Champions

See the results at http://www.royaltorbayyc.org.uk/hosted2008/fire/fireos.html

Paul and Laura Kameen, winners of the overall Championship.

Phil and Jilly win the Ultimate Trophy, Peter and Dawn win top helm in the Gore over 41 yrs old, Jamie wins 3rd helm under 18 and Best Improver, Sophie wins 3rd Lady Helm - Go Restronguet!

Jamie collects a brand spanking new jib for winning "Best Improver" - like he needs the help!

Winners of the Restronguet Ovaloid Trophy for best under 18 helm in the Championships, Matt Johnson and Emma Mackley. I think my Dad was responsible for gifting this trophy back in the day, and it has been encouraging young helms ever since.

Congratulations to winners of Top Lady Helm, Lizzie Edwards (R) and crew Ruth Verrier-Jones (L)...and thanks for the friendly little shunt at the Leward mark today...women drivers, I don't know!

The Final Countdown - Race 8/8

The Final Countdown – Race 8/8

Conditions: NW moderate. Big shifts coming off the land. It's shifty, shifty, very very shifty....its very shifty!

Before the last race the race for the championships was tied between Mark Tait and Paul Kameen. We were on 23rd (dropped a place overnight as a result of a protest, which allowed someone to leapfrog us.)

Gate starts again today. The first is abandoned halfway after a huge header causes the starting procession to turn sharply into the melee of waiting boats. We are quite relieved after a second rate start, it being very crowded at the pin end.

The second start we take off with some space about half way along the line. Great, but the pathfinder is released just as we go, and tacks right on top of us. To make matters worse this is the boat we have to beat to gain a place in the series.

Crikey it’s shifty out there. Did I say that already? The boats that got away early are able to make more of the shifts. Peter and Dawn are 4th around the w-ward mark. We get there in the early 20’s with Dave&Betty on our tails. The boats that went left did best.

It’s opposite on the 2nd beat. A few boats head far right and overtake everyone to the w-ward mark. Nigel Wakefield goes so far right you’d think he was going home. But he effectively cuts a huge corner and comes out 100m in the lead. We play it safer up the middle-right and gain a few places, rounding in 19th.

The wind fills in on the final reaches and we manage to catch another, and some more on the final beats to finish 15th, just catching Peter&Dawn at the end. Sorry about that P&D!

At the front, Nigel manages to win the race, but the Chapionship is secured by Paul Kameen by keeping Mark Tait a few boats behind in the final beat. A series decided on the final beat of the final race – now that is proper job!
It has been a great week of sailing with some really challenging conditions. Our hands are raw, legs bruised and thighs aching. It looks like everyone feels the same, pretty much slumping into the bilges across the finishing line.

Our last score is enough to push us up to 21st out of 69 in the series, just inside the top-third where we were aiming to be. We are stoked. With no discards and including the practice race (Rothman’s Tropy) we have finished 14th overall. Whoaa, that’s worth the bruises – eh Liz! Thanks to Liz for putting up with me and being a top top crew!

Phil & Jilly finished top RSC boat, and 16th overall. Nice one guys.

Now for prize giving and the short drive back to sunny Kernow!

Catcha Later,
Ben

Cornish Olympics

Cornish Olympics

Twas fancy dress night, and the theme was Olympics, but to no ones surprise some of the Cornish contingent showed up in full Pirate costume. ARRRRR!

The contest for best dress was between a pair of gymnasts and a group of synchronised dancers who won with an impressive piece of choreography on the dance floor.

Liz and I won nothing for our Olympic efforts, but did win the day’s buddy prize with our buddies Lucy and Rachael (Buddies are allocated to eachother at the beginning of the week). Their 29th added to our 7th was the lowest buddy-score of the day.

One more race to go. Catcha later, Ben