Results / GUL RS300 National Championship Looe SC - 10/09/2006

After 2 days of force 6 winds and mountainous seas, the fleet was relieved to awake to a gentle force 1 for the final day of the Gul- sponsored RS300 Nationals at Looe SC. Fastest out of the blocks in race 9 was John Carron from Milton Keynes SC who was using his inland shift- spotting prowess to great effect. He was followed round the first mark by Steve Bolland from Bristol Corinthian and brother Nick from Draycote Water. Steve and Nick pulled though Carron on the second beat and steadily pulled ahead as the race progressed to finish in that order. Steve Cockerill from Stokes Bay edged out Carron for 3rd just before the finish. The fleet split left and right on the first beat of the tenth and final race but most of the fleet arrived pretty much together at the top mark. After the first set of reaches the running order was established and it was Cockerill leading from Bolland (N) and Ian Smith. A further gaggle of boats just behind included Bolland (S), Paul Thompson and Carron. Despite the breeze becoming progressively lighter there was surprising little place changing and at the finish the order was Cockerill, Bolland (N) and Carron. All that was left was for the fleet to drift ashore and reflect on another storming championship expertly managed by Looe Sailing Club. Once again Cockerill was the well deserved winner having taken 8 of the 10 races, showing particular speed (and stability) on the two windy days. Ian Baillie from Dalgety was 2nd overall having a series of 2nd place finishes to count. Steve Bolland was 3rd, being one of only 2 sailors other than Cockerill to win a race, the other being Matt Sharman in race 1. Nick Bolland was 4th overall with John Wilson from Prestwick in 5th and Cliff Shaw from Stokes bay in 6th.