Lennon Racewear RS200 & RS Feva Winter Championship at the WPNSA

The Lennon Racewear RS200 and RS Feva Winter Championships at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy was a first combined event of the classes for a few years. A huge spread of ability from the younger newbie Feva sailors all the way to British Olympic sailing team members in the RS200 fleet, all competing for the Winter Championship titles.

Saturday was a blustery and progressively cold day for all. The RS200 fleet started proceedings and after 1 general forcing the U flag to be deployed, it was Ben Saxton and Izzy Hamilton from Royal Thames YC who took the win. Ben Palmer and Amy Seabright from Parkstone YC in 2nd and Ed Whitehead and Georgie Vickers from Hayling Island Sailing Club in 3rd. Andy Shaw and Pippa Horne being the only ones to be caught by the U Flag.

The RS Feva fleet saw Dylan McPherson and Dylan Collingbourne from Burnham SC put their mark firmly on the fleet with a first, second was Tom Storey and Oliver Kent from Yorkshire Dales SC and third Harrison and Fergus Pye from Draycote Sailing Club.

Race 2 in the RS200s and this time Ed Whitehead and Georgie Vickers took the win, Ben Saxton and Izzy Hamilton 2nd and Ben Palmer and Amy Seabright in 3rd.

This time it was the RS Feva fleet being a little premature forcing a general recall and that U flag appearing again! Tom Storey and Oliver Kent take the win. The 2 Dylan's from Burnham came in 2nd with the Pye brothers banking anther 3rd.

Race 3 and all now really feeling the cold. Both fleets behaving at the start. It was Ben Saxton and Izzy Hamilton who finished the day with a first placing them at the top of the leader board, Ed Whitehead and Georgie Vickers in 2nd and Andy Shaw and Pippa Horn making up for their U flag disqualification finishing the day in 3rd.

The Fevas saw Pierce Harris and Alfie Cogger from Windermere School finish on a high after they too suffered the U flag disqualification in race 2 with a race win, 2nd brothers Alexander and Bertie Ratsey from Royal Western YC and 3rd Dylan McPherson and Dylan Collingbourne.

Sundays forecast 14-20 knots and not as cold. RS200s had a clean start and it was Ben Saxton and Izzy Hamilton leading the fleet over the finish line. Andy Shaw and Pippa Horn from Itchenor SC came in 2nd and Ian and Chloe Martin in 3rd.

The Fevas race three and the 2 Dylan's add another 1st to their score line, Pierce Harris and Alfie Cogger take 2nd and William Caiger and Caitlin Morley from Sevenoaks School and Burnham SC in 3rd.

RS200 and it was a new winner with Andy Shaw and Pippa Horn taking the win, Ben Saxton and Izzy Hamilton in 2nd place and Ben Palmer and Amy Seabright in 3rd.

The final race of the day and both fleets a little too eager to get the day done! General recalls and that U flag came out for its final airing! RS 200 and Ben Saxton and Izzy Hamilton added another 1st to their score line to take the RS200 Winter Championships title, Andy Shaw and Pippa Horn came in 2nd and Ed Whitehead and Karen Baker came in 3rd.

Rather appropriate for the weekend we saw Lennon Racewear Youth Ambassadors Alexander and Bertie Ratsey take the final race win, Anne Marie Ratnage and Alice Parker from Sevenoaks School in 2nd and the Pye Brothers in 3rd.

Congratulations to Dylan McPherson and Dylan Collingbourne who took the RS Feva Winter Championships title and Ben Saxton and Izzy Hamilton who take the first RS200 Winter Championships title.

Lennon Racewear as title sponsors very generously provided vouchers for the top 6 RS Feva teams and top 3 RS200 teams as well as some bibs for various prize categories. Lennon Racewear also provided sailors with test kit to try before you buy and the kit seems to be sitting firmly at the top of the Christmas list now with positive feedback from those sailors who tested it. Sailors said:

"The kit is amazing, I launched and when I jumped in I simply brushed the water off the suit, I was very warm"

"The kit looks really cool and fits really well, I really like the fluffy inside"

"The kit is really warm and very comfortable"

Congratulations to all sailors who took part.

RS 200 fleet
1st All Ladies team - Joanna Tribe and Nicky Johnson
1st Junior Team - Chay Taylor and Niamh Davies
1st Under 16 Team - Henry Jameson and Toby Atherton

RS Feva Fleet (awarded prizes by fellow Winter Championships competitor Ben Saxton)
1st Mixed Team – William Caiger and Caitlin Morley
2nd Mixed Team – Isobel Taylor-Jones
3rd Mixed Team – Tim and Abby Hire

1st Ladies Team – Anne Marie Ratnage and Alice Parker
2nd Ladies Team – Sophie Johnson and Becky Caiger
3rd Ladies Team – Annie Hammett and Emma Wells

The Endeavour prize went to Alice Davis and Olivia Bracey Davis.

This event combination with the RS200 Class proved to be a big success and one the RS Feva Class would be delighted to host again.

RS Feva Class Chairman Jon Webster thanked the Principal Race officer James Gollop for another superb weekend of racing, the safety team and all the volunteers who endured a cold blustery weekend on and off the water supporting the event and finally Lennon Racewear for their support to this great event.

To find out more about the Lennon Racewear range visit www.lennonracewear.com/product-range.html

Overall Results:

RS Feva

RS200