Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

West Country Boat Repairs RS200 SW Ugly Tour at Exe Sailing Club

by John Teague 11 Sep 2023 06:19 BST 9 September 2023

A forecast, that being completely honest, wasn't suggesting a champagne day's racing, certainly stunted the turnout at a very sunny Exmouth. However, eight boats did arrive to see whether the weather gods would arrive, and share Saturday's racing with the Contender National Championship.

After a postponement with the fleet held on shore, we were released, with the understanding we may well be getting towed out to the race area off of Dawlish Warren. With the wind building, the fleet made short work of the sail against the incoming tide and made it to the course area.

Race one started with a 4-5kt breeze, which held a remarkably steady direction all race. At the top of the first beat, John Teague/Naomi Pound from Bristol Corinthians came in close to the port lay to tack in front of James Williams/Catherine Sears from Chew Valley who themselves were just in front of Rose Robertson/Liz Mainwaring from Exe SC, and the rest of the fleet close behind on the starboard lay line. The second beat saw the wind build slightly, with both helm and crew on the side deck, not quite hiking, but a welcome feeling. The final run saw Teague/Pound hold a comfortable lead to the finish, with Robertson/Mainwaring closing the gap on second place but not quite enough to trouble Williams/Sears in second place.

This welcome breeze brought the Contenders out to play, and the fleet sat back to watch them start on the shared course. The breeze dropped slightly in their sequence, and with a 6kt lower wind limit and the beginnings of a right shift their start was cancelled and the 200s had a chance to show them some racing. Now with a big right bias as the wind shifted, the fleet got off the line and were fetching the mark, Williams/Sears leading the pack when ¼ of the way up the leg, the race was abandoned.

Ultimately this was the demise of racing, with the wind slowly disappearing and the Contenders being sent home, a sorry sight having yet to race on what was now the penultimate day of their championships. The 200 fleet hung around soaking up a few rays of sunshine or had a blast swimming around the RS200 diving platform, not a bad place to be on the hottest day of the year. A tow ashore followed, and whilst one completed race wasn't the best days racing you could wish for, or indeed enough for a proper series, it was a thoroughly enjoyable and worthwhile day on the water, ended by a well earned pint on the balcony overlooking a sunny Exe estuary.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1Pts
1st1365John TeagueNaomi PoundBristol Corinthian YC11
2nd1019James WilliamsCatherine SearsChew Valley Sailing Club22
3rd418Rosie RobertsonLiz MainwairingExe SC33
4th1586Anna CoxAngus BaileyExe SC44
5th1551Izzy CrampStuart JonesHooe Point SC55
6th1466Dave SweetAnna MasonChew Valley Lake SC66
7th461Charlotte CoxMegan GubbExe SCNSC9
7th1631Oscar GibbonsRosalia GibbonsExe SCNSC9

Related Articles

RS200s at the Waldringfield Easter Egg Trophy
20+ RS200s part of over 90 boats out on the water Friday marked the beginning of the legendary Waldringfield Easter Egg with over 90 boats out on the water! 20+ RS200 boats raced over the course weekend in the EaSEA (it definitely wasn't "easy") Sailing Chandlery sponsored Tour. Posted on 23 Apr
More than 60 entered for the Daffodil Regatta
The first event of this year's Sailjuice Challenge at Ullswater is in a week's time It's just over a week until the Magic Marine Daffodil Regatta at Ullswater, the first event of this year's Sailjuice Challenge... Posted on 18 Apr
RS200 Masters Championship venue announced
A one-day midsummer format at a warm, friendly, grass-roots club The RS Class Association are delighted to announce that the 2025 RS200 Masters Championship will be held at the West Country Boat Repairs SW Ugly Tour Event at Bowmoor SC on 28th June 2025. Posted on 15 Apr
RS200s at Yorkshire Dales
Chris and Evie Pickles were consistently one step ahead Exceptional racing from Chris and Evie Pickles, from Bassenthwaite Sailing Club, saw them take the win of the Sailing Chandlery RS200 Northern Tour Open. Despite the light and shifty conditions, the pair were consistently one step ahead . Posted on 14 Apr
Ullswater Yacht Club 2025 Preview
The calendar kicks off with the Magic Marine Daffodil Regatta Ullswater Yacht Club is delighted to announce both its open event calendar and Magic Marine's continued sponsorship and support for 2025. Posted on 8 Apr
RS200 SW Ugly Tour at Bristol Corinthian
The scene has certainly been set for a close season ahead March? You expect me to go sailing in March?! Fortunately for Fred, heading north to BCYC is like coming home for me. So we took the inevitable decision to pack the boat up and hit the motorway. Posted on 31 Mar
RS200 Training and Open Meeting at Swanage SC
Ben Whaley and the club put on a wonderful weekend "I reckon Swanage Sailing Club is my new favourite open meeting venue!" proclaimed Emma Clarke after a resounding victory with helm Ian Martin in Sunday's 5 race series. Posted on 25 Mar
RS200 Training at Restronguet
A day of training part-funded by an RS Class Association Training Grant On the 22nd February a group of eight keen RS200s, from across the Southwest and even as far afield as Scotland, gathered on the sunny shores of Restronguet Sailing Club for a day of training part-funded by an RS Class Association Training Grant. Posted on 4 Mar
RS200 and RS400 Training at Yorkshire Dales
A big thank you to Ollie Groves and Esther Parkhurst All eyes were on the rather chilly looking forecast for the latest round of RS Class Association supported training at the Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club with Ollie Groves and Esther Parkhurst. Posted on 21 Feb
Abersoch Dinghy Week 2025 Preview
Entries open for this fabulous family racing week with lively socials South Caernarfonshire Yacht Club are pleased to announce that entries are now being taken for the 2025 Abersoch Dinghy Week. Posted on 13 Feb