.00
19 740 STEVE CLARKE 11 DSQ 16 DNF
DNF DNF 93.00 LLANDEGFEEDD SC
11.00 22.00 16.00 22.00
22.00 22.00
20 777 STEWART SPEED 17 DNF DNF DNF
DNF DNF 105.00 CULSC
17.00 22.00 22.00 22.00
22.00 22.00
21 776 A BEYNON DNF DNF DNF DNF
DNF DNF 110.00 HAYLING ISLANDS
22.00 22.00 22.00 22.00
22.00 22.00