www.SPINNAKERWEB.net - RS200/400 FAT FACE EUROCUP/IRISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Forty boats from Ireland and the UK entered the Patterson Miller sponsored second round of the RS200/400 Fat Face Eurocup hosted by the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, Cultra, over the 12-14 October. Royal North’s RS fleet has been blossoming over the past two years and the success of this event is likely to assist the class’s growth further in Ireland.

The first race started in a light, but steady, south westerly breeze. The RS400 fleet was first off the start line, sailing (after some hiccups) an outer loop trapezoidal course, with the RS200 following five minutes later sailing a windward/leeward course. In the RS400s Ian Robson/Sandy Johnson started off their winning form with a first place. In the RS200s, Pete Vincent/Heather King battled their way up the fleet to take first place. Principal Race Officer, Nigel Kearney, made the wise decision to abandon racing for the day as the wind continued to drop. After enjoying Royal North’s hospitality the night before, the weary competitors arrived at the club slightly bleary eyed to find that the wind hadn’t quite woken up either. The one hour postponement gave everyone I little longer to gear themselves up for the gruelling four races that lay ahead. In the end the wind filled in to more than forecast treating the fleet to near perfect sailing conditions. Several capsizes left numerous competitors swimming - Tiffany and Simon Brien opted for a different route into the water by attempted to sink their RS400 by going out sailing without their floor hatch closed! Greg O’Brien/Pete Rowley, Leighton King/Richard Brown and Jono Shelley/Chris Blackburn all recorded wins in the RS400 fleet while Pete Vincent/Heather King and Ian Pickard/Jane Hivey each collected two firsts in the RS200 fleet.    The final day of the championship promised more of the same. After a slightly delayed start, racing got underway with Ian Robson/Sandy Johnston and Pete Vincent/Heather King continuing to dominate their respective fleets. Capsizes and black flags continued to make an impact on the results with some having more dire consequences than others - Adam McCullough and Craig Martin righted their boat to witness their lunch drifting at high speed away from them!! Whilst English boats dominated the leader board, the competition for the Irish Championship was fierce. In the end Greg Bell/Barry Swanston from the host club won out in the RS400 fleet whilst Frank O’Rourke/Sarah Byrne from Greystones Sailing Club secured the trophy in the RS200 fleet. The event also incorporated the Northern Area Championship. Greg Bell/Barry Swanston and Leah Anderson/Sian McCleave were awarded the Quay Leisure trophies in the RS400 and RS200 fleets respectively. Fat Face vouchers were presented to the First Lady Helm in each fleet (Tiffany Brien and Hannah Yuill) and the First Junior Helm in each fleet (Ross Vaughan and Ben Brooks). All deemed the event to have been a great success and hopefully a return to Royal North will be on the cards for 2008.    Results:

RS400 Fleet1. Ian Robson/Sandy Johnson2. Leighton King/Richard Brown3. Jono Shelley/Chris Blackburn
Irish National Champion: Greg Bell/Barry Swanston

NI Champion: Greg Bell/Barry Swanston

First Lady Helm: Tiffany Brien

First Junior Helm: Ross Vaughan RS200 Fleet

1.      Pete Vincent/Heather King2.      Ian Pickard/Jane Hivey3.      Paul Lewis/Felicity Pearson

Irish National Champion: Frank O’Rourke/Heather King

NI Champion: Leah Anderson/Sian McCleave

First Lady Helm: Hannah Yuill

First Junior Helm: Ben Brooks