Round six of the RS200 National Circuit at the Royal Torbay YC – proof that windguru is not always a helpful thing.

With windguru only forecasting 2-5 knots all weekend many,many boats did not fancy the long drive to the English Rivera for resultant light wind drifts favouring instead house work, painting the bathroom or watching Wimbledon. Oh yea of little faith!

So a surprisingly small fleet by RS200 standards, not helped by the Exe and Starcross boats staying at home for the Exe Estuary Regatta, were treated to a first class event by the Royal Torbay who were the friendliest of hosts with an excellent slip team sorting out trolleys and an excellent £5 meal in the evening. The race team also did a fantastic job with some very smart turn arounds and constantly moving marks, often during races, to keep true courses as the wind clocked round on each day.

By the time competitors arrived there was already a decent little breeze from the south so the race officer was confident at the briefing racing would be able to start on time. As the fleet arrived at the start line the sea breeze filled in right on cue and race 1 started in 8 knots from the south east. James Boyce/Sam Tozer obviously liked these conditions and scored a convincing win from Sam Littlejohn/Marinthe Evangdidis and Nick Charles/Helen Wightman. Conditions became truly glorious for the second race with clear blue skies, sunshine and 12-14 knots; worth staying at home for! With it paying to start heating it up downwind Charles/Wightman won by some distance from Boyce/Tozer and Littlejohn/Evangdidis. Race 3 saw the third different winner of the day with Hamish Walker/Claire Stubbs leading throughout closely pressed by Pete Vincent/Tessa Nicholls recovering from their disaster on the start line in race 1.

Sunday’s weather was not in the same league, grey with even a hint of rain and a light north easterly. The 5-8 knot breeze never fully settled in direction as it kept on flicking north keeping the mark layers very busy all day. Whatever Hamish and Claire had for dinner the previous night I want some; either that or they had a 400 main up as they disappeared into a huge, huge lead in race 4. Paul and Pat Teague claimed second from Boyce/Tozer. Walker/Stubbs then made it 3 race wins in a row in race 5, this time Jane Olive/Guy Filmore won the tight battle for second.

It was still tight going into the final race but Hamish’s determined bid to be as far left as possible, either that or he really wanted an ice cream, did not work as Boyce/Tozer led at mark 1 and did not make a mistake. With the Teague’s again second and Clive Eplett/Bryony Gregory at last finding the forward button in their new boat third, all depended on how far Walker/Stubbs could climb back up the fleet. The answer, sixth, was not good enough, James Boyce and Sam Tozer winning by two points to also take over leading the National Racing Circuit; how scary is that!

The Teague’s won the silver division from Paul Whitbread/Helen Winward and daughter Liz Teague/Pete Cruickshank; cutting their sons, John Teague, lead at the top of the silver division on the Racing Circuit to 8 points. Tina Mackie/Katie Savage from Torpoint just beat club mates Neil and Lucy Chadborn to win the bronze but Matt and Ellie Sheahan preserve their overall lead.

Oh and by the way if you have not got your entry for the GUL RS200 Nationals in yet – PANIC; ONLY 25 places left.