RS Class Racing is extremely well known for tight finishes but you could not get a tighter overall result then the leading two boats in the RS600 fleet produced at Northampton on March 31 and April 1.
RS Class Racing is extremely well known for tight finishes but you could not get a tighter overall result than the leading two boats in the RS600 fleet produced at Northampton on March 31 and April 1. Andy White and Anthony York both had the same scores of 1,1,1,2,2,3 and overall victory could only be decided by referring to the results of the last race in which both sailed. Andy won the final race on Sunday and Anthony was third; hence Andy White gained his first overall victory at a RS Racing Circuit event. Even allowing for this tight margin the event will be remembered for the amazing sailing on Saturday.
It soon became clear that the wind on Saturday was going to be challenging as big lumps of wind arrived; often shifting 30 degrees at the same time. Added to this the race officer set a W-shaped downwind course with three gybe marks. In race two the wind hit Force 7 for a whole lap of the 600’s race. It was testimony to the skill of the sailors and strength of the boats that so many boats were able to record a full set of results. Anthony York enjoyed the conditions with a 1,2,1 set of results with Andy White winning the second race. Mark Sempers also enjoyed the condition with a 4,4,3 scoreline; Ben Willows also scored a very useful 3,5,7.
Sunday was very different with sunshine and a very patchy Force 2-4 with the fleet going afloat a little apprehensive with tales of a 7ft pike ringing in their ears until they checked the date! The White/York dogfight continued with White holding the upper hand with 1,3,1 scoreline. James McIntosh had scored a fine third place in race two on Saturday and now produced a 3,2,2 scoreline to break up the White and York domination.
Although Sunday’s wind may not have been fully to the liking of the 600 fleet they all left Northampton with glowing faces, tired bodies and very happy bunnies looking forward to a season of very close racing on the GUL RS Racing Circuit. Northampton SC had done an excellent job in running the event, Race Officer John Wayling had been right to race throughout Saturday and had done a superb job in fitting in so many races.
Overall Results
1st Andy White (Stokes Bay SC) 7pts
2nd Anthony York (Northampton SC) 7pts
3rd James McIntosh (Stone SC) 16pts
4th Mark Sempers (Datchet Water SC) 21pts
5th Ben Willows (Northampton SC) 25pts
6th Brian Greensmith 30pts