AW Accounting RS600 Nationals at Weymouth - Days 1 & 2

Day 1 After being held ashore waiting for the 700 to finish their morning, the fleet launched moderate to light breeze. With only one boat over the fleet got away to a clean start with much of the fleet choosing to tack off early and hit the right hand side

. The 8 or so boats that went left gained the advantage with Peter Nelson rounding in first followed by Andy Heissig and Chunky, with George Smith and Jamie just behind. The rest of the race was more or less a procession with few places changing throughout. Towards the end of the race the wind began to ease and at the finish Peter took line honours, with a decent lead, followed by Andy, Chunky, Jamie and the rest of the boat’s that went left up the first beat.

The race officer did a sterling job of turning the fleet around, with more or less everyone learning from the first race and heading off hard left. With the wind dying the race favoured those who had the cleanest air and the fewest pies on board. Oli “featherweight” Scrimshaw made the best of the first beat to round in first with Tom Gall close 2nd and Dan Saltmarsh chasing Jamie round. Jamie came past Tom at the 3rd mark and with the breeze dropping all the time the race officer sensibly shortened the course, giving Oli the win followed by Jamie, Tom and Dan. Jamie is leading overnight with the most consistent scores from the day, Peter Nelson in 2nd and Oli Scrimshaw in 3rd.

Day 2

Day 2 of the AW accounting Nations saw the celebrity appearance of Ian Jubb. With the RS200’s sailing out in the bay and the possibility of a long sail home for the evening beer 4 races were held in Portland Harbour in 16 to 18knots of wind with a short chop.

The first race started cleanly with the fleet splitting evenly left and right up the first beat. Showing clean heels the top 6 boats came in evenly from both sides of the course. With a lap of the harbour only taking 15 minutes there was little chance to rest. Chunky showing that he can still turn it on took the race wing followed by Mark C and George S.

Race two started similarly with a split. Andy Heissig, showing the he has not lost boat speed, was in the top 3 at the first mark, only to find he’d lost his boat handling skills and stuck himself on the buoy. The fleet mostly managed to duck round him, with one exception – Mark being jousted off the back of his boat by Andy’s mast. George S sailed well to his first nationals race victory followed by Jason R and Pete N.

Race 3 was similar to the first race but this time Ian Jubb lead at the first mark and was never headed to take the victory. Jamie M was hot on his heels but could not hold off Mark or Chunky on the last reach.

Race 4, Jamie got a clean start and was first round the windward mark. Hot on his heels with a gaggle of 4 boats eager to press him down the reach. Mark managed to sail past Jamie which sucked him back into the gaggle. Jamie then rounding the mark at the end of the reach, turtled, and watched as the fleet roared past. Mark cover the fleet down the run, but was obviously celebrating too early and rolled it in at the leeward mark to watch the fleet sail past him. Over the next lap there was very little in terms in place change. Ian Jubb pulled another bullet out of the bag with Chunky and Jason closely behind.

After day 2 the scores are so close the whole event is still to play for.

25/8/2011 16:58