Exe Sailing Club RS 200 SW Ugly Tour 2014

On Saturday the 12th of July, Exe sailing club provided their usual fantastic hospitality to the visiting RS200's for the 4th round of the www.2ndhanddinghies.com SW Ugly tour. The wind was 3knts from the south but due to build to 11knts from the SW around 13.00 and then continue to NW later in the evening. This worked well as racing, due to tides was not starting till 13.45 with 4 short races planned.  The 200's launched in the ebbing tide to the race area, west of the estuary mouth. As if on que the wind filled in from the SW just in time for race 1.

Race 1 got underway with a clean start, Ed Whitehead/Karen Baker making the most of the upwind leg to lead at the first mark. Richard Edwards/Paru Edwards close on their heels and using good downwind speed passing to take the lead. Matt Mee/Emma Norris closed the gap to pass Whitehead/Baker on the last run finishing Edwards, Mee/Norris, Whitehead/Baker.

The wind had swung right for the start of Race 2, again Whitehead/Baker made the most of the first leg to lead at the first mark with Mee/Norris right behind them, a close battle insued until a further big swing right down the penultimate downwind leg bringing Jeremy Stephens/Royal in from the right to split the battle. Finishing Mee/Norris, Stephens/Royal and Whitehead/Baker.

A further swing right with drop in pressure and yet another windward mark change for the exe race team. Race 3 got away clean with Mee/Norris taking the lead start to finish, this time hot on their heels was the team of John Teague/Victoria Upton followed by Whitehead/Baker to the finish.

Race 4 and another windward mark movement this time to the left as rain clouds doomed and the pressure increased to 15knts. In the last minute of start sequence the wind dropped swinging back right and the race team correctly abandoning the start. After a course change and re start the race got under way Mee/Norris taking the lead to the finish whilst Whitehead/Baker failed to fend off the closing Edwards team down the last run to finish Mee/Norris Edwards and Whitehead/Baker.

The trip back to the club was an exciting one as the wind dropped and the 7knts of incoming tide pushed the boats back to the club where sandwiches and cakes awaited the competitors.

Thanks to Exe sailing club for a great event, and to 2ndhanddinghies.com for sponsoring the circuit. 

Edd Whitehead