RS200 Open Meeting at Llandegfedd Sailing Club

South West Ugly Tour – Llandegfedd

With gusts in excess of 30 knots forecast deterring some competitors including some resident 200s decided not to sail. Following a review by the PRO to see if conditions were sailable, seven boats launched for the Welsh event in this years South West Ugly tour.
The first race got underway and soon the rescue boats were called into action, however John Teague and Niomi Pound from Bristol Corinthians mastered the conditions to win the first race, closely followed by Dan Jackson and Conor Keahan from Tenby in second place with Nick and Henry Martingdale from Chew Valley in third.

For the second race the wind and gusts were building making the forecast at bit of an understatement and more capsizes and retirements including former multiple World Champion Robin Wood making his RS200 debut. However, first, second and third was a repeat of race 1. 
As the third race started with now only four boats still sailing, John Teague was looking to get the event won without the need to sail the fourth race, however he managed to capsize on the start line, now all boats had been swimming at least once! Despite efforts to recover John and Niomi could only manage a third, with honours going to Dan Jackson and Conor Keahan, with second place going to Hayling Islands’ David and Fiona Sayce who were returning to a venue where they had enjoyed much success in the Fireball class. 

The fourth race got underway in the worst of the conditions, clearly gusts of 30 knots were an underestimate. Normal service was resumed with John Teague wining to wrap up an overall win in the event, while David and Fiona second to record third place overall, with second place in the regatta going to Dan Jackson and Conor Keahan from Tenby.

Congratulations to all who battled against some huge winds with big gusts on top.

Hopefully the South West Ugly tour will return to Llandegfedd next year with more competitors, more manageable wind and with a new clubhouse in place. 

PS: It is known as a low wind venue!