#rselite – Northern Ireland's Tiffany Brien, Graham Bailey and Simon Brien have finished second overall at the RS Elite UK Championships in Cowes today.
The RS Elite Class took another significant step forward with this exceptional Championship. The largest fleet in the Elite's young history was peppered with hugely experienced names from across the small boat racing world including a Gold medallist, international and national champions. Hosted by the ultimately prestigious Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes and with the whole fleet based in their harbour in front of the Castle, no-one will forget the setting, their welcome and the efficiency with which they ran this regatta both on and off the water.
Day 1 was windy – to the point that highly experienced and amiable (in equal measures) PRO Jonathon Peel stated that "Very few other dayboat classes would have raced at all today". Despite a number of big broaches there was no damage greater than a broken spinnaker pole. Crauford McKeon, Paul Bowen and Rupert Harding in Kandoo III were immediately fast out of the blocks with two wins in the first two races, but a 6th in the final race of the day put them a point behind the ultra consistent Eloise sailed by Andy Jameson, James Grant and Lizzie Vickers with 4, 2, 1. All eyes had, of course, been on the reigning Miss Northern Ireland, Tiffany Brien in Kin, sailing with her Dragon Edinburgh Cup winning Dad Simon Brien and local star Graham Bailey – and their opening day 2, 9, 2 put them in 3rd.
Day 2 was possibly even more testing with patchy breeze and seven hours afloat due to a delay while new breeze arrived and settled. Kandoo followed a win with a tangle with a fishing pot which put a 35th firmly on their score-card. Impressively, best performance of the day with 5, 7, 2 went to Peter Lister in Pipefish, sailing with blond-in-a-boat Pippa Wilson and David Hales – and loving every nerve wracking minute.
Martin & Amanda Wadhams and Paul Fisk sailing their new boat Kiss came out top on Day 3, leading around the top mark in the first two races of the day and eventually posting 3, 1, 7. Kandoo opened with an 18th after even they could not recover more from a dodgy start and now their pressure was fully on – both discards spent and three races still to go in very tricky conditions. Following up with 2, 1 demonstrated impressive mental recovery... and, we gather, a slap from the crew. This put them at the top of the board going into the last day's showdown.
Defending champions Jono, Lyn and David Brown in Aeolus, lying in fifth overall, led the final race from the outset on Day 4 with Kin in 2nd and Eloise 3rd. Kiss was lying 6th and worked up to 3rd, enough to prevent Aeolus beating them overall. But Eloise dropped places and that allowed Kin to take second overall as the numbers were crunched in all the leading boats, mark by mark.
But the day belonged to Kandoo – they took no risks, rounded the top mark in 8th and climbed to 5th, comfortably good enough to deservedly lift the 2012 National Championship title after showing blistering pace across the wind range.
From the moment RS Elite owner Charlie Egerton-Warburton of the RYS took on the role of 2012 Championship Organiser, the event's success was assured. Charlie and his family pulled it off in such comprehensive style that it will be a tough act to follow. The social programme was relentless – and special thanks should go to Julia E-W who selflessly tested countless Wight Vodka cocktail mixes earlier in the year in the pursuit of the perfect blend for this event. Sponsorship from Crewsaver, Sebago, Nonsuch Bay Resort, Corries Cabin, Paul Newell Sails, Island Ales and countless more Isle of Wight companies ensured the overall prize-giving table was better stocked than Sainsbury's!
So, the RS Elite Class moves forward and the next exciting event on the calendar looks set to be on Antigua, where the stunning Nonsuch Bay Resort have a fleet of RS Elites simply beckoning.
Overall results – top six
1st Kandoo III – Crauford McKeon, Paul Bowen, Rupert Harding 20pts
2nd Kin – Tiffany Brien, Graham Bailey, Simon Brien 25pts
3rd Eloise – Andy Jameson, James Grant, Lizzie Vickers 28pts
4th Kiss – Martin Wadhams, Paul Fisk, Amanda Wadhams 32pts
5th Aeolus – Jono, Lyn, David Brown 34pts
6th Pipefish – Peter Lister, Pippa Wilson, David Hales 41pts
