As the fleet assembled at Hayling Island the conditions were very
different. A gentle force 2 easterly blew out of a cloudless sky as the course was set up
in the bay. Elliot Willis won the first race. The wind picked up to marginal trapezing and
the second race became a ladies benefit, Victoria and Emma Rawlinson won from Christina
Bassedone with Karen Greenland and Julia Scott in third. The wind dropped at the start of
the third race and with a strong foul tide progress to the windward mark was painfully
slow. With the competitors sailing an inner loop the race was shortened at the end of the
run giving Christina Bassedone her first win of the day. The final race of the day was
sailed on a course with much shorter legs. Again Christina Bassedone led at all marks for
a comfortable win.Sunday provided a force 4 to 5 northerly with gusts well into force 6
later in the day which created an evil chop in the shallow waters of the bay. The first
race was a disappointment for all the competitors except Ian and Chris Martin who spotted
and sailed the correct course. The wind and sea conditions caused many capsizes
particularly on the run and not just at the back of the fleet. The second race was won by
Paul Campbell-James who made up for losing his first in the previous race by a big win. As
the wind continued to increase a reduced fleet started the third race which was eventually
won after much place changing by Neil Baker and Chris Dodds.
The weekend was won by Christina Bassedone but only after a count back of firsts from
Paul Cambell-James. Ian Martin was third.
Taking the 2 weekends together, Paul Cambell-James and Christina Bassedone have
established a commanding first and second whilst Ian Martin has just passed Elliot Willis
for third. With only 5 definite places in each team and a new ruling that allows the top
competitors to participate in more than one team the competition is tight and it all rests
on the final event at Sunderland in a fortnight.
Overall after 15 races, 2 discards. (Note: The results for Christina Bassedone for the
overall series are awaiting the outcome of a request for dispensation. The result for the
Hayling event is not affected.)
1. Paul Cambell-James/Matt Gill 45; 2. Christina Bassedone/Helen Mayhew 69; 3. Ian
Martin/Chris Martin 95; 4. Elliot Willis/Sam Richmond 98; 5. Ben Field/Oliver Hawley 115;
6. Mark Rhodes/Nick Hutton 129; 7. Tim Boone/Adam Litchfield 132; 8. Alex Cherry/Paul
Burgoine 133; 9. Karen Greenland/Julia Scott 143; 10. Victoria Rawlinson/Emma Rawlinson
145.