Gill Sunsail Racing Series 2012 Round 8

Sunsail Racing Series action © Sunsail Racing

This past weekend saw the final round of the 2012 Gill sponsored Sunsail Racing Series in the Sunsail F40's. Over the 8 rounds we have seen 106 different entries with a total of 21 qualifying for November's final.

Saturday's forecast was not a promising one, with only 2-3kts forecast, but by the start of race 1, the wind had filled in to a more promising, if not still light 7-9kts.

Taking an early lead in Race one was Terry Hunt followed by Ian Martin and Andy Jeffery, a slight issue of not knowing the course for Terry Hunt, allowed Ian Martin and Tom Low through at the gybe mark. With spinnakers hoisted, the leaders decided to stay close inshore along Stokes Bay but the big decision was knowing when to gybe! Some of the mid fleet boats gybed early and it was looking very good for them until they hit the tide allowing the pace setters to stay at the front around the leeward mark. At the end after a short beat to the finish Ian Martin took the gun from Andy Jeffery and Terry Hunt.

Race two, and the tide had turned and the wind had dropped to around 4-5 kts from the east, making the beat very tactical. A big wind shift at the start meant getting onto a port tack early to get out of the tide. Again early leaders were Terry Hunt and Geoff Kimber and after a drag race up the right hand side of the beat, Geoff Kimber eventually rolled Terry Hunt to take the lead.

After nearly an hour of some very slow upwind sailing, the race officer shortened course to finish at the 1st mark. Timing the tack into the finish was the main thing in the light and shifty wind. Geoff Kimber and Terry Hunt tacked a little too early back into the tide which allowed Huw Powell who held on a little longer to steal the win on the line from Geoff Kimber and Terry Hunt.

In the end only 15 of the 26 boast finished within the time limit, with some not even making over the start line!

Overnight leaders were Terry Hunt followed by Huw Powell and Marcus Wareham.

Sunday dawned to a decent 15kt breeze from the NE. A crowded start line ensued with everyone vying for a good start. With the majority of the fleet opting for the right hand end, it was in fact better to start at the left as the wind shifted to a more northerly direction, allowing those that did a favourable lift into the 1st mark.

With the fleet fairly compact and a few broaches along the first reach testing the crews it really kept everyone on their toes, with many places to be lost or gained. After an hours racing, line honours went to Geoff Kimber, followed in second by Tom Low with Ian Martin in third.

The final race eventually got underway in an increasing breeze and at the second attempt with the port end of the line and the left hand side of beat paying. Early leaders around the 1st mark were Huw Powell, Ian Martin and Tom Low. However a slight miss reading of the course and a case of follow my leader, meant the top 5 boats bore away around the gybe mark, rather than gybing, leaving themselves downwind of the main pack and a lot of work to do to get back into contention.

For a few, they got back to the course early and only lost a few places, for some, it meant re-joining the fleet in the high teens!

In the end, securing back to back wins was Geoff Kimber followed by Huw Powell and Marcus Wareham.

A great weekends racing was had by all, with the F40's once again providing some very close one design racing. Congratulations to Geoff Kimber on winning Round 8.

We now have the 21 qualifiers for Novembers Series Final, which looks as if it should be a good and close affair, fingers crossed, the weather gods play their part.

www.sunsail.co.uk/yacht-racing

Round 8 Results: