Report - Youth Championships, Bowmoor SC, 13&14 Oct 01

The first RS Class Association RS200 Youth National Championships at Bowmoor SC on Oct 13/14 proved a huge success despite the very light winds on the Saturday. Bowmoor SC proved the natural home for the event as the club has a fine record of supporting youth sailing and own three club RS200's for use by youth members of the club. Free camping around the shore of the club also allowed the majority of competitors to stay on site 21 200s entered, all with helm and crew 19 and under, being drawn from 14 different clubs with long distance travellers arriving from Ripon and Deal in East Kent. Saturday may have been a glorious October day, with many people rapidly searching for their shorts, but produced almost zero wind. Race Officer Phil King did manage to set a course and the first race did start in very light airs after 30 minutes postponement. Phil Bishop/Tom Gillard then introduced themselves to the fleet at their first RS200 event by winning a shortened race. With sunshine and a mirror like lake the fleet went ashore for some coaching from Steve Dunn, Ian Pickard and Pete Vincent followed by no rules propulsion team races. Expectations were not high for another race but Phil King quickly set a course when a gentle force 1-1.5 filled in over the lake. Paul Dorer/Camille Parsons from Bowmoor had a useful lead at the first mark but went too low down the first reach and were swamped by boats behind. Ryan and Justin Visser took the lead but as the wind faded boats struggled to keep the kites filling. Again Bishop/Gillard showed real skill and feel to keep their boat moving and went into a lead they held to the finish. No more racing was possible as the lake remained totally still for the rest of the day. Bishop/Gillard were sitting pretty with two firsts. Matthew and Laura Chapman had held their nerve well on difficult finishs legs to claim two second places, whilst Oliver Vidal/Helen Rollinson were a more distant third with nine points. The fleet them proved that they will be fine additions to the RS racing scene by causing the club to rush out three times in the evening for more stock for the bar!! Sunday dawned in a very unpromising manner with dank conditions and no wind but plenty of chat about the previous evenings events. Fortunately a gentle easterly breeze filled in and Race Officer Richard Stanley was able to start race 3 only 15 minutes late on a triangular course. Oliver Vidal got the second beat exactly right to pull through into the lead which he extended to the finish as the breeze built to a force 2. Matthew Winter/Sophie Hartley scored a good second with the Visser's third and Alex Good/Nikki Smith fourth. Race 4 was held in the best wind of the event building to a force 3 at times. Some of the younger crews were now fully hiking. Vidal and Rollinson obviously liked the conditions and built a huge lead on a windward/leeward course. On a long race they lost concentration and Cameron Hunter/Andrew Robertson (Bowmoor), at last showing their true form, rapidly closed getting within two boat lengths. Vidal closed the door though by very carefully covering on the last lap. With one race left Vidal/Rolinson held the advantage with a 1.1.3.6 scoreline but Bishop/Gillard were only a point behind with 1.1.4.6 score. After a general recall Karen Falcon/Dan Ward (Bristol CYC) flew off the leeward end of the line to hold a good lead at the first mark. Vidal was not far behind in third with Bishop in fifth. Vidal was through to the lead on the second run and pulled away. Bishop could not break through the chasing pack and Vidal went on to score a comfortable win with Winter/Hartley rounding off a fine day in second, Good/Smith third and Bishop/Gillard fourth. The many "expert" spectators on the shore were highly impressed with the high standard of boat handling and rules observance shown by the whole fleet. RS Association Chairman Tony Freer then presented the prizes to the winner. Matthew Bartle/Will Fisher from Ripon were the youngest helm and crew, both aged 12 and Christina King, with Ian Robertson crewing, from Bowmoor was first lady helm. Vidal/Rollinson were deserved winners of the first RS200 Youth Nationals, Oliver rightly thanked the club for hosting such a good event and of course thanked Tony for teaching him so well when he used to crew for Tony. Overall 1. Oliver Vidal/Helen Rollinson Bowmoor SC 6pts 2. Phil Bishop/Tom Gillard Sheffield Viking 10 pts 3. Matthew Winter/Sophie Hartley Beaver 10pts 4. Matthew Chapman/Laura Chapman Chew Valley LSC 17pts 5. Ryan Visser/Justin Visser Oxford SC 19pts 6. Alex Good/Nikki Smith Ripon SC 23pts 7. Charles Roome/Ed Parsons Hayling ISC 25pts 8 Christina King/Ian Robertson Bowmoor SC 33pts 9. Christian Burrell/Andy McGovern Winsford Flash SC 34pts 10. Shona Brooks/Martha Thompson Bowmoor SC 35pts