Only firsts and seconds

Christian Reynolds pulled off a great performance at the RS600 National Championships

Race one started in eight knots of breeze and sunshine from a very port biased line. Olly Straker led the race from the start, chased hard by Christian Reynolds, Ian Marshall and James Sainsbury (who had managed to get out on the water despite putting a hole in his boat whilst launching). Straker maintained his lead until the final reach of the Olympic style course when Reynolds rolled over the top of him very close to the final mark to take the win. Straker was second and Ian Marshall third.

The conditions were very similar at the start of race two. Most of the fleet started at the pin end again and headed off to the left. Straker and Jon Bradbury headed off to the right after a bad start which paid off. Reynolds reached the windward mark first with Bradbury second and Straker third. Straker overtook Bradbury on the reach and then Reynolds while going upwind. Straker won, Reynolds second with Marshall third after a big luffing match between the top three.

The wind dropped slightly and become patchy and fluky for the start of race three. The fleet spread fairly evenly across the course. Bradbury, David Annan and Straker headed to the right. Annan impeded Straker and was forced to do a penalty turn which dropped him down the fleet. Straker reached the windward mark first with Sainsbury second and Reynolds third. Straker lost five places in one leg leaving Reynolds to lead to the finish. Annan miraculously recovered from his to take second with Marshall third. Gales

After gales forced days two and three to be abandoned, the final day was overcast, but the wind had dropped to a far more manageable ten to 15 knots.

Race four saw the battle between Reynolds and Straker resume. The leading group of Straker, Reynolds, Ian Marshall and Annan pulled away from the rest of the fleet. Straker lead for most of the race to win, with Reynolds second and Ian Marshall third.

At the start of race five Marshall successfully started on port at the pin end and got away from the fleet. However, the very tight race between Reynolds and Straker pushed them both to the front of the fleet. Straker was leading on the last reach, but started to follow the 300s on another lap which allowed Reynolds, who was just a few lengths behind, to take the win. Straker finished second with Marshall third.

Reynolds led from the start of race six and pulled out a massive lead on the rest of the fleet. Straker and Marshall were having a close battle but Straker came out on top.

Straker attempted to a port tack flyer at the start of race seven, but was forced to tack at the last moment by Annan. Straker then hit the pin along with another boat that had attempted to start on port. Annan led at the windward mark but was overtaken by Marshall and David Nunn on the run. Marshall led to the end, breaking his run of third places. The next five swapped places a number of times, but Nunn held the rest off to finish second, and Reynolds pulled back up through the fleet to third after a bad first beat.

Christian Reynolds was crowned National Champion with a race to spare, winning the title for the second time. Olly Straker was second and last year’s champion Ian Marshall third. Dave Annan finished in fourth place and James Sainsbury was fifth.

The silver fleet was won by David Nunn with James Nuttall in second. The Probationer and Youth prizes were both won by Jon Bradbury, and Ian Marshall won the Masters prize.

Thanks go to the South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club for hosting a great event despite the inclement weather. Thanks also to event sponsors Gul and RS Circuit Sponsors Fat Face.

Results:

Pos	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	Tot
1	Christian Reynolds	Locks SC	1	2	1	2	1	1	3	8
2	Olly Straker	Weston SC	2	1	5	1	2	2	5	13
3	Ian Marshall	Oxford SC	3	3	3	3	3	3	1	16
4	David Annan	Grafham Water SC	10	4	2	4	7	5	4	26
5	James Sainsbury	Grafham Water SC	4	5	4	8	4	4	6	27
6	David Nunn	Datchet Water SC	9	13	8	6	8	6	2	39
7	Jonathan Powell	Portchester SC	7	7	7	7	6	8	20	42
8	John Charles	Leigh on Sea SC	6	9	13	5	12	7	7	46
9	Jon Bradbury	Bough Beech SC	11	6	6	13	5	13	20	54
10	Tom Walker	West Wittering	5	12	11	12	14	9	11	60
11	James Nuttall	Oxford SC	13	10	9	9	10	15	10	61
12	Stephen Minnikin	Portishead Y & SC	14	11	16	15	9	10	13	72
13	Tim Miller	Locks SC	16	15	15	10	13	12	8	73
14	Alan Goule	Paignton SC	17	14	10	14	11	14	12	75
15	Hugh Gabriel	Bewl Valley SC	15	17	14	11	20	11	9	77
16	Ken Potts	Gunfleet SC	8	8	12	20	20	20	20	88
17	George Smith	Bough Beech SC	12	16	17	20	20	20	20	105
18	Bradley Field	Benfleet YC	20	20	18	20	20	20	20	118
19	Richard Broughton	Grafham Water SC	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	120