Results / GUL RS National Championships Filey SC - 08/09/2005

GUL RS300 National Championship The GUL RS300 2005 National Championships were held at Filey Sailing Club from the 8th to 11th of September and the 29 strong fleet experienced a range of conditions from light wind and flat water to force 5 and monster waves. The wind was a light force 2 and offshore for Day 1, giving tricky tactical decisions for the fleet. First at the windward mark in Race 1 was Neil Beveridge (Prestwick), pursued by Alistair Wood (Bough Beech) and Matt Sargent (Royal Artillery). Sargent took over the lead and held it until the final run where Steve Cockerill (Stokes Bay) used some extra pressure to pass and win. Race 2 started in similar winds and Ian Smith (Craven) was first round with Cockrill and Ian Baillie (Dalgety) on his transom. A large shift then closed the fleet up and 29 RS300s converged on the gybe mark as one. Cockerill performed a Houdini act to squeeze round ahead and John Carron (Milton Keynes) nipped in behind while the bulk sorted themselves out. Passing opportunities were few after that with Cockerill winning from Carron and Beveridge. Day 2 was postponed due to a lack of wind followed by an excess of fog. The Easterly wind had by Day 3 built the waves up to epic proportions and although the wind was no more than 12 knots it gave rise to some amazing sailing. In Race 3, Baillie rounded ahead of the fleet and tore off down the waves. But at the next windward mark he misjudged the tide, which was all Cockerill needed to grab the inside and a lead that he held to the finish. Steve Bolland (Bristol) then pipped Baillie by half a boat length on the finish line. Race 4 and Bolland was round the windward mark ahead of Cockerill but no one was matching Cockerill�s downwind speed and he was soon past. Baillie and Carron took advantage of a late capsize from Bolland to take second and third places. Race 5 followed the same pattern with Cockerill passing Bolland down the early reaches. Bolland kept the mast pointing at the sky this time to keep Baillie in third. A shift up the first beat of Race 6 resulted in a crowded windward mark but Cockerill and Bolland again led. Conditions became difficult as the wind dropped but Paul Thompson (Combs) kept it all together to claim third place. The final day brought more wind to add to the rolling seas but at the windward mark it was still Cockerill, Bolland and Baillie fighting it out. These 3 opened a gap on the fleet in Race 7 with Cockerill winning and Baillie taking second after Bolland had capsized close to the finish, which also allowed Ben Yeats (Chanonry) into third. Race 8 and Cockerill once again led at the first mark with Baillie and Yeats leading the chase down the roller coaster waves, finishing in that order. By the final race the conditions had thinned the ranks somewhat, but the same faces were at the front, this time with Baillie leading from Cockerill, who surfed ahead by the end of the lap and could not be caught. Beveridge, then Yeats battled for third, but Bolland recovered well from a quick capsize to claim that spot. And so Steve Cockerill emerged as the convincing winner of the 2005 GUL RS300 National Championships in what were increasingly demanding conditions as the racing came to a climax. The increase in numbers and quality within the fleet was apparent to all those who attended and shows the growing popularity of the RS300 as a racing machine for those seeking a challenge. Many thanks to Filey for their hugely appreciated efforts in hosting our championship in what were very taxing conditions.