RS200 Winter Warmer at Itchenor Sailing Club
by George Yeoman 9 Feb 2016 04:40 NZDT
6-7 February 2016
A very breezy weekend this weekend with only 2 races managed on Sunday. Race 1 was won by Ben Ainsworth and Kate Gibbs as very testosterone-fueled racing led to many lead changes all day as the leaders over back themselves in a gybe and capsize. Ben & Kate waited for their opportunity putting pressure on Charlie Roome and Eddie Glennie til the last downwind leg where they pounced after Charlie and Eddie joined the long list of athletes taking on the biathlon of sailing and swimming.
Race 2 saw Andy Shaw and Ollie Smyth lead at the top only to lead the synchronised capsize of the top 4 boats. Jack Holden and Becky Diamond took up the mantle and in Jack's words "The pressure was too much" so they capsized on the next gybe. This left the wise Will Henderson being goaded on by his son and crew Rob Henderson that a gybe and capsize would lose 1 place, wearing round would lose 2 (he obviously backs his capsize recoveries). However Will used his experience to ignore the devil on his shoulder making a seamanlike way around the course to take the win and seal victory for the day.
Realistically, no one knew where anyone was on the race course (least of all me who only saw fishes for most of the day) however the big breeze and short chop made a great day out. Thanks to Roger Yeoman and Mark Struckett for running the racing for us. Next one is on the 5/6 March.