South West Sailing

Weymouth Sailing Academy hosted the first of two Olympic Class regattas organized by the RYA and a compulsory event for all RYA Olympic Development and Transition squad members.

Fleet number across the classes were small but as usual racing was competitive with the RYA coaches and staff present to monitor progress and development of the potential Olympians of 2012.

In the 470 class Ally Martin crewed by Truro’s Rosie Chapman won the women’s event finishing 5th overall in combined mixed fleet and counting a 2nd and 3rd in the 6 race 1 discard series.

Ally Martin is a highly promising 470 helm and Rosie was replacing her regular crew Lottie Clay.

If the change was permanent it might make sense for Rosie, as competition is ferocious in her chosen class the Laser Radial for the 2012 Olympics.

On the other hand the women’s 470 class is not keenly contested at present with only Christina Bassadone and Saskia Clark the UK crew for Beijing regularly competing in UK and International 470 events.

Restronguet’s Ed Powys and Will Morgan competed in the 49’er class and had a disappointing weekend but hopefully things will improve for the next round in the Series, which is to be held at Hayling Island Sailing Club over the weekend of the 10/11th May.

I recently attended the Sail for Gold Regatta at Weymouth and met up with Peter Walsh proud father of Andy Walsh and commiserated with him over Andy and Ed Barney’s narrow failure to gain selection for the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the Tornado Class.

Peter confirmed that Andy and Ed would continue in the Tornado class and try to qualify for 2012 and also go to China next year as training partners for the chosen British crew Leigh McMillan and Will Howden.

At the Sail for Gold Regatta Andy and Ed finished 3rd behind their closest rivals over the last 3 years Rob Wilson/Mark Bulkeley and McMillan/Howden.

Going into the Medal Race Andy and Ed were 2nd but dropped a place to Wilson/Bulkeley after being covered throughout by the eventual winners McMillan/Howden.

The boys must be gutted because at long last they have discovered some boat speed and starting to challenge both their rivals.

A month ago Andy and Ed were crowned Tornado National Champions and last weekend the pair dominated the 2nd Round of the RYA Ranking Series.
Both rival crews were present but in posting 4 wins and a 2nd in the 6 race 1 discard series the pair could afford to sit out the last race.

Wilson/Bulkeley pushed the 2008 Olympic nominated crew McMillan/Howden back into to 3rd place to leave all 3 crews tied on 4 points going into the final round of Ranking Series due to be held at Weymouth next weekend 20/21 October.

It would be ironic if Andy and Ed found themselves above McMillan/Howden in the RYA Ranking Ladder and yet not going to China.

Meanwhile Restronguet’s Tom Phipps and Marcus Lynch are steadily emerging as the best of the next generation of Tornado sailors finishing 4th last weekend. It is obviously early days for this new combination but with Weymouth 2012 as their target they have 4 years to hone their skills.

In the 49’er Class Ed Powys and Will Morgan having repaired their rig after its failure at the Sail for Gold Regatta finished 10th overall.