Results / Easter Egg Waldringfield SC - 18/04/2025

RS200s at the Waldringfield Easter Egg Trophy

Friday marked the beginning of the legendary Waldringfield Easter Egg with over 90 boats out on the water! 20+ RS200 boats raced over the course weekend in the EaSEA (it definitely wasn't "easy") Sailing Chandlery sponsored Tour. Would local Steve Videlo and Connor Line defend their title again or would a new victor emerge?

The wind was up and the RS200s were off to a flying start with most of the fleet deciding to tack off immediately after the start to begin the race up the shore trying to stay out the tide. The first beat consisted of lots of snakes and ladders. The front 5 rounding the top mark managed to pull away and extended a big lead from the rest of the fleet. With the tide coming in on the downwind, the legs were over pretty quickly. Soon it was time for another upwind tacking along the shore with Tom Ahlheid and Bee Nee (Frensham Pond) chasing Steve and Connor for the lead. The front two boats had managed to pull away by some margin but it was all to play for in the chasing pack.

The second race was very much similar in the sense of conditions and the same tactic of getting out of the tide by tacking up the shore. There is definitely some local knowledge advantage at Waldringfield as Steve and Connor quickly battled for the lead again with local MJ Gifford and Tim Waller. However, it became shiftier and with the fleet becoming much closer together up the first beat there was lots of chopping and changing with every tack you would end up losing out to one boat but overtake another! An almost identical race to the first one saw many people score a similar result.

The final race of the day and arguably the most important as it means you can get to the pub first saw a change of leaders with National Champion Ben Whaley and Isobel Stewart (Swanage/Waldringfield) taking an early lead which only extended throughout the race. This race had added complexity as there was a lot of yacht traffic and some extremely questionable motorboat driving by some of the river users which always adds to the pressure of flying downwind at 15 knots trying not to split in half a cadet or playing a game of chicken with a yacht. A notable mention to MJ and Tim where they showed their consistency by finishing 2nd as well as Alan Kraling and Linda Woodard right in the mix getting another 3rd. So would Steve and Connor retain their title after two back-to-back bullets for Friday? Finishing off the day in true RS200 fashion the sailors rapidly departed the dinghy park and the race to the bar began.

Saturday dawned with a very relaxed 13:00 start to enjoy the morning sun and a repeat of 3 races back-to-back with the tide flooding in. The wind was a freshening force 3-4 with a busy start under the flood tide encouraging people over. This course kept similar for all three Saturday races was a mixture of a tricky beat down by "the rocks" and a blend of two sail reaches and some exhilarating three sail downwind legs. The returning of the local Videlo's of Ian and Alyson after some gear issues on Saturday saw them quickly lead the pack with fresh legs, only to succumb to some more gear issues at mark 3 leaving them with a very unfortunate event for the fast locals. Hot on their heels were the Taylors - Will and Matt from Lymington with possibly the best set of rags seen on the weekend - showing the fleet it was how you sailed it, and not how new your sails were! They sprinted away with the win with MJ and Tim chasing for all they were worth in 2nd and locals Chris and Nicole Mayhew employing some National 12 two sail experience to squeeze into 3rd.

Race 5 saw a stiffening breeze - the start made even more fun by a yacht swinging on its anchor early on after the start! At the top mark it was busy and positions consistent with MJ and Tim, Ben and Isobel, Tom and Bee and Stephen and Connor all in the mix. The next leg was initially a two-sail reach before anyone was brave enough to employ a kite and bear away. The downwind into the bank was frantic with some close gybing and mark room calls. At one stage I lost sight of the mark in the carnage with people falling in. The action continued with a beat back against the tide, and then another marginal two sail/three sail reach which was ok if you didn't get a massive gust and not manage to make it to the next mark! Next the big bear away and some really exciting reaches gybing in and out of channel - shifts were key, and the decent was rapid. Everyone had their moments but the biggest save to mention was Connor getting them out of a gusty gybe as it all got a bit horizontal - anyone else would have been checking out their swimming skills! Victors in this one were MJ and Tim from Ben and Isobel, chased by Tom and Bee.

Race 6 was more of the same, fast and furious, but shorter - some complained, others were very grateful! The bullet was taken by Ben and Isobel, from Stephen and Conner followed by locals Cameron and Victoria who were a bit too keen on the start in race 5 to record an OCS, but finished on their event high in this one.

Overall, MJ and Tim completed a very consistent series with a discard of 6th in a very competitive fleet. Ben and Isobel chased all the way, improving their local knowledge with every race to finish 2nd and closely followed by Stephen and Conner only a point behind.

Everyone returned to shore for refreshments and for winners to collect their customary Easter Eggs. Thanks to all the travellers, from afar afield as Cardiff Bay and to the race team of James Skellorn and safety crew, assistants and catering team. We hope to see everyone for other events in the future: the RS200 Sprints on 1st June and the Cartoon Trophy on 6th-7th September.

Chris Mayhew and Connor Line

Photos: Alexis Smith