Results / National Championships Exe SC - 17/09/2010
Day one at the RS500 National Championships and Exe SC couldn’t have produced a better day’s sailing. Beautiful sunshine, clear water and, importantly, a good breeze – albeit coming off the land and creating shifty conditions.
The variable wind meant that no position was guaranteed and there were frequent place changes throughout the fleet. At least five teams led at some point during the two races, but it was recently crowned World Champions Tim Wilkins and Heather Martin who came through to win both despite frequent lead changes.
The event has attracted a good mixture of new faces and seasoned campaigners, but no one has travelled further than Paul and Geraldine Sexton, who took the overnight ferry from Dublin to be here. And already they feel it was well worth the journey having picked up some valuable downwind sailing tips.
First time 500 sailors Charlotte Savage and MJ Gifford made a good showing in their demo boat, racking up a second place in the second race, putting their 200 skills to good use. Phil Highfield and Tamsin Butcher showed excellent downwind speed and after the first day’s racing are sitting in third position.
Close racing and exciting finishes in a beautiful setting…what more could we want? Bring on the weekend.
| Rank | Tally | Sail No | Helm Name | Crew Name | R1 | R2 | Total | Nett |
| 1st | 59 | 625 | Tim Wilkins | Heather Martin | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 2nd | 54 | 891 | Charlotte Savage | MJ Gifford | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 3rd | 57 | 665 | Phillip Highfield | Tamsin Butcher | 3 | 7 | 10 | 10 |
| 4th | 53 | 550 | Hamish Stewart | Steve Hackett | 9 | 3 | 12 | 12 |
| 5th | 56 | 519 | Simon Payne | Hope Halstad | 8 | 4 | 12 | 12 |
| 6th | 50 | 512 | Peter Knowlden | Rupert Knowlden | 7 | 5 | 12 | 12 |
| 7th | 58 | 525 | James Tanner | Lucinda Blain | 5 | 9 | 14 | 14 |
| 8th | 61 | 826 | Michael Clapp | Mark Bond | 6 | 8 | 14 | 14 |
| 9th | 51 | 584 | Andy Palmer-Felgate | Emma Warner | 2 | 13.0 DNF | 15 | 15 |
| 10th | 52 | 668 | Michael Corney | Gareth Danks | 10 | 6 | 16 | 16 |
| 11th | 60 | 824 | Paul Sexton | Geraldine Sexton | 11 | 10 | 21 | 21 |
| 12th | 55 | 620 | Mark Hollings | Carmela Burgis | 12 | 13.0 DNF | 25 | 25 |