RS100s racing in the Inland Championship
Sailing Report – John Smalley, Vice Commodore
We enjoyed a great weekend with the RS200s and 100s. Saturday brought a breezy but sailable 16 knot westerly rising to well over 20 knots as the afternoon wore on. An amazing turnout of 37 RS200s, including an incredible 11 from Chew, had 4 close fought races. Whilst we didn’t emerge victorious overall, there were great cheers at the prize-giving for Nick Martindale and Ruth Kenyon in 6th place and they were closely followed by Dave Sweet and Derian Scott in 9th overall. The event was won by Maria Stanley and Rob Henderson from Itchenor.
18 RS 100s contested their Inland Championships over Saturday and Sunday with 4 boats from Chew in the mix. The winner was Steven Lee sailing for the RAF but we had 2nd and 3rd covered with perennial stars Andy Jones and Chris Goldhawk. Chris particularly benefitted from the lighter conditions on Sunday scoring two bullets; Rob in the galley assured me he can fix this problem by feeding him more bacon butties in future for the windy days!
Race Officer Claire Jefferis commanded a team of excitable men on the committee boat and the racing ran like clockwork. On Sunday morning the Chew racing regulars enjoyed sharing a Windward/Leeward open meeting course with the 100s, and a ‘real’ open meeting ‘5,4,1,Go’ start sequence.
This coming weekend signals the end of the Autumn morning and afternoon points series with many fleet positions depending on the results. Looking at the scores so far, my sense is that the morning series positions will stay the same. However, the afternoon 2 race series is much more interesting. With a breezy afternoon in prospect will Keith Harris and Claire Jefferis be able to hold off the collective charge of Russ Abrahams and Andy Bones in the Flying Fifteens? Can that flying lightweight Martin Jeremy resist the charge of Phil Pattullo? Have Chris Goldhawk’s hiking muscles recovered enough to hold off Chris Meredith in the Solos (with Dave Oakey ready in 3rd to pass them both…). Watch this space…..
House & Grounds Note
The heaters in the gents changing room are sadly out of order. With temperature forecasts in single figures, be prepared for some chilly, quick costume changes! Rest assured the ‘powers that be’ are on the case and the balmy, sauna-type conditions for the men will return very soon.