Race 1, Sunday
A steady northerly force 4 kicking up a considerable swell in Fishguard Bay greeted the 16 Redwings for the first race of their 2001 championships on Sunday 26th August. Rolly Squibbs and Tim Brace in R244 Dragon from Tenby took an early lead and continued to pull ahead to win by a large margin from Gareth and Tom Shaw in R226 Curlew and Ben and John Crabb in R224 Maid Marion who finished third.Race 2, Monday
On Monday 27th with the wind still in the north but lighter at force 3 and with a residual swell in the bay saw a lively start to the second race. Conditions gradually eased during the race and a good tussle developed on the final leg with the first four boats all finishing within seconds of each other. The final order being:- First, R224 Maid Marion,
- Second R242 Clifford sailed by Bud Coote and Tim Jackson,
- Third R244 Dragon and
- Fourth R226 Curlew.
Rounding the leeward mark during Monday's race
Races 3 and 4, Tuesday
Two races were scheduled for Tuesday 28th, back-to-back. With the fleet afloat and a southeast force 2 to 3 going southwest wind, a course was set to suit. Unfortunately the wind died away until at ten minutes to the start there was no wind at all. At the inevitable postponement the wind suddenly filled in from the north. With a quick shift of the committee boat to the other end of the course, and a change of marks to starboard it was possible to get the fleet away only 12 minutes late. The wind though, remained fairly steady for both races, which were sailed over shortened courses. R245 Shy Talk, sailed by Des Hocking and Colin Crabb led from the start followed by R205 Flash Red Herring sailed by Dave Jackman and Peter Southern in second place and R242 Clifford third, all Looe boats.After a brief lunch stop afloat the fourth race was started with bunching at the pin end due to a lack of bias � The race officer wanting to protect his committee vessel at the left end of the line! The race turned into a procession after the first lap, but due to variable winds on what turned out to be a dead run on the second downwind leg, several close encounters developed. R205 maintained a small lead throughout the race to hold off R242 to the end. R243 Celtic Warrior sailed by Roger Hocking and Geoff Godbolt was third. With a discard now available the points for the leading boats were very close with only six points separating the first six boats.
On the downwind leg - Thursday's race
Race 5, Thursday
After a well planned lay-day when there was a total absence of wind the Redwings resumed racing on Thursday 30th with a steady northwesterly breeze. Gareth and Tom Shaw in R226 Curlew developed an early lead and managed to retain that position for the whole of the race. Ben and John Crabb in R224 maintained a close second while R245 Des Hocking and Colin Crabb managed to overhaul R242 Bud Coote and Tim Jackson to take third on the last lap. With five races now completed we have a potential of five different winners with only 5 points separating the first 6 boats.Race 6, Friday
A strong northwesterly kicking up a rough sea greeted the Redwings for their final position deciding race. Seven boats braved the surf on the launching slipway and competed. Unfortunately two boats had to retire through gear failure but the others enjoyed the strong conditions and demonstrated just how fast a Redwing can go in a blow. R226 took an early lead and managed to hold off R242 until the finish. However in order to win the championship R226 needed to be two places ahead of R242. R244 was third. Therefore Bud Coote and Tim Jackson in R242 clinched the championship by one point from Gareth and Tom Shaw R226 with Ben and John Crabb R224 in third place overall. The Redwings had a most enjoyable week both on and off the water with the Officers, Ladies and members of Fishguard Bay Yacht Club proving once again to be marvellous hosts. The Redwings are looking forward to a return to Fishguard in 2003.Redwing National Championship overall positions:
- 1st Bud Coote and Tim Jackson R242 Clifford Looe SC
- 2nd Gareth and Tom Shaw R226 Curlew Looe SC
- 3rd Ben and John Crabb R224 Maid Marion Looe SC
- 4th Rolly Squibbs and Tim Brace R244 Dragon Tenby SC
- 5th Dave Jackman and Peter Southern R205 Flash Red Herring Looe SC
- 6th Des Hocking and Colin Crabb R245 Shy Talk Looe SC
- 7th Roger Hocking and Geoff Godbolt R243 Celtic Warrior Looe SC
- 8th Bill Dowell and Nick Ward R228 Pintail Tenby SC
- 9th Mike Stace and Deanna Morton R195 Sallyforth Tenby SC
- 10th Derek Hocking and Mark Delf R241 Shamrock III Looe SC
