Results / Crewsaver European Championships YC Carnac, Brittany - 30/05/2013

RS700 European Championships – Carnac 2013

'Heureux qui, comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage' -  Joachim du Bellay 1558 

'Heureux qui, comme Galles, a gagné avec huit points' -  Jacques Griffiths 2013 

The Crewsaver RS700 National Championships were held at the YC de Carnac in southern Brittany as part of the annual RS Eurocup attended by 110 boats from six RS classes. We were delighted to have 22 entries from four countries in the 700 fleet all enjoying the mixed sailing conditions and fantastic atmosphere we’ve come to expect at Carnac. If you ever get a chance, you must come to the beautiful Baie de Quiberon which must rank as one of the best dinghy sailing venues in the world.

We got off to a brisk start on the Thursday with a gusty northerly F6 which, if anything, built as the afternoon wore on. Tony O’Gorman, the excellent PRO, was looking after the fast fleets and he took us out some 5km southeast to try to get clear of the worst of the shifts. The racing conditions challenged the best of us and beating home was an ordeal for the rest of us!

This was Jerry Wales’ regatta. He threw down his marker in the first race with a flying start in company with Alex Newton-Southon, Ian Nolan and Cedric Frabroulet and was first to the top mark holding on convincingly for his first of what was to be eight wins. Heavy weather specialist Alex pressed hard, briefly hitting 18kt downwind but had to be content with second. Simon Letten, who raced very well for the whole event, took third and the tight race for fourth was won by Steady Eddie Gatehouse. Cedric won the second start but was quickly overhauled upwind by Ian in the now near survival conditions. Jerry, Cedric and Ian Swann saw a shift, tacked off early and were first at the mark albeit caught by the rampaging Nolan. The beam reach to the outer loop weather mark proved almost impossible for most and actually impossible for some – 8 boats failed to finish this race. Even Jerry had a hiccup at the first gybe allowing Ian the lead which he wasn’t going to give up, beating Cedric by 50m to the line.

Jerry Wales won the next six races in a row in the face of some very decent competition. This has to be regarded as a serious master class in skiff sailing in conditions that were never less than awkward. (He modestly excused a couple of his wins as the result of “comedy sailing” on the part of the competition. I am consoled that I was so far back that he couldn’t see any of my stand-up routines).

I have changed the format of speed recording for this year; the 1sec maximum speed seemed too prone to “spikes”. I’ve chosen the maximum average speed over 10sec for the sprint and stuck with the 100m average “blue riband”! Fastest at both was Alex Newton-Southon on Thursday at 17.3/16.53kt respectively. Graham Blake posted 10sec at 16.4kt on Friday and Cedric Frabroulet 14.57 on Saturday. Full speed results are in the ss.xls file on the website along, of course, with full GPS tracks. (PS – please browse to www.hamishgriffiths.com/carnac13 - I’ve had a website nightmare).

On Friday the Atlantic was altogether more pacific and we enjoyed some easier sailing, albeit still in that shifty northerly. The usual suspects continued to lead the charge joined by Dave Smithwhite and Jocelyn Kerbiguet. From now on it was going to a race for the places and by the end of the day it was looking like anybody’s game between Letten, Swann and Frabroulet.

Saturday was a beautiful day of F3/4, still shifty, northerlies. As ever, there were some long waits between races as Mr O’Gorman did his best to make sure the course remained fair. Cedric might have won the first of the day but, with three laps for the first time, Jerry and Simon Letten had time to hunt him down; Dave Smithwhite hard on their heels for a nice 4^th. Ian Swann led the seventh for two laps until, trying to prevent a capsize at the last windward mark, he ended up bodysurfing  hanging on behind the rack; nice. Sergio Gonzalez, who sailed very consistently for overall seventh place, had 3^rd. In the last of the day, a big gang led by James Bayliss and Ian Nolan made up the left of the course while Jerry tacked early. Was this to be their big chance? No. Nolan and Letten squeaked round the WM ahead of Jerry but once he’s got his sailing trousers on, he keeps them on and he ground away to take the win in the two lapper. Bayliss was in a strong third place at the last WM but had trouble getting his spinnaker set; still a solid 6^th.

One more day to go; Jerry Wales repeats his success of 2011 as Crewsaver 2013 RS700 European Champion and the next 6 places are all to play for.

Hamish Griffiths

Day 4

On Friday the Atlantic was altogether more pacific and we enjoyed some easier sailing, albeit still in that shifty northerly. The usual suspects continued to lead the charge joined by Dave Smithwhite and Jocelyn Kerbiguet. From now on it was going to a race for the places and by the end of the day it was looking like anybody’s game between Letten, Swann and Frabroulet.

Saturday was a beautiful day of F3/4, still shifty, northerlies. As ever, there were some long waits between races as Mr O’Gorman did his best to make sure the course remained fair. Cedric might have won the first of the day but, with three laps for the first time, Jerry and Simon Letten had time to hunt him down; Dave Smithwhite hard on their heels for a nice 4^th. Ian Swann led the seventh for two laps until, trying to prevent a capsize at the last windward mark, he ended up bodysurfing  hanging on behind the rack; nice. Sergio Gonzalez, who sailed very consistently for overall seventh place, had 3^rd. In the last of the day, a big gang led by James Bayliss and Ian Nolan made up the left of the course while Jerry tacked early. Was this to be their big chance? No. Nolan and Letten squeaked round the WM ahead of Jerry but once he’s got his sailing trousers on, he keeps them on and he ground away to take the win in the two lapper. Bayliss was in a strong third place at the last WM but had trouble getting his spinnaker set; still a solid 6^th.

The final day was academic for Jerry who had won the event  the previous afternoon.  Simon Letten had sailed consistently all week and looked safe in second barring a disaster.  However the race for 3^rd was a close as you’d like.  Ian Nolan held the place overnight on equal points with Cedric but with Ian Swann just single point behind.  And it was to be Mr Swann’s day with a race victory and a 4^th leapfrogging him up the table.  Cedric posted two seconds to take fourth ahead of David Smithwight whose two second places in his new boat pushed him up into 5^th.

I think it is fair to say everyone enjoyed what was a fabulous event, with great sailing helped by some seriously good race management, a great atmosphere helped by sunshine and a fantastic locale.  Many thanks to our sponsors Crewsaver, the club, the municipality and to the RS Association for making it all possible.

So, when can we come back?

Ian Nolan

p.s. Next event on the UK circuit is at Hayling Island on the 29^th June and the next European event is at Aquavitesse in Holland on the 14^th September.

FINAL RESULTS BELOW.