RS K6 Nationals at Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club

Action from the RS K6 nationals at Plymouth © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Action from day two of the RS K6 nationals at Plymouth © Tom Gruitt / www.fotoboat.com

Action from day two of the RS K6 nationals at Plymouth © Tom Gruitt / www.fotoboat.com

The grey skies and forecast rain had several in the K6 fleet checking the cinema listings for ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ before the briefing for the fifth GUL K6 nationals, hosted by the Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club. But once out beyond the breakwater in the solid breeze and big rollers, thoughts of magic chocolate were quickly replaced by the real magic of stable 15 knot blasts downwind and close tactical upwind legs.

Race Officer Russell Gibbs and team laid degree perfect starts, giving the fleet the full line to choose from and good clear channels for the first beat. There was collective surprise at the top of the first beat when the fleet converged almost en-mass….the racing has been getting closer all season and Plymouth was going to set new standards. David Hitchcock and Ian Nicholson set the early pace, chased hard by the dynamic duo of ‘Scoobydoo’ (ex 505 world champion Bill Masterman crewed by Dan Mountifield) and ‘Shaggy’ (ex Fireball national champs Mark Darling and John Ironmonger). David and Ian managed to escape and took the first race. In the second race it was the turn of Myles Mence, Glyn Locke and Judith French in their well dressed ‘Italian’ boat ‘Artigiano’ to take-up the chase. ‘Artigiano’ looked good for a win but the prospect of two bullets on the first day was too tempting for David and Ian, and they clinched another win on the last leg.

Day two dawned grey again, but with more breeze….the rollers were going to be extra fun today ! Ian and David were the first to spot that these rollers were particularly impressive down the right hand side of the course and used these to good effect to claim a third bullet in a row. Could they achieve a clean sweep in the same way they had at the first open meeting of the season ? Answer no ! In a very congested first beat in the next race they got caught in the traffic, with Jonathan Calascione, Pyers Tucker and Libby Deegan (Take Two) breaking clear and denying the clean sweep. Final race of the day was ‘round the cans’ back to the Mountbatten Centre with a couple of spectacular three sail reaches to keep the two photographers and spectators happy. The round the cans always has the potential to really mix-up the performance order, and John and Carol Dutton with David ‘the foghorn’ Peerless proved the point by swapping their mid-fleet performance for a third. The fleet then convened at the bar for a video debrief from Ian Pinnel who gave even the most experienced a good list of things to think about and work on.

The weather gods obviously decided the fleet needed a break and denied Plymouth Sound even the odd zephyr on day three. After working through the Pinnel inspired to-do lists, the local pubs and National Aquarium did brisk business. The Fat Face circuit and Cowes Week prize giving dinner was held at the Royal Plymouth Corinthian, with Martin Miller winning the prize for the most air miles collected on the K6 circuit, and Charles Sheldon and crew clinching the 118 118 look-a-like title.

A gentle north-easterly breeze arrived for the final day – a direction Jim Saltonstall describes as “‘oribble…..keep your eyes out of the boat” for Plymouth. There seemed some logic then when it looked like the first race would go to Queen Mary pond sailors Peter Kirkby and Richard Barker (Pippi). However, they missed the last shift and David Hitchcock and Ian Nicholson recorded their fifth win and the overall championship in convincing style. The final two races were cancelled as the weather gods again sucked the wind out of the sound.

Overall Results: