RS700 fleet during the Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta at Royal Torbay Yacht Club

Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta © www.digitalsailing.co.uk

19 RS700 entered the RS Summer Champs with the hope of a fresh breeze and beautiful sunshine. 17 started racing on day one when we got the beautiful sunshine but unfortunately not the wind.

The fleet started in what looked like a promising building breeze only for it to die to nothing on the left-hand side and stranding half the fleet that had not spotted the changing pressure. Those that did managed to waft their way over to the right-hand side and steadily drift around the windward mark. Rob led ahead of Pete Purkiss and James Clarke remained in that position to the bottom mark chased hard by Stephen Hermanson.

Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta - photo © www.digitalsailing.co.uk

The next lap saw Rob extend his lead, but Pete sailed into a hole and remained there for the rest if the race unable to get out of irons. That allowed Stephen to move into third, On the downwind leg the RS800 leaders caught up with the RS700 front runners at the bottom gate. Rob stayed ahead of the pack to take the win, but James was buried under 4 RS800s allowing Stephen to roll past for second. James finish 3rd just ahead of Matt Carter who had sailed down the run in clear air to nearly add to James's misery.

Race two saw an increase in wind by a knot after a pause for an hour to reset the course. Rob led from the front again with Pete Purkiss in hot pursuit with Stephen and Matt in close contention. Rob stayed ahead on the run while Matt soaked his way ahead of Stephen and catching Pete to gybe inside on the gate. Upwind the lightweight sailors enjoyed sitting out on their racks, hair blowing in the apparent wind while Matt and other heavier sailors endured a period sat beneath the boom. By the last downwind leg Rob maintained the lead to finish 1st, Pete second and Matt wiggled past Stephen to finish 3rd with Andrew Wright having a great race in 5th.

Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta - photo © www.digitalsailing.co.uk

The last race followed relatively quickly in not much wind. The boats that sniffed out the patches of wind came out in top again with Pete taking the left-hand flyer and finding a huge lift to come out in front finishing somewhere over the horizon. Stephen and Matt raced hard for 2nd and 3rd respectively and the pond sailors James and Rob coming in 4th and 5th.

All the heavy weights were looking forward to stretching their legs on the next day that promised high winds, while the lighter sailors prayed for really high winds. Their prayers were answered and racing was abandoned on day two so we queued for our trailers and travelled home. Despite the lack of wind on day one and the rain and hurricane on day two the racing was fiercely competitive, the scenery fantastic and the company excellent as always. Thank you to the Royal Torbay Yacht Club for their organisation and volunteers.

RS700 prize winners in the Salcombe Gin RS Summer Regatta - photo © www.digitalsailing.co.uk

Overall Results: