RS700 European Championship at Yacht Club de Carnac
by Richard Wadsworth 2 Jul 17:35 NZST
21-24 June 2024
Hungry competitors from the UK, Czech Republic and France descended upon Yacht Club de Carnac, France for this year's hotly contested RS700 European Championship.
Reigning champion, Adam Pihon (CZE) came to defend his title, whilst 2019 past champion - Robbie Bell (GBR) had returned to the class to regain his crown and see off the ambitions of the remaining hordes. The thunderstorms and torrential rain that lashed the small town in the preceding days, reflected the intensity of the competitors as they monitored the wind forecast with equal measures of joy, disenchantment, and fear. The scene was set.
Day one - As the Race Officer made his final adjustments to the marks, 'champagne conditions' greeted the fleet as they set sail for the race area in a solid Force 4 from the East. With over one hundred RS Aeros occupying the inner loops, as the fastest, most powerful and best-looking class: the RS700s had won the space offered by the Outer 'Outer' Loop. As the sailors made their final boat tweaks and pre-race rituals, it was evident that the wind strength was progressively reaching 'fresh to frightening' on the unofficial Beaufort scale, with rapidly developing steep waves.
The RS700s were first off the line, and smashed their way towards the windward mark through the 20-25 knot wind with kickers and downhauls feeling the full strain. Richard Wadsworth (GBR) was first round the windward mark, and deploying all his nautical training immediately hoisted the kite and set off towards the wrong mark to the bemusement of those around him. Swiftly realising his mistake, he dropped it and chased Robbie and Matt Carter (GBR) across the punishing single sail reach to the Outer Loop windward mark. Despite the severe conditions, all three sailors ignored their 'inner voices' and heroically popped their kites as they rounded... and then it began. Through a cloud of spray and expletives Robbie was first to the gybe point, where he unselfishly 'marked it' for the following sailors. Matt's 'inner voice' was now screaming so hard that he couldn't remember how to gybe, so he dropped the kite and then promptly fell in. Richard somehow wobbled his way through the gybe, staggered fully out onto the new rack and thundered into the distance as he questioned his life choices and whether he'd go over or under the next rapidly approaching wave. Much to the disappointment of the cheering onlookers, it didn't last, when at terminal velocity the lift from his rudder rolled him in backwards. Having observed the carnage ahead of them, the following fleet chose 'discretion over valour' and pretended they were in RS600s! With the whole fleet exploring cruel and unusual ways to capsize, Matt held out to take the win with 'big' Pete Purkiss (GBR) taking 2nd place and Robbie in 3rd.
Race two began in similar conditions with Robbie, Matt and Richard once again in close formation around the windward mark and charging across the 'eternal reach' to their loop. Tired and wary from the first race the 'inner voices' were now fully in charge and the fleet were in survival sailing mode. Matt went for a swim to cool off and left Robbie, Richard and Pete vying for the top spots. Freaked out by the pursuit of Richard 'Punisher' Wadsworth on the second lap, Robbie risked a kite hoist on the post gybe leg; but Richard stood back and awaited the inevitable splash and position... which never came as Robbie skilfully held it. Lap threee saw Robbie and Richard hoist kites and pull away from the pack, with Robbie taking the win, Richard 2nd and Pete 3rd. The day had been gruelling, but except for a few random capsize bruises and Jiri Kuthan's (CZE) mast track, the fleet had escaped relatively unscathed.
Day two - To the relief of the sailors, classic Carnac conditions were in force with an easterly wind of 12-18 knots. The fleet were no longer survival sailing, but flat wiring upwind and downwind in closely matched packs. Having set the form at the end of Day One, Robbie took command of race three and showed impressive control and speed to take the win ahead of Matt and Richard respectively.
Race four followed a similar pattern, with Robbie and Matt out front, but in stark contrast to the previous day there was tight nip and tuck racing between the chasing pack, with sailors adopting different 'modes' of sailing depending upon their size and boat set up. In these conditions, Adam Plhon began to show his quality as defending champion and majestically pulled through the fleet to achieve his first podium of the event behind a now dominant Robbie and Matt.
Race five began with Robbie, Matt and Pete leading around the windward mark, but Pete crashed in on the spinnaker hoist bringing Richard back into contention. Clearly the pressure of expectation was getting to the past champion and his former alter ego - 'Captain Splash' took charge at the gybe. With Matt now leading he too was also feeling the heat and capsized on the bear-away handing the lead to Richard. However, this lead was narrow. Matt leapt from the water like a hydrophobic cat, righting his boat in record speed in a haze of blue hull and language. With only one mark to negotiate, the curse of the race lead hit Richard, who undershot the lay line and let Matt squeeze through for the win. Having consistently challenged the leaders in the previous races, the hometown favourite, Cedric Fraboulet (FRA), seized his first podium to the cheers of his adoring fans on the finish boat.
