Olympians out in Hayling

The final event of the RYA Olympic Classes Spring Series was held this weekend

Three of Great Britain’s Beijing-bound crews claimed wins at the final event in the 2008 RYA Olympic Classes Spring Series, which drew to a close at Hayling Island Sailing Club this weekend (10-11 May).

49er world silver medallists Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes and the 470 crews of Christina Bassadone and Saskia Clark and Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield topped the tables at the end of the two-day Spring Series event, which provides home-grown talents in the Olympic classes, either on the RYA’s World Class Programme or aspiring to be, the chance to race against regular Olympic classes competitors and some of Skandia Team GBR’s top performers.

Racing finally got underway on Saturday afternoon after a stint on shore waiting for the wind to build. Morrison and Rhodes took an early lead in the 49er event, with two race wins and a second from the three races held on the first day, while Hannah Mills and Katrina Hughes were the leading female 470 crew at the end close of play on Saturday. Athens silver medallists Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield topped the combined 470 results table with a first, a second and a third from the three races.

But while Morrison and Rhodes held on to their lead to claim honours by five points in the 49er class this weekend, it was all change in the 470 fleet on Sunday, with Christina Bassadone and Saskia Clark posting a steady third and two firsts to allow them to discard the seventh they picked up on Saturday and win the weekend by a point over Athens silver medallists Rogers and Glanfield.

Mills and Hughes finished in third, but combined with their sixth place at the first Spring Series event, held at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in February, it was enough to see them take the 2008 Spring Series crown in the 470 women’s event.

Luke Patience and Chris Grube, who finished in fourth at this weekend’s event, win the overall 470 men’s Spring Series title thanks to their first place at Weymouth earlier this year.

The overall Spring Series victory in the 49er goes to John Pink, who won the February leg at WPNSA with double Olympic medallist Simon Hiscocks, and finished second this weekend with Rick Peacock.

“A great weekend of China-esque conditions and determined race management meant that the full complement of six races gave the China stars a chance to brush up on light winds and tidal sailing and the rest of the fleet a chance to line up against Britain’s best,” explained Skandia Team GBR Development Squad Manager Barrie Edgington.

“The slick turnaround of races was helped by an unusually small number of classes due to International event clashes but this did enable the race team to maximise the wind window and finish of the Spring series in nip and tuck style with the fleets close and competitive. “

Edgington continued: “Next year I would expect we will be back to a full complement of classes and event weekends, but for anyone keen to cut their teeth with the best in Olympic Classes, this autumn’s RYA Olympic Classes National Ranking Series kicks off at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta (16- 20 September) followed by two further events at WPNSA on 4-5 October and 18-19 October.”

Results:

470 (combined)

1-Christina Bassadone-Saskia Clark (8pts)
2-Nick Rogers-Joe Glanfield (9pts)
3-Hannah Mills-Katrina Hughes (11pts)

49er

1-Stevie Morrison-Ben Rhodes (6pts)
2-John Pink-Rick Peacock (11pts)
3-Dylan Fletcher-Alain Sign (18pts)

Overall Spring Series standings:

470 women

1-Hannah Mills-Katrina Hughes
2-Christina Bassadone-Saskia Clark
3-Sophie Weguelin-Sophie Ainsworth

470 Men

1-Luke Patience-Chris Grube
2-Neil Marsden-Ian Dobson
3-Matt Burge-Daniel Schieber

49er

1-John Pink-Simon Hiscocks/Rick Peacock
2-Richard Mason-Tom Peel
3-Dylan Fletcher-Alain Sign