Spring series concludes

Many of the Skandia Team GBR Development Squad sailors will be looking for wins this weekend

The RYA Olympic Classes Spring Series wings its way to Warsash Sailing Club this weekend (12-13 May) for the final event in its three-stop tour for 2007.

With competition tight across several of the classes, the stage is set for an exciting final showdown, with British talents across the Olympic classes ready to battle it out for a place at the top of the final Spring Series rankings.
 
The RYA Olympic Classes Spring Series, comprising three early season events, provides a focus for new talents either on the World Class programme or those aspiring to be, regular Olympic classes racers, as well as the top Skandia Team GBR performers when available.

After the opening two events of the Series, held at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy from 17-18 February and Rutland Sailing Club from 17-18 March, sailors from the Finn, 470 and 49er classes will battle for honours this weekend.

Giles Scott currently tops the leaderboard in the Finn class, having finished second at the Weymouth event and third at Rutland, and has a three point advantage over Nick Craig in second while Mark Andrews, the Junior World Champion in the class, is currently in third on equal points with Andrew Mills.

There’s a three-way tie at the top of the 470 table between Jonny McGovern-Tom Mapplebeck, Neil Marsden-Ian Dobson, and Luke Patience-Chris Grube so there’s all to play for at Warsash this weekend.  In the battle for the women’s 470 title, Hannah Mills-Katrina Hughes and Ally Martin-Lottie Clay are also locked on equal points.

After their impressive run at the French Olympic Sailing Week in Hyeres where they finished just outside of the medals in fourth place, John Pink and Simon Wheeler will be looking to continue their run of form by taking the Spring Series title in the 49er class this weekend.  They lead by the narrowest of margins over Dave Evans and Rick Peacock, with Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign, who posted a commendable 13th place in Hyeres, currently in third place.

“The Spring Series not only provides quality racing opportunities for Olympic classes sailors, but is also a springboard for young talents looking to gauge their skills against seasoned campaigners in their classes,” said Olympic Development Squad Manager Barrie Edgington.

“New to the class this year, Giles Scott will looking to win his first Finn Series since switching from the Laser, and the likes of Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign will hope to challenge more experienced squad sailors in the 49er class.

“There’s certainly an exciting weekend ahead in Warsash as we see who emerges at the top of the final Series rankings.”