Bough Beech RS200 Open 2008 - Report
The 25 competitors who came to the Bough Beech South East Area Series RS200 open meeting on 26th April were rewarded with a day of warm sunshine, force 3-4 winds and superb racing.
The fleet got away for the first race at the second attempt and it was tight at the windward mark with James Boyce leading the pack around. Boyce continued to lead to the finish with Steve Dunn and Andrew Peters close behind.
The second race again was subject to a recall the boats getting away at the second attempt. On the third run Boyce and Peters managed to break away from the rest of the fleet and Boyce recorded his second win of the day, Peters second with Dunn and Martin fighting for third.
The fleet got away at the second attempt for race 3 with Mike Chapman bravely trying a port tack start. Unfortunately to avoid the fleet he was a boat length over the line and had to go back. Chris Martin led a tightly bunched fleet round the first mark with Dunn, Peters, Boyce and Derby close behind. Places changed several times down the run as different boats picked up planing gusts. Boyce moved into the lead with Derby never far away in second place. Down the final run Derby slipped through to win after Boyce gybed early and Peters came through to take third. In the final race it was Steve Dunn who got his nose in front to just lead round the first mark. As the boats approached the leeward marks Derby rounded in front just ahead of 10 boats line abreast between the twin leeward marks. Boyce popped out of the melee in second place but could not shake off his pursuers. While Derby cruised away to a comfortable win the scrap for second was eventually won by Dunn with Martin in third place.
Overall Results:
1st James Boyce (1088)
2nd Steve Dunn (1313)
3rd Andrew Peters (962)
4th Chris Martin (988)
5th Simon Gillow (1264)
6th Sue Antonelli (896)