Results / Winter Championships Northampton SC - 08/02/2003

Saturday 8th of February saw the first instalment of the RS300 circuit for 2003. The RS300 fleet were joined by a similar number of RS600s at Northampton SC. The first race started under cloudy skies with a gusty force 3-5 blowing straight down the lake. Will Gulliver from the home club started out of the blocks fasted, and had a small lead at the first mark followed closely by the rest of the fleet. This lead was extended until the middle of the second lap when a slight lapse in concentration resulted in a swim. Steve Cook was the first to take advantage of the capsize and the pair were neck & neck rounding the leeward mark with a lap to go. Unfortunately Gulliver consolidated his position to win by about 100 meters from Cook with Bolland finishing soon after in third place. Race 2 started after a small break for lunch, Gulliver was again fast out of the blocks but this time chased by the Bolland brothers and Cook. The wind moderated slightly to a good force 3-4 and this gave some very tight racing throughout the fleet, but again it was Gulliver who had this nose in front when it mattered most (the finish). Followed by Cook and the Bolland brothers coming in 3rd & 4th. Race 3 The first beat followed the familiar pattern, but increased pressure from astern and some faultless tactics put Steve Bolland in the lead at the leeward mark, slowly but surely he was reeled in by Cook & Gulliver who passed him on the final beat, leaving Gulliver a comfortable first and Cook again second. Chris Mason showed a glimmer of promise at his first major championship by passing a rapidly tiring Bolland into the line to finish third. Race 4 started the next morning in similar wind strength but from a more northerly direction meaning it was now blowing across the lake giving larger wind shifts and interesting increases in strength. A navigation error away from the first windward mark gave the rest of the fleet a chance to put Gulliver in his place, and at the first leeward mark he rounded second behind Bolland with Simon Reynolds (a past circuit winner) right on his tail, The story has been written before and once again Gulliver put his lard to work, passing all before him, winning but with one of the smallest margins of the weekend. Nick Bolland started his second day well with a second and Simon Reynolds who was regaining past experience third. Race 5 followed immediately, Gulliver again proved the RS300�s weight carrying capabilities followed by the Bolland brothers, Nick repeating his performance from race 4 with a another second and Steve who had been very fast in earlier races only had swum once to often to be consistent a rapidly improving 3rd. Lunch followed with time to reflect on the positions, Nick Bolland & Steve Cook had a head to head race off for second and third place Race 6 started in a similar breeze, Steve Bolland again started well leading around the first windward mark. He was later passed by Steve Cook in a last ditch attempt for 2nd place overall, however Steve Bolland played the percentages and gradually in the final race marathon moved though to take the lead, thus giving him a well deserved 2nd place overall. Cook a man who had pushed hard for first place on Saturday came in 2nd in the race and 3rd overall followed by Simon Reynolds who finally found out which bits of string to pull. At the prize giving Cliff Shaw was awarded the well deserved persistence prize for finishing every race and improving to a 4th position in the last race The next event is at Bristol Corinthian on March 15/16 - See you there ! ! All the competitors had a really good time, and would like to thank Gul as title sponsors and Northampton Sailing Club and there officials for putting on such a brilliant event. The full result listing is available at: http://www.nsc.i12.com/rs303os.html