Results / Ripon Open Ripon - 14/09/2002

The final round of this years Mike Saul Dinghy Services Northern Tour for RS200�s was held at Ripon sailing Club on Saturday 14th September. 18 RS200�s gathered at Farnham Lake for this the final round of the MSDS Northern Tour, in contrast to the previous weekends Ullswater event the wind was light to moderate and variable in direction, making the RO�s job a difficult one. Traditional Pond style courses were set using as few marks as possible whilst keeping the fleet away from the calm patches. Race 1 saw Patrick Altoft and Annabell Banham (Ripon) establish an early lead which they held to the finish without challenge, all the action was between the four chasing boats of Matthew and Steve Winter (Beaver), Andi Riley and Julie Marsden (Stewartby), Paul and Sharon Plested (Winsford Flash) and Ian and Nikki Smith (Ripon) as they searched for the quickest route to the leeward mark. The rounding order was Altoft, Plested, Smith, Riley and Winter, Smith managed to capsize when he failed to uncleat the main fast enough as a gust came through, this allowed Riley and Winter through and that was the order at the finish. Following a leisurely lunch break the fleet were treated to a minor course change that resulted in a very short lap and what proved to be a very processional off wind leg. Once again Altoft & Banham rounded the windward mark first to build up a substantial lead over the chasing pack. Jonathan Thompson and Ann Saul made up for their first race starting error and joined the front of the chasing pack, Plested�s pre occupation with luffing Smith to defend his 2nd place saw Winter and Thompson sneak through to round the leeward mark in 2nd and 3rd places, on the following lap Smith took advantage of a similar situation developing again to snatch second place which he held to the line with Winter taking 3rd , Thompson 4th and Plested 5th. The final race saw Altoft and Banham chased hard to the windward mark by Smith with Riley and Winter in close pursuit, Altoft and Smith went left downwind but Riley stayed out right, a move that secured second place which he held to the line with Smith in 3rd, Winter in 4th. Martin Smith and Barbara Howard having their best race of the day to took 5th place. All three races saw plenty of private battles throughout the fleet, some of the series regulars failing to make their mark on the leading pack, the results show just how close the racing was with several places being tied on points and the tie break rules being required. A special youth prize was awarded to Matthew Bartle and James Shelmerdine who completed all three races with determination and more than a little frivolity. The MSDS Northern Tour final positions were decided at the Ripon event, Mike Saul and Sophie Hartley once again taking the series victory with 5 straight wins, Richard Whiteley and Annabelle Banham sailed consistently to take 2nd place as Ian and Nikki Smith sneaked into 3rd place with their 2nd at Ripon taking them into 3rd in the series just 3 points ahead of Andrew and Eve Hartley in 4th, Len and Lisa Metcalfe held onto 5th place. The full series results and overall positions can be found in the RS events section of the Ripon SC website at www.ripon-sc.org.uk or on the RS associations web site at www.rs-association.com Thanks to Mike Saul for promoting the event, all the clubs and race officers who made us welcome and to all those who entered the series.