Although the racing was close, the conditions of race six continued to favour Robbie, Matt and 'bang right' Richard, with Pete, Cedric and Colin Dacey (GBR) in close contention. After three gruelling races, the physical toll was starting to bite with geriatric sailors exploring novel techniques to keep going despite most of their extremities in various states of cramp. The 'mile long' single sail reach to the outer loop had lost all its appeal and sapped what energy was left in these heroes' tanks. Regardless of Robbie's impressive straight-line speed, he had clearly begun delegating 'helm control' to 'Captain Splash' at the gybes, who courteously waved Matt and Richard through to first and second respectively. With a great day's sailing under their belts, the fleet returned to harbour to tell tales of wildly exaggerated exploits at the Saturday Night Party. It was inevitably going to be a late night, but the question was whether rum was going to be deployed (again) to influence the results of the crucial following day?! I can't remember.
Day three's conditions were decidedly more laid back than the first two, with a southerly 6-8 knots of wind. As the wind forecast for the following day looked marginal at best, the Race Officer's intention was to squeeze as many races in as possible. Although the UK 'pie eaters' were currently topping the leaderboard after two days of big wind, these lighter conditions would undoubtedly enable the Czech 'light wind specialists' to show their skill. The leaderboard was due a reshuffle.
Race seven started cleanly with the line bias bunching the competitors to the pin end. It was readily apparent that there was a marked change in the running order with Cedric, Pete, Adam Phlon, Adam Ott (CZE) around the windward mark first. Cedric attempted to extend his lead across the top reach with his kite up, but was blown well to windward and overtaken. Further down the pack, Colin was clearly overwhelmed by the intensity of it all and threw himself over the side (whilst going in a straight line with nobody around him). Following two days of heavy sailing the thighs were really appreciating the 'burn' from the partial trapezing. The racing was extremely close with positions being exchanged at every intersection. Whilst the wind was relatively constant there were big gains to be had in the 10-degree shifts and successfully surfing the small waves downwind was an amusing must. In the end it was Pete that victoriously led the fleet through the finish line with Adam Plhon and Adam Ott in close pursuit. With the previous day's leaders finishing in 9th, 5th and 7th, they would be unlikely to hold onto their overall positions for much longer.
Race eight began after a short delay, in what was to become an ever-diminishing breeze. Adam Ott led the fleet around the windward mark, followed by a chasing Adam Plhon and Cedric. With the breeze now dropping some of the mid-fleet boats tried a kite hoist across the reach; the gamble worked and led to a flurry of kites being popped, but not before the leaders had been reined in to within touching distance. Whilst the physical exertions weren't that high, the pulses were racing as one or two places in the tightly packed field was going to make all the difference in the context of the championship. By the final leg, Adam Plhon had established a lead over Adam Ott and Cedric to take his first win of the series. Due to the dying wind the Race Officer called 'time' on the days racing and the fleet headed for the shore for some well-deserved hydration and see how the leaderboard stood. Although Matt only achieved an 8th in this race, the second discard had been triggered which meant he could forget (on paper at least!) the whole day's racing and remain at the top of the leaderboard into the final day, with Robbie and Richard remaining in 2nd and 3rd... just.
Day four's forecast was 2-5 knots, and whilst it was sunny, the direction of the thermal wind was likely to kill the prevailing wind when it kicked in. The top three (heavies) were therefore slightly concerned by the fact that there was a gentle breeze on arrival and light-wind racing may be on after all. Despite the breeze, the Race Officer had hoisted the 'AP' to postpone the start, but just as everyone was resigned to the fact that racing would be abandoned, the AP was lowered, and the sailors released from the shore. The tension was palpable... was this to be the final re-shuffle of the Championship Table...?
No. As the lead boats got halfway to the start, the wind completely died, and the day's racing was eventually abandoned. The previous day's results stood, and Matt Carter had won the RS700 European Championship. In celebration(?) he spectacularly threw himself over the side whilst trying to pump his way back to shore, whilst Richard, who was wearing his Royal Navy rash vest steadfast refused to take a tow back from all the circling French safety boats.
Once more, Carnac has delivered a highly memorable, competitive and enjoyable event for the RS700s. Saturday's 'champagne conditions' were bookmarked with winds from the opposite ends of the spectrum to give everyone a shot at the title; with the events of the first day providing many tales of comedy, tragedy and mockery to be discussed in the bar for the remainder of the weekend. As ever, the racing was close, competitive, respectful and fun.
Yacht Club de Carnac hosted the event superbly well on and off the water. The Race Officer and his team did an excellent job in setting the course and getting the five fleets away so efficiently, with very little time loitering between races. The organisation of the shoreside activities was equally as impressive with excellent food, drink and entertainment provided at the Saturday Night Party and daily aprés-sail. Beyond the Yacht Club, the town of Carnac played an equally good role in providing entertainment and relaxation to the sailors and their families. Sailors of all abilities are highly recommended to attend these events to develop your own skills and confidence in a fun and welcoming environment. If you haven't already been, you need to look when the RS700's return to Carnac... as we inevitably will! In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you at the UK Noble Marine Nationals in Hayling Island and on the RS700 Rooster Circuit.
I'd like to thank Rooster Sailing for their sponsorship of the RS700 events and say well done to Matt Carter the new RS700 European Champion!