Volvo RS Feva GP at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

Volvo RS Feva GP at Weymouth © Debbie Darling

Volvo RS Feva GP at Weymouth © Debbie Darling

The Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy hosted the final UK Grand Prix of the 2012/13 season on July 6/7. Volvo Car UK are the new 2013/14 sponsors of the circuit & gave a free coaching day away to one lucky entrant whose sail number was pulled out of a hat. Dom Lewis & John Jones from Tonbridge School will receive coaching from a Team GBR Olympic sailor.

What a change to the weather from two weeks ago at the Inland Champs. The 44 boat fleet travelled from as far afield as the Isle of Man in hot, steamy conditions, to be greeted by fog hugging Portland Bill & rolling over Chesil Beach.

However, after a one hour postponement the fog lifted & the fleet headed into the harbour in sunny, hot conditions & 4 knots of breeze.

The boats got away all clear for the first race with 6 knots of sea breeze filling in. First at the windward mark was Hannah Bristow & Bobby Hewitt with Sophie Hempsell & Emily Covell in 2nd; 3rd Will & Matt Taylor. Sophie & Emily lead at the leeward gate, & climbing into 2nd was Sam Grade & Katie Prescott; 3rd Hannah & Bobby. Emily & Sophie were still ahead at the 2nd windward mark; Sam & Katie in 2nd but Jamie Smith & Piers Nicholls had pulled through to 3rd, positions they held to the finish.

The 2nd start got away after a short delay to alter the course for a wind shift. Sophie & Emily were caught over the line OCS. Leading at the windward mark was Dan Discombe & Oscar Wright; 2nd Jamie & Piers; 3rd Hannah & Bobby. As the wind dropped to 5 knots it was Jamie & Piers leading at the gate; Hannah & Bobby in 2nd; Elliott Wells & Jake Todd 3rd. With the wind dropping further to 4 knots Jamie & Piers extended their lead from Will & Matt with Elliott & Jake 3rd at the final windward mark. By the finish of race two Jamie & Piers took the win whilst Elliott & Jake climbed to 2nd; 3rd Will & Matt. The fleet finished but the wind disappeared altogether so a postponement went up.

The course was reset as a gradient 6 knot breeze returned for race 3. The fleet got away all clear. Elliott & Jake were ahead at the windward mark; 2nd Daniel Lewis & Elliott Marshall; 3rd Arthur Brown & Niamh Davies. By the leeward gate Jamie & Piers were in front with Elliott & Jake just holding onto 2nd. Race 3 was won by Jamie & Piers; 2nd Will & Matt; 3rd Hannah & Bobby.

As the wind was holding at 6 knots the race team decided on a 4th race as the forecast for Sunday was for even less wind. A left shift before the start allowed Jamie & Piers who were ready at the pin, to tack on the gun & cross the fleet on port. The wind started dropping again benefiting Arthur & Niamh who lead at the windward mark from Jamie and Piers. The committee boat decided to move to the windward mark ready for a shorten course before the wind disappeared again. Jamie & Piers took the lead by the gate & held on to the finish. 2nd to finish was Arthur & Niamh; 3rd Jamie Jobson & Daniel Armstrong.

Sunday arrived as expected, hot and sunny with very little wind. The race team went out in the harbour to wait for the sea breeze to fill in. The fleet were held ashore before being called out in the hope of some wind. Unfortunately, the sea breeze failed to materialize and racing was abandoned.

This left results as before with 1st Jamie & Piers; 2nd Sam & Katie; 3rd Will & Matt

The overall GP Circuit winner for 2012/13 is Jamie Smith & Piers Nicholls winning with a 2/3/1 in the best of 3 series.

Overall Results: