The crews of 60 RS200s eyed the bitter northerly gusting 35 knots or so with, for the most part, fear and loathing. For the most part. There are always The Others - those who find lion taming so passé, they smear themselves in Bovril for a bit of edge. They were really up for it.

RO decreed the circus would race (lion tamers and clowns) unless the high-wiring be-carboned 600 and 700 fleet overwhelmed the rescue facilities. 44 carbon neutral 200ers took to the water, mostly with Mujahidin-like facewear. (Hides the tears, frozen to your face.)  Race 1 was won by James Peters and Alan Roberts, from Edd Whitehead and Toby Lewis, Tom Morris and Emma Porteous 3rd. They rinsed and repeated in race 2, with Martins Chris and Ian 2nd, Matt Mee and Emma Norriss 3rd.. I am given to understand that even Andy and Jill Peters took a dive in race 1.

I contrived to miss race 1, though Race 2 saw a pretty fearsome squall hit the fleet at the first windward. You could hear the odd shroud plate snap like a garter belt. Couple of masts went, I think. Soon after I made my exit, along with several others. Shipmate and I eyed each other blearily across my upturned hull ... ‘Bar?’. Then the wind died significantly enough for the RO to bin race 3. He quite possibly thought people had suffered plenty.

On Saturday evening there was the Gul series prize giving, at which they gave away over £1000 Gul vouchers  – many thanks to Gul, again.  The 2012 series was won well by Matt Mee and Emma Norris.

Day 2 was a regular force 3-5 westerly. So, quite pleasant marginal planing for much of the day, and most of the 60 entrants. 4 races, a few general recalls, black flags and OCSes. All standard procedure. In at least two of the races was the usual clattering cluster-ruck of port tack boats barging optimistically and belatedly into the starboard lay line - all pretty tight even for us lesser mortals down the fleet. James Peters won race 3, Martins C. and I. won 4 and 6 (Ian Martin is James Peter’s 49er coach... could have been embarrassing if Ian hadn’t managed to beat them in at least one race.) Tom Morris and Emma P won race 5.  So, James Peters and Alan Roberts won the event – results attached. Notable losers were ... well it helps to put your bung in. No names, no pack drill, but it rhymes with 'Be in Thick Lard'. And I was taken out by a boat (luckily) sponsored by a well-known marine insurance company, though it might as well have been Specsavers. The fleet just escaped the incoming weather, when it hailed like Irish confetti.

After the Gold fleet, George Yeoman and Sophie Ormsby (Itchenor) won the Silver fleet, the Bronze by ‘Call Me’ Dave Jessop with Caroline Martin.

Many thanks to Rutland Water Sailing Club for hosting such a great event in such friskily brisk conditions.

The season is now winding down but there are still the final events of all the regional series to come – Wembley Sailing Club this Sunday 4 November (SEAS) – See www.wembleysailingclub.co.uk, then the following weekend the Crewsaver end of Season Championships at Datchet, and the 2ndhanddinghies.com SW Ugly Tour at Starcross.

Julian Bradley