Results / GUL RS RACING CIRCUIT WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND SAILING ACADEMY - 30/06/2001

GUL RS RACING CIRCUIT AT WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND SAILING ACADEMY � JUNE 30/JULY 1. A total of 196 boats in five classes set a new record for numbers competing at a GUL RS Racing Circuit event at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy on June 30/July 1. This was the first event that the RS700�s competed in and what a performance, 16 boats with some major hot competition, the return of some old RS friends and spectacular action downwind on Saturday. Without doubt a very successful launch of a new class by any criteria. The 196 boats were split over three courses. The fact that Race Officers David Campbell-James, Frank Newton and Richard Stevens ran three good quality races each day in a relatively short space of time speaks volumes for their race management skills and the co-ordination work of the WPSA staff. Of course no event can be a success without the help of the weather gods and were they smiling on Weymouth at the weekend!! 16-22 knots of breeze all day on Saturday from the South West with sunshine all afternoon. Full on Monty sailing, crews going yahoo downwind and a yacht dismasting for good measure; what else could a self respecting dinghy sailor want. Ah yes, beer, Saturday night featured a very large party in one of the old hangers and the video of the Lions stuffing the Wallabies!!! After all this excitement there were many relieved people when Sunday started grey but with a very gentle 5-6 knots from the west. The breeze very slowly built to 10 knots during the day and by the end there was glorious sunshine. Whilst the results showed some people had a weekend of two halves the overall winners showed their true mettle by producing consistent results across some varied conditions. With the Nationals only one month away this weekend again proved that each class has many front-runners with many crews hitting form at the right time; I for one would not like to predict who the winners will be. The GUL RS Racing Circuit is now building very nicely to a really tight finish in all classes; the last two Circuit events of the season will see some major tussles. RS200�s What a weekend for the 200�s, 42 boats and some of the most fantastic competitive races ever seen. The 200�s now have real depth in the fleet with so many boats showing they were capable of scoring top results. Race 1 was led at the first mark by Pete Vincent/Trudie Danbury just ahead of Mark and Samuel Littlejohn. A very wet gybe for the Vincent/Danbury team left the Littlejohn�s in charge but they started a lap too many. Dave and Nikki Derby knew the course and took full advantage to win from Jon Lewis/Lizzie Humphries and the Hewitsons. Race 2 was a titanic struggle between the Fisks, Lewis, Littlejohn�s and Vincent. Vincent seemed to have settled the issue with a major final beat but the Littlejohn�s had the battle angle into the final leeward mark and just managed to get through Vincent�s lee to win with the Fisks third and Ian Pickard/Laurie Dunn fourth. The Littlejohn�s had a storming start at the leeward end in race 3 and had pulled out an impressive lead at the first leeward mark. Steve Dunn/Lucy Davey and Vincent/Danbury slowly eroded this lead and it was a relieved but very happy Littlejohn team that were still just ahead at the finish with Dunn second, Vincent third and the Hewitsons fourth. The change of conditions on Sunday saw some new faces to the fore. A very close battle in race 4 was won by Paul and Suzie Hammett just ahead of Chris and Georgina Howarth with Harry and Prue Roome third with the Derby�s fourth. All of the first three boats carried useful results from Saturday, Chris Howarth, crewed by his young daughter had scored a great sixth in the strongest breeze. The Littlejohn�s had finished 11th and the overall standings were now very open. The Roome�s blasted off the pin end this time in race 5 to hit left and lead at the first mark. Chris Howarth then seemed to be heading for victory when a capsize gybing on the second run cost him dear. The Fisks said thank you very much and won by a comfortable distance from the Derby�s and the Roome�s, Dunn was fourth with the Littlejohn�s fifth. Some frantic adding up between races showed there were still plenty of possible winners and that a ridiculous number of boats were in the shake up for overall prizes. The Hammett�s were always well in contention in race 6 and scored a deserved victory with the Derby�s producing a strong Sunday showing second, whilst the consistent Roome�s scored their third third of the day. The Littlejohn�s were always in the leading group and finished fourth; with the other leading contenders behind them this was more than enough for overall victory. With good alround speed and plenty of tactical nous Mark and Sam have set their store out for the Nationals and believe me Sam does tell dad what the course is and which way to go up the beats. The Hammett�s have only had a 200 this year and Paul feels they still need to spend time in the boat. Saturday was their wedding anniversary and to celebrate Paul pushed Suzie off the centreboard when they capsize; who says romance is dead. The GUL RS Racing Circuit is now a total two horse race with the Fisks gaining the advantage at Weymouth with their third overall. They now lead the circuit with 9 points from the Hewitsons on 12 points, Tom and Jo must be aiming though to discard their 8th place at Weymouth. Pete Vincent 520 Mark Littlejohn Samuel Littlejohn 16 1 5 1 1 11 5 4 653 Paul Hammett Suzie Hammett 22 2 6 5 43 1 9 1 626 Paul Fisk Caroline Fisk 23 3 7 3 43 5 1 7 700 Dave Derby Nicki Derby 25 4 1 16 43 4 2 2 696 Steve Dunn Lucy Davy 25 5 4 9 2 26 4 6 618 Harry Roome Prue Roome 25 6 11 12 5 3 3 3 383 Pete Vincent Trudie Danbury 33 7 18 2 3 7 10 11 655 Tom Hewitson Jo Hewitson 34 8 3 7 4 13 7 15 695 Chris Howarth Georgina Howarth 36 9 43 13 6 2 6 9 654 Jonathan Lewis Lizzie Humphrey 42 10 2 6 10 10 16 14 GUL RS RACING CRCUIT OVERALL �counting 4 out of 5 events 1. Paul and Caroline Fisk 9ts 2. Tom and Jo Hewitson 12 pts 3. Jon Lewis Lizzie Humphries 20pts 4. Ian Pickard Laurie Dunn 30 pts 5. Steve Dunn Lucy Davey 36 pts