Pascoe takes first foiling nationals

Simon Hiscocks reports on the first RS600FF National Championship

If ever there was an ideal way to open a chapter in a class’s history, then the conditions at Hayling Island Sailing Club must surely be it. The RS600FF National Championships began in ten to 12 knots of wind, clear sunny skies and a very temperate 17 degrees C.

Although the Foiling ‘6’s, as surely they will be known, have had a number of official events but this really marked the start of the racing scene and what a start it was.

Sam Pascoe is a name synominous with foiling Moths and has also done more 600 foiling than any one else, having been working with Linton Jenkins in the development of the foil systems and new carbon boat . Unsurprisingly, he started the event as favourite but he wasn’t to have the event all his own was . Alex Tobert was an early adopter of the airborne flying machine and had impressed on numerous previous occasions, whilst another Alex, the Knight in flying armour, with his new carbon boat had the potential to cause an upset.

Race one got away, under the able and watchful eye of race officer Simon Payne (Moth National Champion), with a clean start and was unsurprisingly led from start to finish by Pascoe. The battle for second and third began in earnest. Tobert, Knight and Simon Hiscocks swapping places on each lap. Unfortunately Hiscock’s boat gave way with a lap to go leaving Knight to pip Tobert to the coveted second place a trend that was to continue for the rest of the day.

By race three a number of competitors had worked out what to do and Pascoe had his work cut out when Alistair Richardson powered off the line to lead the early part of the beat, unfortunately, he capsized on his tack leaving Tobert to lead around the windward mark followed by Knight, Hiscocks and lastly Pascoe. Good covering by this group kept Pascoe behind for two laps before his foiling gybes got the better of Knight to once again earn Pascoe victory in the closest Foiling 600 race ever.

A pattern had been set with Pascoe winning, Knight second, Tobert third and Hiscocks and Richardson fighting for fourth and fifth. Meanwhile wily old dog Dave Smithwhite was keeping himself together to lead the reminder of the fleet. However, with the Sunday forecasting big breeze how would this upset the form?

Sunday began lighter than forecast but quickly built to a gusty 18 – 20 knots. Pascoe really showed his class leading around every mark. Gybing on his foils and seemingly sailing around in perfect control. Tobert took on the second place mantle, but a late start meant he missed the first race of the day which handed the runners up spot to Knight. Knight didn’t find it that easy with some spectacular wipe-outs winning him the “Falling with Style” prize and also let Richardson in to the top three race finishers club. Smithwhite’s steady performance earned him fifth overall.

Henry Clark and Paul Noble won prizes for the “Most Impressive Performance” with some dogged determination in the breeze.

Four new Carbon boats on display looked very good and took the top two places overall but with the exception of Pascoe there appeared to be little speed difference between the new and old boats. It’s also worth noting that Richardson achieved third whilst using the old sail.

16 happy and exhilarated sailors left Hayling all looking forward to the next racing opportunity. A proper circuit is planned for next season with a possibility of a winter racing program just like Moth sailing without the blogs!

Results:

Pos	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R5	Net	Tot
1st	Sam Pascoe	Weirwood	-1	1	1	1	1	1	6	5
2nd	Alex knight		2	2	2	2	-4	3	15	11
3rd	Alex Tobritt	WPNSA	3	3	4	(17.0 DNS)	2	2	31	14
4th	Alister Richardson	Christchurch SC	4	4	5	(17.0 DNS)	3	4	37	20
5th	Dave Smithwhite	HISC	5	-6	6	4	5	6	32	26
6th	Stuart Appleby	WPNSA	6	8	8	5	6	-9	42	33
7th	Paul Noble	HISC	8	-9	9	7	8	7	48	39
8th	Graham Simmonds	HISC	7	7	7	6	(17.0 DNC)	17.0 DNC	61	44
9th	Henry Clarke		(17.0 DNC)	12	10	8	9	8	64	47
10th	Ian Gotts	RUYC	(17.0 DNF)	17.0 DNF	17.0 DSQ	3	7	5	66	49
11th	Simon Hiscocks	HISC	(17.0 DNF)	5	3	17.0 DNC	17.0 DNC	17.0 DNC	76	59
12th	James George	HISC	10	13	11	(17.0 DNC)	17.0 DNC	17.0 DNC	85	68
13th	Joe Pascoe	Weirwood SC	9	10	(17.0 DNC)	17.0 DNF	17.0 DNC	17.0 DNC	87	70
14th	Alex Adams	FPSC	(17.0 DNC)	11	17.0 DNF	17.0 DNC	17.0 DNC	17.0 DNC	96	79
15th	Stephen Austins	HISC	(17.0 DNC)	17.0 DNC	17.0 DNC	17.0 DNC	17.0 DNC	17.0 DNC	102	85
15th	Sam Luxford-Watts	QMSC	(17.0 DNC)	17.0 DNC	17.0 DNC	17.0 DNC	17.0 DNC	17.0 DNC	102	85