Results / Inland Championship GWSC - 02/10/2010

The RS500 fleet arrived at Grafham to be greeted with a light and shifty breeze.   Phillip Highfield and Tamsin Butcher made the most of a good start and first beat to win races 1 and 2 closely followed by Peter and Jamie Curtis.  Further down the fleet the large shifts were causing a large amount of place changing Alan and Linda Fraser working the shifts well to take 3^rd in Race 1 and David Houghton and John Symonds 3^rd in Race 2. 

A swing in the wind before the start allowed Phillip and Tamsin to port tack the fleet to lead at the first mark with a group of boats just behind.  Peter and Jamie showed great speed in the dying breeze to pass on the 2^nd upwind and take the win.   Felicity Slater and Molly Brown where travelling very fast downwind to finish 3^rd pushing Phil and Tamsin hard to the finish.

The discussion in the bar that evening was whether we would sail at all on Sunday with forecasts of 2-3 mph for Sunday.  Luckily the wind ignored the forecast and the fleet woke on Sunday to a strong Force 4.

Phillip and Tamsin led from the start to win the race 4.  Behind them a close battle was being fought between Peter and Jamie and Hamish Stewart and Stephen Hackett trading places every leg till a broken centreboard forced Hamish and Stephen to retire.  Peter and Jamie taking the second.  David and John finishing a comfortable 3^rd.

 With the wind building Phillip and Tamsin continued there good form to take another win to wrap up the Championship.  David and John clearly enjoying the conditions finishing 2^nd.  Tim Hulley and Ray Mason finishing third.  Peter and Jamie Claimed 4^th to secure 2^nd overall.

With the top 2 positions decided the last race was all about 3^rd with David and John and Tim and Ray level on points going into the last race.

Phil and Tamsin again led the fleet with a tight fought battle developing behind them between the 2 boats battling for 3^rd.  With just the last reach to the finish to go David and John followed Phil and Tamsin round for a 4^th lap, both not realising the race officer had set 3 laps instead of the 4 laps in the previous race.  This allowed Tim and Ray to take the race win and 3^rd Overall by 1 point.  David and John recovered to take 2^nd and finish 4^th Overall.

A mention must go to Felicity Slater and Molly Brown who fought on despite multiple capsizes to finish every race on Sunday and take 5^th Overall

Thanks must go to everyone at Grafham for an excellent weekend.