RS200 Racing Circuit at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club
by RS Class Association 10 May 2009 22:36 BST
9-10 May 2009
20 boats arrived at Yorkshire Dales SC for the 4th round of the Mike Saul Dinghy Services Northern Tour/RS Racing Circuit. This 2-day event saw a complete contrast in wind speeds with gusts up to 30 knots on the first day followed by a light breeze decreasing to zero on the Sunday.
In Race 1 David and Jane Hivey (West Lancs) were a dozen boat lengths ahead of Phil and Naomi Smith (Bassenthwaite) and Chris Pickles/Laura Westell (Yorkshire Dales). Chris gybed early, caught a gust and was hot on the heels of David/Jane Hivey at the gate. The pressure caused the Hiveys to capsize just over the line. Martin Penty and Steve Hanby (Beaver) came third.
Wayne Fletcher (Scaling Dam) sailing with Matt Sharman (Delph) led the fleet all the way round in Race 2 but disaster struck just before the finish when the mainsail came down causing a capsize which resulted in a DNF. David and Jane Hivey were too close behind to manoeuvre out of the way and saw their 2nd place slip away from them to be taken by Patrick Altoft and Deborah Greenland (Ripon). Pete Vincent and Tessa Nicholls (Bristol Corinthian) found on recovery from a capsize that their mast was rather banana shaped and had to call on the help of Mike Saul to bring a replacement for them during the lunch break.
During lunch the wind increased with driving rain - enough to blow Martin and Barbara Smith's boat into the water with the trolley still attached!
Race 3 and another good start for David and Jane Hivey, this time closely followed by Barrie and Harriet Thornton (Scaling Dam). In lap 2 when the leaders rounded the windward mark Force 7 gusts blew through and 5 out of the group capsized. Chris/Laura and Ian Pickard/Karen Falconic (RYA) held their gybes to take the lead. On the final downwind leg, Chris/Laura capsized leaving Ian/Karen to cross the line in first place.
Because of the strength of the wind Race 4 was postponed until Sunday.
Day 2 and racing was delayed until 11.30 due to lack of wind! The fleet, keen to get Race 4 underway, were called back by two general recalls resulting in the black flag rule being imposed. Early leaders were Martin Penty/Steve Hanby and Wayne/Deb Fletcher. By lap 2 Keith Escritt/Anne Saul (Yorkshire Dales) and Matt Sharman/Justine Davies (Delph) had made headway and finished third and fourth.
The wind decided to play tricks on the fleet during Race 5 and windward/leeward became two reaches. Barrie and Harriet Thornton and Martin and Barbara Smith (Delph) were quick to raise their kites to take advantage of the wind change. Andrew Hartley and Dan Phillips (Ripon) held onto second place until the gate when they were overtaken by Chris Pickles/Laura Westell.
Overall Results:
1. Chris Pickles & Laura Westell (Yorkshire Dales SC)
2. Martin Penty & Steve Hanby (Beaver SC)
3. David Hivey & Jane Hivey (West Lancashire SC)
4. Patrick Altoft & Deborah Greenland (Ripon SC)
5. Phil Smith & Naomi Smith (Bassenthwaite SC)
6. Andrew Hartley & Dan Phillips (Ripon SC)