Results / GUL RS Vareo National Championship Looe SC - 10/09/2006

GUL RS Vareo National Championships Looe � 7th to 10th Sept The 4th GUL RS Vareo National Championships started on Thursday 7th Sept at Looe in Cornwall. After 3 days of thick fog the first day of the Nationals, shared with the RS600 and RS300 fleets, dawned with bright sunshine and forecast of a building northerly wind. 2 races were scheduled for day 1, and after a long sail to the start line the Vareos spread out over a large distance on their windward/leeward course. Those who chose to stay inland benefited from more wind and less tide after the predicted winds did not materialise, leaving those who had gone far out to sea floundering. Nigel Tinkler picked the right line and disappeared off into the distance, with everyone else in his wake. The battle for minor places was won by Rory Yardley with regular winner Chris Larr in 3rd and Richard Kemp-Salt in 4th. Race 2 was sailed in more shifty wind conditions, but again Tinkler left the fleet for dead, pursued by Larr and Geoff Shaw in 3rd with Kemp-Salt going for consistency in 4th again. The forecast was for wind to build in the 4 day championship, with record flood tides predicted on Saturday, at the welcome party provided by Looe SC the Mayor of Looe thanked the sailors for bringing so many boats to Looe, which may be needed if the village floods. Day 2 started with the predicted higher winds and waves, causing chaos to those trying to launch. Just over half the fleet made it to the start line, and heavy wind experts Larr and Kemp-Salt revelled in the conditions taking the top two places in each race, Larr winning 2 with 1 second, Kemp-Salt with a win and 2 seconds. Shaw and Christopher Kirk showed their mettle, hanging on for the minor places in each race. Surfing back onto the beach was a great spectator sport, and the 3 fleets joined together to keep as many boats in one piece, including carrying a RS600 off the rocks and up the cliff face. Day 3 dawned with more bright sunshine, but also the same large winds. Broken equipment, broken bodies and broken spirit meant a low number of takers for the three races, and again Larr dominated taking all 3 bullets. Kemp-Salt made him work hard for race 6, but a broken boat took him out of the running for the last 2 races and Shaw took advantage with 2 second places. Day 4 and the wind dropped back to the level of Day 1, although due to breakages not everyone was in a position to race. Light air experts Tinkler who had won both races on day 1 won both again, and Mark Hayzelden took second in both. The racing was a lot closer with all the boats being on the same leg at the end of both races. Chris Larr had his worst results of the event, but had a large enough lead to take the RS Vareo National Championship after coming second in 2005. 1st Master was Richard Kemp-Salt, 1st Silver Fleet was Rory Yardley.