England and Ireland meet

The RS200 and 400 Fat Face Eurocup and Irish National Championships have come to a close

Forty boats from Ireland and the UK entered the Patterson Miller sponsored second round of the RS200 and RS400 Fat Face Eurocup hosted by the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, Cultra, over the 12-14 October. Royal North’s RS fleet has been blossoming over the past two years and the success of this event is likely to assist the class’s growth further in Ireland.

The first race started in a light, but steady, south westerly breeze. The RS400 fleet was first off the start line, sailing (after some hiccups) an outer loop trapezoidal course, with the RS200s following five minutes later sailing a windward/leeward course. In the RS400s Ian Robson and Sandy Johnson started off their winning form with a first place. In the RS200s, Pete Vincent and Heather King battled their way up the fleet to take first place. Principal Race Officer, Nigel Kearney, made the wise decision to abandon racing for the day as the wind continued to drop.

After enjoying Royal North’s hospitality the night before, the weary competitors arrived at the club slightly bleary eyed to find that the wind hadn’t quite woken up either. The one hour postponement gave everyone I little longer to gear themselves up for the gruelling four races that lay ahead.

In the end the wind filled in to more than forecast treating the fleet to near perfect sailing conditions. Several capsizes left numerous competitors swimming - Tiffany and Simon Brien opted for a different route into the water by attempted to sink their RS400 by going out sailing without their floor hatch closed!

Greg O’Brien and Pete Rowley, Leighton King and Richard Brown and Jono Shelley and Chris Blackburn all recorded wins in the RS400 fleet while Pete Vincent and Heather King and Ian Pickard and Jane Hivey each collected two firsts in the RS200 fleet.

The final day of the championship promised more of the same. After a slightly delayed start, racing got underway with Ian Robson and Sandy Johnston and Pete Vincent and Heather King continuing to dominate their respective fleets. Capsizes and black flags continued to make an impact on the results with some having more dire consequences than others - Adam McCullough and Craig Martin righted their boat to witness their lunch drifting at high speed away from them!

Whilst English boats dominated the leader board, the competition for the Irish Championship was fierce. In the end Greg Bell and Barry Swanston from the host club won out in the RS400 fleet whilst Frank O’Rourke and Sarah Byrne from Greystones Sailing Club secured the trophy in the RS200 fleet.

The event also incorporated the Northern Area Championship. Greg Bell and Barry Swanston and Leah Anderson and Sian McCleave were awarded the Quay Leisure trophies in the RS400 and RS200 fleets respectively.

Fat Face vouchers were presented to the First Lady Helm in each fleet (Tiffany Brien and Hannah Yuill) and the First Junior Helm in each fleet (Ross Vaughan and Ben Brooks).

All deemed the event to have been a great success and hopefully a return to Royal North will be on the cards for 2008.

Results:

RS400

1-Ian Robson and Sandy Johnson
2-Leighton King and Richard Brown
3-Jono Shelley and Chris Blackburn

Irish National Champion: Greg Bell and Barry Swanston
NI Champion: Greg Bell and Barry Swanston
First Lady Helm: Tiffany Brien
First Junior Helm: Ross Vaughan

RS200

1-Pete Vincent and Heather King
2-Ian Pickard and Jane Hivey
3-Paul Lewis and Felicity Pearson

Irish National Champion: Frank O’Rourke and Heather King
NI Champion: Leah Anderson and Sian McCleave
First Lady Helm: Hannah Yuill
First Junior Helm: Ben Brooks