Results / Open Burghfield SC - 12/10/2013

Burghfield Invitational 2013

It's always sunny at Burghfield apparently. And somehow, despite a horrid looking forecast, this Saturday the sun shone and 33 RS200s got to enjoy four close races without even a spot of rain.

For the first time in the world the Rs200s trialled using a windward gate instead of the usual windward mark with spreader. This gave the fleet yet another tactical decision to make, on top of the usual and led to even closer racing

The race officer, Rob Martin, sensibly canned the first start due to an impending port end pile up.   Race 1 then got swiftly got underway in a nice force 2-3 and bright sunshine.   Ian Martin/Ellie Martin and Chris Catt/Ally Martin worked the shifts to get to the windward marks first, chased hard by Maria Stanley/Jon Pinner and, fast as greased lightning, James Williams/Sarah Tuppen.  All four boats managed pull some distance from the pack and enjoyed some clean air.   Chris and Ally got their noses in front by splitting on the second beat and held to take the win.    Caroline Martin/Jan Martin and Phil White/Lucy Preston led the pack home.

In Race 2, with the wind slightly further left the fleet had to decide which side of the island to go on the beat.  It looked as if Andy and Gill Peters on the right had called it perfectly, until at the 11th hour the wind flicked back and the boats on the left snuck in, with Chris/Ally and Ian/Ellie rounding ahead.  This time Ian and Ellie took the win after gybe-setting and splitting from Chris/Ally at the windward marks. Maria/Pinner took third and Andy/Gill fourth.  A close battle behind saw Chris and Katharine Martin sneaking past Phil and Lucy on the final mark.

The wind, as forecast, dropped slightly for race 3.  Steve and Katie Restall won the start, leaving the rest of the fleet looking like they were standing still, but they were pipped to the windward mark by  Phil and Lucy.  Ian and Ellie pulled through on the run and it looked as if they were home and dry.   But, as the wind dropped lighter Katharine Martin/Chris Martin and Caroline Martin/Jan Martin turned on the speed and sailed past the entire fleet.  On the final run Ian/Ellie caught back up to Katharine/Chris but Steve/Katie came storming down on a gust so that all three boats converged on the line for a photo finish (Katharine/Chris got it).

Reigning SEAS champions Andy and Gill, led race 4, chased by James/Sarah and Chris/Ally.  The rest of the fleet struggled with a sizeable hole on the run, letting the leaders sail off into the distance.  Chris/Ally sniggled past Andy/Gill on the second beat to take the win and the event.

The Burghfield 200 fleet had been baking all week, so after sailing the sailors enjoyed tea and a lot of cake.   Chris and Ally won the big bottle of rum and the prestigious handcrafted oak trophy, James and Sarah won the silver fleet (and some Crabbies) and Peter and Oscar Watts in their first 200 open won bronze fleet.  

Thanks to everyone at Burghfield for a very enjoyable event.  The next and final SEAS event of the year is at  on 27 October at Wembley SC.  See you there for the series prize giving.