Harken RS800 Inland Championship at Grafham Water Sailing Club

A recent record-breaking number of 22 RS800s arrived at Grafham on Saturday for the 2019 Harken RS800 Inland Championships. A light and mild south easterly seemed the order of the day.

Race one saw Tom Morris and Guy Fillmore and Luke and Emma McEwen take the leading two places right to the finish, leaving the rest to do battle with each other (and the shifts) with Ben Palmer and Amy Seabright taking third.

For the second race the wind built slightly allowing twin trapezing throughout. Once again Tom and Guy followed by Luke and Emma took positions one and two respectively with Robert Gullan and Mari Shepherd sailing home in third.

Harken RS200, RS400 and RS800 Inlands at Grafham water - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Race 3 eventually started after the RS400s got away cleanly. Daniel Goodman and Debbie Clark went hard left up the first beat which put them miles in front around the windward mark, a position they kept all race. Leaving second place wide open, the breeze was patchy making the downwind calls difficult. James Penty and Eddie Grayson had a good battle with Chris Catt and Chris Martin all the way to the finish coming second and third respectively.

Sunday morning was wet but we all launched, looking forward to a great north westerly.

Harken RS200, RS400 and RS800 Inlands at Grafham water - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Race 4 saw the fleet spilt up the first beat and as the windward mark approached Tom and Guy were first to round it followed by the McEwen's. Simon Horsefield and Amy Hulley unfortunately lost their mast on the first lap. During the closing stages of the race the wind changed up a gear or two and Tom and Guy dropped the kite going into to the finishing leg, Luke and Emma gave it everything and carried the kite to the finish, passing Tom and Guy just before the line.

While waiting for race 5 the wind continued to build. Even moving the jib track pin out a hole became tricky in the increasing wind. Race 5 got under way in survival conditions, Tom and Guy showing off their skills and Cameron and Darrol Moss launched in the big breeze followed by Ralph and Sophie in hot pursuit. As the race played out it was just a case of trying to keep the mast pointing upwards and trying to survive to cross the line.

After only seven 800s finished race 5 the race officer decided to bin race 6 much to the relief of the fleet.

Harken RS200, RS400 and RS800 Inlands at Grafham Water - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Congratulations to our Harken Inland Champions Tom Morris and Guy Fillmore!

A fantastic weekend's sailing, thanks go to our sponsors Harken and Rooster and to the fantastic team at Grafham Water Sailing Club.

Overall Results: