Noble Marine RS100 Nationals at Paignton Sailing Club - Day 1
by Paul Childs 2 Jun 2012 20:53 BST
2-5 June 2012
37 RS100 tuned up to Paignton SC (with more still to arrive) with a glamour forecast for the third RS100 National Championships. Unfortunately the conditions failed to materialise. After a battle out to the start line against some monster waves in a lovely 8 knots.
The first start was heavily biased to the port, the wind dropped and the fleet battled upwind against the waves. Neal Freeman popped out at the pin and tacked early to cross the fleet. Giles Chipperfield, and Freeman smashed the first beat (apparently not seeing anyone else). The fickle wind continued to play havoc with the racing, especially upwind as the monster waves made going uphill hard work but the run very enjoyable.
After a tricky race Freeman took the win, followed by Huw Powell and Hywel Roberts who stormed through after leaving it all to do off the start line.
After minimal turn around time the wind picked up for the second race, which was much appreciated (by the fatter members anyway). Another heavily biased port start line led to a general recall. Then fleet then got away under a black flag, which took no victims. Greg Booth sailing quickly in his new boat stormed up the first beat, leading followed by Roberts, Freeman and Powell. The run was awesome, full planning conditions in great long surfing waves made for an awesome sail. Roberts took a comfortable win, followed by Paul Childs, who came surfing through to take second on the last run with Freeman third.
After the first day the man to beat (as normal) is Neal Freeman with 4 points although he has a lot on though as fellow Parkstone member Hywel Roberts also has 4 points. Huw Powell is third with 6 points.