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21 hardy 800 teams arrived at Grafham for a cold winter champs, with some put off by the cold and light winds forecast. In fact a decent breeze of 10-15 knots materialised to give good close racing on a variation the normal windward leeward course - with a trapezoid being run, leaving a tight bottom reach which caught a few teams out during the course of the first day.
Over the course of the weekend one team showed that they currently have the edge on the rest of the fleet, with Ben McGrane and Roz Allen being pushed hard by other teams in individual races but pulling through every time to convincingly take the event with straight firsts.
Behind them a group of boats were consistently close, with the overall results showing that the next 5 boats were separated by just 4 points. A second place in the final race gave Ben Schooling and George Kingsnorth second overall, with Charlie Roome and Dave Steed taking third after a consistent weekend which put them ahead of the chasing back including Justin Deal/Ollie Page, Rob Watson/John Clifton, Neil Baker/James Hughes, The Visser brothers and James Date/Toby Wincer.
The silver fleet was won by fleet newcomers but RS regulars Nick Charles and Chris Martin, who showed they are finding the pace to challenge the rest of the fleet as they spend more time in the boat. Locals Joel Walker and Sarah Crossman were second in the silver fleet, which included a strong performance in the first race of Day 2.
With several teams having been taking part in the big winter handicap races as well competition is hotting up, the fleet now moves to Chew Valley in March for the first circuit event of the year, by which time hopefully we'll be able to feel our fingers and toes!
Rank | Fleet | SailNo | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Nett |
1 | RS800 | 1163 | Ben McGrane | Roz Allen | Netley SC | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
2 | RS800 | 1121 | Ben Schooling | George Kingsworth | Helensburgh SC | -9 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 20 |
3 | RS800 | 1158 | Charlie Roome | David Sted | Royal Freshwater Bay SC | 3 | 5 | 6 | 2 | (22.0 DNF) | 5 | 21 |
4 | RS800 | 1133 | Justin Deal | Ollie Paye | Lanahy SC | 2 | 7 | (22.0 DNC) | 5 | 2 | 6 | 22 |
5 | RS800 | 1148 | James Date | Toby Wincer | Port Dinorwick SC | -11 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
6 | RS800 | 1154 | Justin Visser | Ryan Visser | Royal Lymington YC | 4 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | -9 | 24 |
7 | RS800 | 1153 | Rob Watson | John Clifton | Royal Lymington YC | 10 | 2 | 2 | 10 | -11 | 4 | 28 |
8 | RS800 | 1144 | Nicholas Charles | Chris Martin | Datchet Water SC | 7 | 6 | 9 | 8 | -12 | 11 | 41 |
9 | RS800 | 1112 | Ralph Singleton | Sophie Singleton | Chew Valley Lake SC | 8 | -11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 45 |
10 | RS800 | 1162 | Nick Peters | Emma White | Hayling Island SC | 6 | -13 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 46 |
11 | RS800 | 1130 | Neil Baker | James Hughes | Hayling Island SC | 5 | 9 | 8 | (22.0 DNC) | 4 | 22.0 DNC | 48 |
12 | RS800 | 868 | Joel Walker | Sarah Crossman | Grafham Water SC | 13 | -15 | 14 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 57 |
13 | RS800 | 1005 | Andrew Gould | Emma Pethybridge | Weston SC | -19 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 58 |
14 | RS800 | 1132 | Mick Whitmore | Sarah Smith | Eastbourne Sovereign SC | 12 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 9 | -17 | 58 |
15 | RS800 | 1099 | Julian Wild | Ben Arnold | Blackwater SC | -16 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 67 |
16 | RS800 | 1147 | Brett Elway | Dan Belben | Stokes Bay | 17 | 16 | 7 | (22.0 DNC) | 16 | 13 | 69 |
17 | RS800 | 1020 | Martin Penty | James Penty | Beaver | 21 | 19 | (22.0 DNC) | 12 | 13 | 14 | 79 |
18 | RS800 | 1072 | Alex Farr | Marcelle Newbold | Stokes Bay | 14 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 19 | (22.0 DNC) | 82 |
19 | RS800 | 858 | Miles Roebuck | Graham Heath | Oxford SC | 20 | 18 | (22.0 DNC) | 17 | 18 | 18 | 91 |
20 | RS800 | 803 | David Marchant | Alayne Seymour | Grafham Water SC | 18 | (22.0 DNC) | 22.0 DNC | 22.0 DNC | 17 | 15 | 94 |
21 | RS800 | 1057 | Paul Allen | Michael Allen | Leigh & Lowton | 15 | (22.0 DNC) | 22.0 DNC | 22.0 DNC | 22.0 DNC | 22.0 DNC | 103 |