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RS 400 Open Meeting

A cold grey day greeted 23 visiting boats from all over the country for the first Open Meeting of the season for RS 400 dinghies. The spirited Northerly breeze ensured some spectacular reaches providing excellent spectator sport as the powerful gusts swept through the fleet.

In the first race Ben and Roz McGrane, from Netley SC, opened up a commanding lead with Jack Holden and Jono Price from Arun YC holding second place securely throughout. Sam Knight and Chris Bownes from Bartley SC near Birmingham climbed through the fleet to finish third, while there were some spectacular capsizes among the rest of the fleet.

In race 2, the McGranes swiftly established a lead and were never headed while there was considerable place changing behind them. Steve and Sarah Cockerill worked their way up from 5th to 2nd with Jon Heissig and Nicky Griffin, from Llangorse SC in the Brecon Beacons, sailing well to make up from 7th to 3rd.

In a series with no discarded results, the McGranes needed to sail the final race and had to work a little harder having followed Jack and Jono until part way through the second lap. After that Jon and Nicky sailed fast to recover from 5th to finish 2nd ahead of Jack and Jono.

The final results show 1309 Ben and Roz McGrane in first place with the perfect score line total of 3 points, followed by 1505 Jack Holden and Jono Price second with 10 points just ahead of 1502 Jon Heissig and Nicky Griffin in third with 11 points and 1502 Sam Knight and Chris Bownes with 12 points.

A brilliant day of exciting and skilful sailing!