RS pursuit race

Pete Vincent reports on last months event that went to RS 400 champion

Ok lets get the football commentators cliché book out; this was a game of two halves. Never has an event more clearly shown why a more comprehensive Portsmouth Yardstick system needs to be developed where PY’s change according to wind strength and sea state. The GUL RS Pursuit race had attracted helms right at the front of their respective class' nationals fleets - all capable of sailing their class to its full potential in the given conditions. WPSA race team did a good job of setting good true courses over the weekend, same course shape and length of legs. The only thing that changed between the two days was the wind strength.

Saturday
In relatively good weather for November the fleets enjoyed excellent conditions of a puffy force 3-4. The 200’s had the largest fleet with a high calibre roll call and it was new team of Ian Pickard and Sarah Taylor that blobbed their way down the first tight reach into the lead, the only boat able to carry their kite. Pickard/Taylor successfully held off Jon Lewis/Katy Nichol and Geoff Carveth/Jane Willen but could do nothing about 400 National Champion Nick Craig, with Toby Lewis crewing, cruising through with plenty of time left. The 400’s catching the 200’s was totally academic though as the 800’s were totally powered up doing a lot of twin wiring and the 700’s were equally efficient down wind. Brothers James and John Date in an 800 took the lead with 15 minutes to go to win with 800’s Ollie Page/Tom Odell second and soon to be married Spod Olive/Jane Norris third. Seven 800’s were in the top ten, Jerry Wales and Jon Hessig were 6th and 9th in their 700’s whilst Nick Craig/Toby Lewis were the only hiking boat to break into the top ten. In fact only two other hiking boats, both 400’s, made it into the top twenty with Pickard/Taylor the first 200 at 24th.

Sunday
Lovely clear blue skies but much less wind at around 8 knots, which was also very patchy over Portland Harbour with quite large flat areas. Once all the fleets had started it soon became obvious that the trapeze boats were not going to get to the front. The only thing that was going to stop the hiking boats was if they fleet raced too hard and slowed each other down. The leading ten 200’s were having a really hot race whilst the leading 400 trio of Craig/Lewis, Paul Hillier/Toby Ashton, Mark Littlejohn and son Sam were having a battle royal. At two thirds point James Stewart/Lucy Loopy Matthews broke clear in the 200’s with Colin Staite/Emma WMD Clarke not far behind. These two stayed clear and it became a question of could the 400’s catch the 200’s. There was not quite enough wind on the final run for the 400’s, Stewart/Matthews comfortably won from Staite/Clarke, the big clump of 200’s just finished ahead of the rapidly approaching 400’s to fill the top 8 places. Craig/Lewis just beat Hillier/Ashton with the Littlejohn’s in very close company filling the next 3 places. The first trapeze boat was Andy Hessig in his 600 in a very credible 15th whilst the first 800 of Olive/Norris limped home in 24th place.

Ashore, and no one had a clue who had won overall with all the leading boats in one race having a cricket score to count from their other race. The 400’s relative consistency across wind strengths rather than star turn proved conclusive. Nick Craig and Toby Lewis were the only boat to score two top ten results and won by 7pts with an 8th and 9th. The Littlejohn’s finished second overall, a surprised father Mark commenting that results of 11th and 13th usually gave a shocking overall finish rather than second