Results / Sprint Championships and Gul Grand Prix Rutland SC - 19/06/2010

Along with the RS200s, 400s and 500s the RS300 fleet enjoyed an impeccably-managed Sprint Championship at Rutland SC over the weekend of 19/20 June. Short, sharp races lasting no longer than 15 minutes over a typically windward/leeward course kept the racing tight and entertaining. The race team fitted in 104 individual races across the various fleets over the weekend and all with minimal turnaround times. On Saturday afternoon, for example, all the fleets enjoyed 3 races in no more than an hour. Impressive stuff.

Conditions on Saturday were lively with more than the forecast of 12-13 knots. In fact the many gusts kept everyone on their toes, examples of which can be found on www.fotoboat.com .

With races short, starting was at a premium and Sam Sutton-Reid (Leigh & Lowton) entertained the watching fleets with a high-risk port tack start in race 1. He was still going well until his main haulyard snapped 30 seconds later. Steve Bolland (Bristol Corinthian) won this race, as well as race 2 with Tim Keen (Sheffield Viking) 2^nd in both. Mark Henman (Sunderland) picked up a 3^rd in race 1 with Sutton-Reid recovering with a 3^rd in race 2.

Keen looked set to win race 3 until tipping it in on the gybe on the final run, handing the win to Sutton-Reid who continued his good form with a 2^nd in race 4 behind Bolland. Dave Barker (Draycote Water) picked up a 3^rd to improve on his three 4^th places in the opening races.

After 4 races it was in for lunch and a chance to catch our collective breaths. If anything the conditions were a mite brisker for the later set of  three races. These were to the liking of Bolland who scored 3 bullets, ahead of Sutton-Reid with two 2^nds who was then forced to miss the final race of the day with a broken tiller extension. Keen scored 4,3,2 in the final races with Barker continuing his good run and Harry McVicar (Aldenham) also beginning to show form.

After 7 races on Saturday the order was Bolland, Keen and Barker but with all to play for with a further 6 races on Sunday and no discards allowed. The conditions were more benign but with some wild shifts and gusts which became more pronounced as the day progressed.

Bolland continued his winning ways with a further 4 bullets but this belies the extremely close racing throughout the fleet. Keen scored three 2^nd places and was unlucky not to win race 10 when the wind switched off on the final run. Sutton-Reid was also going well as the lighter wind meant that his boat didn’t fall apart, scoring five top 3 places including a win in the final race.

Biggest improver on the day was McVicar who topped a string of 4^th places with a win in race 11. Even Steve Sharpe (RAFSA/Aldenham) was going better with his kicker now working effectively and new-to-the-circuit Gary Morris (South Cerney) was also finding the conditions more to his liking.

The final order was Bolland, Keen, Sutton-Reid but more importantly everyone left with huge smiles and the odd ache and pain after 13 close and exciting races. This is a brilliant racing format with next year’s event already eagerly anticipated.

Many thanks to the sponsors GUL, Rutland SC for their superb race management and the staff of The Wheatsheaf for refuelling what looked like the entire RS fleet on Saturday evening.