Final RS200 GUL Grand Prix event at Stokes Bay – the classic game of two halves

A decent turnout of 37 boats for the often graveyard slot directly after the nationals took part in the final GUL Grand Prix  event of the season at Stokes Bay on Sept 18/19. There were some very new faces to RS200 sailing, some making guest appearances in borrowed boats. I know it is a standard cliché but talk about the classic event of two halves. Saturday -sunny, light, shifty and patchy going even lighter bordering on the nonexistent. Sunday bolt steady 14 knots from the west slowly rising throughout the day to 20 knots for the final race with waves.

For Race 1 there was a 7-8 knot breeze from the west which shifted further round to the south west the longer the race progressed. The majority of the fleet had no idea who led particularly as the boat had no numbers on the sail; it transpired to be match racer Nick Cherry crewed by Charlotte Lawrence. Hamish Walker/Emma Clarke was second with Sam Liitlejohn/Marinthe Evangeldis third. With the course re- laid for the new due south promising looking breeze race 2 was dominated by Walker/Clarke who pulled out a big lead with National Champs Dave/Jane Hivey second and Ally Martin/Chris Catt third.

By now the wind had flicked back to the SW and race 3 started in a falling gentle breeze on a re-laid course. What breeze there was really faded as the leaders approached the windward mark, 617 just got round the windward mark, could this be Ian Sharps and Ellie leading a race in very light airs (!!); no it was Andrew Walsh and Nicky Macgregor  borrowing the boat.  The majority of the fleet then became stationary just stemming the tide but unable to get far enough up tide to round the mark. With the race shortened to one lap Walsh/Macgregor won from Stokes Bay Henry Rees/Rachel Cherry and Walker/Clarke. Luckily enough wind appeared to get the fleet round the windward mark before they completely lost the will to live. Of course as soon as everyone got ashore a lovely southerly appeared!

Sunday was very different as great breeze welcomed the competitors when they arrived. In race 4 it was a case of go left to the port lay line, a theme repeated throughout the day.  Harry/Prue Roome led before Eddie Whitehead/Karen Falcon took over. The Hivey’s though were enjoying the conditions and pulled through to win from Whitehead/Falcon and Catt/Martin. The Hivey’s were really in the groove now and dominated race 5 to win from Catt/Martin and James Stewart/Tobytastic recovering from their gin capsize. The Hivey’s also seemed to have race 6 in control but were rolled on a run by Walker/Clarke who won the race. Both boats thought this had given overall victory to Walker/Clarke but ashore they discovered they had been OCS in race 4 and now had to count a 10^th so the Hivey’s had won the final GUL Grand Prix having already sealed overall circuit victory.

A great last day for the GUL Grand Prix circuit, thanks to Stokes Bay and above all to GUL for sponsoring the circuit.

Pete Vincent