RS100 Salcombe Gin Eurocup at Yacht Club de Carnac

RS100 Salcombe Gin Eurocup at Carnac © Antoine Dujoncquay

RS100 Salcombe Gin Eurocup at Carnac © YCC

I don't know about anyone else, but I'd almost forgotten, what with the various unpleasantnesses of the past few years, what a joy France can be. The restaurant was open on the St Malo ferry, buffet and all, the sun came out for our early arrival holiday, the accommodation was ideal - it was all grand. We've even vowed to return without the boat on the back of the car.

So where were the rest of you? As it was, a neatly formed international RS100 fleet, including candidates from the counties of France, Germany, Wales, England, Cornwall (oh yes it is!) and even the 1950s (aka Isle of Wight) congregated to enjoy Carnac's delights.

Day one of the sailing set the tone, with your correspondent [Clive Eplett] and Tom Halhead battling it out at the front with Mark Harrison and Bart Bridgen in close attendance. Clive led at the first mark by a few boat lengths, a lead that rapidly eroded on the way to the outer loop thanks to the key feature of days one and two - weed.

It was a nightmare. Weed cleared, nevertheless Tom was faster on the run, took the lead and held it by a whisker.

Race two was a battle between the same two, until visually impaired, idiot Clive, decided he preferred the RS400s inner windward mark, letting Mark and Bart past. Why did none of us spot that the race team had sneaked into the SIs that the windward marks would both be yellow and the leewards both white? In any sensible world, the inners would be yellow and outers white. That's my excuse anyway.

Day two was greeted with a pea-souper fog; cue lots of hanging around ashore, waiting for it to clear, then for wind. A bit finally appeared at 3pm and off we went.

This time, Clive took and maintained his lead until the third, unnecessary lap (we were already over target race time). At the leeward mark a C flag (only) was shown, indicating change of course, without further clues - although the wind had gone right. It quickly became clear that this beat was going to be interesting, given the mark-boat had picked up our windward mark, but was not moving.

Were we supposed to go to the RS400's mark? Was he going to put the lifted one to the right of theirs - ah, don't think so, the RS400s are heading to their's already. Then it all became clear when the mark was whizzed down the course and dropped 100 yards (we're allowed imperial measurements again now apparently) behind your correspondent, 50 yards behind Mark and right on Tom's bow.

Just 'cos I'm paranoid does not mean they're not all out to get me.

Here's where great sportsmanship is demonstrated: Tom immediately after the finish volunteered to witness at the redress protest, at which the race order, pre-Horlicks, was reinstated. The jury also recommended that the SIs were changed, so that the windward marks were contrasting, not identical - and this was implemented for the last two days.

Tom then went on to easily win race two, giving him three bullets in four races. I think I said in a previous report that he was going to be a proper nuisance, and so it was proving.

RS100 Salcombe Gin Eurocup at Carnac - photo © Matt Carter

Day three and the wind was up at last, sun was out. This is what we came for. And notwithstanding the mark-type change it was Mostyn Evans who got lost up the first beat. Unusually, it was your correspondent who stepped up in the breeze, with a 1-2-1 compared with Tom's 2-1-2.

Meantime, Bart was making the most of the conditions too, always in the mix and getting ahead of the ever-present Mark in race five. A couple more events and some newer rags and he too will be a right nuisance. There's more to RS100 sailing than Netley, Bart.

Which left it all down to a final day match race - points were even, but Tom had one more bullet and a third to discard, so Clive needed to win both.

No chance. Tom sailed the day imperiously, added two more bullets to his tally, to take the 2022 RS100 Eurocup. It might have been different if previously he'd seen the size of the trophy he was going to have to fit into an already bursting car for the trip home. But ultimately that would have been the only thing to keep him off the top of the podium. It was a well-deserved win.

A special thank you needs to be made to Heather Chipperfield, who - despite having retired from the RS secretariat in 2019 - was here in Carnac, back on duty and doing an exemplary job liaising with Yacht Club Carnac and all fleets. Thanks Heather and keep listening to Hotel California.

Next up on the RS100 Rooster National Tour is a one-day open at Weir Wood on Saturday 25th June. Please Bart, bring the rest of the Netley massive. See you there. Then it's our Noble Marine RS100 Nationals at the RS Games 24-27 July - see www.rssailing.com/rsgames

Overall Results: (2 discards)