Gul RS400 Club Championship

New format a success with Rob and Jan Martin coming away winners reports Bill Handley

The weekend of 6th/7th November brought 23 competitors to Draycote Water for the inaugural Gul Club championship event in the RS 400 Class.

This event was largely the brainchild of veteran RS sailor Pete Vincent who was rewarded for his support by being permitted to act as race officer all weekend ably assisted by Alex Davies in his capacity as RS800 observer and local club member. By excluding current circuit event leaders and the top 15 at the Nationals the event was geared to rewarding the regular club sailors who maybe don't travel so much. As could be seen by the strength of the field and the tightness of the racing this in no way diluted the quality of the competition and neutral observers from the class generally agreed that it was a good job that many of the competitors did not travel more than they did!

The qualification format of giving more entries to clubs in proportion to the number of members taking part in the qualification series proved a great success. Particularly popular with both clubs and competitors was the ability of clubs to nominate races in their existing series as qualification events, at a stroke avoiding any disruption of club events but at the same time allowing clubs to get a good turn out in the events that they nominated. If your club didn't take part; go and give your class captain a hard time to find out why not - as for a reason, look no further that the bit of this report relating to prizes which were very generously sponsored by Gul and LDC.

The race programme followed the form for a late season event on inland waters - a large number of races ( 5 on Saturday, 4 on Sunday) quite short tactical courses of the usual RS kind ( average race time about 35 minutes) and no waiting in between races due to some very slick race management.

Saturday dawned dull with a light wind that strengthen during the day. By the time the racing started competitors were enjoying a force 3 westerly which held all afternoon but swung steadily to the north by the time the last race was started. The race team did a great job of swinging the course so that despite these difficult conditions all the races proved a fair test of skill.

The first race set the pattern being won by Rob and Jan Martin with Dave Exley and Nigel Hall second and Steve Joslin and Nathan Pinch third. In the second race Fiona and Stephen Tylecote kept the Burghfield SC banner flying with a first, Joslin/Pinch improved to second with the Martins third. Next race and another new winner, Duncan Glen and Adam Thilthorpe made their long journey up from Parkstone worthwhile with a victory. From the other geographical extreme of Leigh and Lowton Exley/Hall grabbed their second second and the Martins recorded another third.

Race four and the Tylecotes recovering from a poor ( for them) eighth in the previous race became the first boat to gain a second victory on the day. Representing the Eastern point of the compass Philip Rust and Matt Rown from Brightlingsea got second and the Martins took their now customary third place. With a serious possibility of bad light stopping play the fifth race was got underway. This time the Martins took their second first of the day whilst Joslin/Pinch from Queen Mary took their second second and Glen/Thilthorpe recorded a third.

The overnight position had the Martins as clear leaders with very consistent sailing and no result worse than third. The Tylecotes had some good results but a couple of not so good. With every one carrying a few bad results ( most notably and OCS for Joslin/PInch) in the third race the series was wide open due to the two discard format.

Draycote provided excellent entertainment on Saturday night of the simple food, drink and good sailing discussion variety and a big thanks is due to the club.

Sunday dawned even duller than Saturday. The wind was more steady in general direction blowing from the North West all day but in the reduced strength the shifts and the famous Draycote wind lines were there to trap the unwary.

Race six and Howard Farbrother and Louise Hosken start what was to prove a much better second day for them with a first. The Tylecotes in need of consistent results to win got second and Glen/Tilthorpe another third. The seventh race start was delayed by two general recalls, the first on reflection due to a rather biased line but the second after suitable line adjustments had been made down to good old fashioned RS400 cowboy sailing. In the light of this the race team black flagged the third start and all subsequent starts ensuring no more problems in that area. The usual suspects re-established themselves with the Martins gaining their third win, Joslin/Pinch second and the Tylecotes maintaining their consistency with third. Eighth race and Farbrother/Hosken took their second win of the day having come fourth in the intervening race. Glen/Tilthorpe were back in business at second and yet again the Martins held on to third ensuring them of the event with a race to go.

Ninth race (now there's something you don't often type in a weekends racing report). With the wind shifting even more than usual chances came and went for big gains and losses. The Martins with the event already won and no previous result worse than fourth showed they were human and managed a discardable eleventh. The Tylecotes taking full advantage carved out a massive lead on the first run which they never looked like losing. Joslin/Pinch recorded their fourth second of the weekend and Gavin Marshall and Anna Robinson achieved their best result with a third.

Overall the consistency with no counting result ( 7/9) worse than third gave the Martins victory with a total of 15 points. Only 4 points behind were the Tylecotes matching the Martins with their number of firsts ( 3) but having to count a sixth and fifth - a one two for Burghfield SC. In third place 10 points further back were Joslin/Pinch consoling themselves with the thought that even if the OCS result had counted their overall place would still be the same.

And so to the prize giving where our sponsors, Gul and LDC, did us proud even by RS standards. Individual prizes went down to eighth and included Gul vouchers, free entry to next years nationals and some very serious coaching. First two prizes were a new spinnaker for the winners and a new jib for second — see what I mean about those class captains who didn't get in their entry. Overall and outstandingly successful and enjoyable weekend. The RS committee will be taking views on the future of the event but without prejudging the issue I think the debate will be about best format and where to hold what is destined to become a fixture in the RS400 calendar.

Bill Handley