Results / Sprints & Scottish AGM Helensburgh SC - 08/10/2016

Helensburgh RS200 sprint regatta 08/10/2016 - JP Watersports Scottish tour 2016

Link to photos by Craig Chalmers

It was feeling rather autumnal as 16 RS200s arrived at Helensburgh Sailing Club for the final event of the 2016 JP Watersports Scottish Tour; ‘The Sprints’. This didn't quell enthusiasm though and after a briefing the boats launched and crossed the channel to the racing area.

For this event up to eight short races were planned and with all races to count. Consistency and avoiding any big scores was key if you wanted to feature in the prizes. Race one got away cleanly, the same couldn't however be said for the first windward mark – ‘bonkers’ was one description. Carnage, a raft or a scrum would also be pretty accurate! Anyone that managed to steer clear of the carnage made huge gains. Neil Manderson and Alice Meaden used their home knowledge to take the win followed by Martin Faulkner and Bill Forsyth in the borrowed ‘Red Shed’ in second.

The race officer lengthened the course slightly for race two ensuring the boats were a little more spread by the windward mark. This time Fiona Rigg and Helen Wightman managed to escape the pack for the win.

Allan and Amy Lennox won race three before Roger Carter and Rachael found form to win races four and five. Josh Kerr and Fenella had a great race in race five to cross the line in second only to find they had been OCS. They didn't let the disappointment hold them back though and managed to maintain concentration and pace as the wind dropped and the boats drifted through the finish to take the win.

The sun then decided to make an appearance but unfortunately this lead to the wind disappearing. After a short wait the race officer decided to up sticks and reset the course on the other side of the channel, back near the club house. One final race got away, won by Allan and Amy Lennox before the fleet headed for the shore for prizes, AGM and food.

With five different race winners across the seven races and lots of place changing throughout the short races only two points separated the top three boats. In first were Roger and Rachael, Allan and Amy took second on count back ahead of Fiona and Helen in third and Neil and Alice in fourth.

Event report by Fiona Rigg

This event was a great end to what has been a strong year on the JP Watersports RS200 Scottish tour, with numbers up on last year, 34 individual entries, 14 boats of which doing 3 or more events. This year we were lucky enough not to have any event cancellations.

The winners of the JP Watersports Scottish series were Roger Carter and Rachael Cooke, followed by Chris and Kirsty Perry second, Martin Faulkner and Bill Forsyth third.

Top participating club award was given to Largs sailing club, with 13 boats entered in the series.

Best newcomers judged on results were Brendan and Matt

Bonus prizes went to Neil and Alice for their skills finding their way to events, Chris Perry for his come-back after hand injury and Josh Kerr for bodging a repair halfway through a race.

JP Watersports, our generous and supportive sponser, kindly donated a Jib, to be raffled off to those who had competed on the Scottish tour events. The winners of the draw were Robert Walker and Amy Romaniuk.

A big thank you goes to Roger Carter for being class representative and keeping the chat going for the last year. He is standing down but Matt Morson has taken up the reins.

Good luck to those representing the class at the Scottish champion of champions 22-23 October at Largs

Please get in touch via our RS200 scottish tour facebook page or via RS association website if you are interested in getting involved.