2007 Reports

RWO Sponsored Pro-Am Series 2007

With the popularity of the ISO Class ever increasing, RWO Marine Equipment Ltd, are happy to continue to sponsor the friendly interactive Pro-Am Series, which now enters its fifth year on the ISO circuit.

RWO's contribution towards the circuit are money off vouchers for their products, as well as some accompanying hardware prizes. The vouchers range from £10 to £25 and can be collated throughout the year by the winners. At the end of the year the total amount held by the competitor are then redeemed through RWO Marine HQ at Benfleet in Essex, as full or part payment for one or more products manufactured by RWO.

ISO Eurocup: La Rochelle (23rd - 27th July)

Sunday arrival day. Glorious sunshine in the delightful La Rochelle but no wind so weary travellers retired to the bar. Monday morning sign on day, the wind blew and it bucketed down ! So much for that sunshine and a practice sail around the bay. Never mind, Tuesday was race day and of course it would be a good day all round.

Tuesday morning and eager crews all tipped out of the campsite early rearing for the 12.30 start. The wind continued to howl on throughout the day creating metre plus seas with a very short chop. The RO eventually called it off when the forecast abatement clearly wasn't going to materialise. Still, there was always the Crews Meal to look forward to.

Wednesday and finally the weather cleared up; five races to make up for the previous day and we were off !!! First race saw Super Spars grin broadly at the light winds they like so much taking line honours followed by Farter and Chunder and an impressive performance from two of last years back markers, Datchets Eamon and Kate in 641, taking third, Concept Sails 4th and Jim and Ali fifth in 511.

Next race and Ride the Punani woke up to take third, narrowly pushing Cousin Trestec into 4th after swapping places several times around the course. The one two at the front was already developing.

Race three saw a KGSC tussle between Cousin Trestec and Yellow Peril, with Yellow Peril taking an unusual 4th place. The three sea sailing leaders were well out in front having mastered the light conditions.

Race 4 and a change at the front ! Farter and Chunder put Super Spars into 2nd place, with Ride the Punani again fighting it out with Cousin Trestec for 3rd and 4th respectively. Eamon and Kate weren't letting up either, chasing hard for 5th.

Race 5 - last one of the day, again saw a repeat of race 4 at the front with yet another KGSC tussle for 4th and 5th YP again just pushing Cousin Trestec into 5th ! A change of act needed !!

Thursday saw increased wind strength kick in. A good F4 and some waves to play with at last ! Super Spars, Farter and Chunder and Cousin Trestec all shot out in front with the Hyde sails powering up the beat. Neck and neck at the first mark, up went the kites and off shot the lead boats flying Hyde kites, leaving Cousin Trestec flying a Sobstad for dust to settle for 3rd, albeit a long way ahead of the fleet.

Race 7 and Cousin Trestec had a clean get away building a substantial lead up the first beat and holding the lead all the way round the first lap. 2nd beat was equally exciting with Super Spars and Farter and Chunder still chasing hard up to the top mark again. Rounding near enough together the Hyde kites eased their way past. Time to do something different. Super Spars gybed out early, shortly followed by Cousin Trestec. It was going to be a close call on who had guessed it correctly. Cousin Trestec chased Super Spars across the course inching backwards against the Hyde kite. Then Super Spars went for a gybe. And whats this ?? Pole down a wave. Were they going for a roller coaster ride down a wave ? Pole went down some more, boat gathered speed, pole in further then the transom lifted and lifted more turning Super Spars into Super Sub !!

Cousin Trestec cruised on by, almost keeping a straight line, to take on Farter and Chunder at the bottom mark. Both came in almost together. Who would take it ? Both kept the kite flying until it became too much for Farter and Chunder. Could Cousin Trestec take them during the drop ? The hooter went in quick succession and Cousin Trestec took 2nd !! Well done F n C !

Race 8 saw Ride the Punani get the best start and hold it all the way round to build a masterful lead, demonstrating that its the way you sail the Sobstads that counts and Hydes don't have it all their own way.

The Official Dinner was graced by Pete Lindley and Best Man, Mike Speller, putting in a special appearance, rewarded by a Crossing the Line Ceremony. It just had to be done ! This was followed by the odd beer or two ( as if ! ) and for he of the glowing grey hair and sons, amongst many others, a trip to the local gay bar - with much reported hilarity that wont be reported here !

If it isn't the helm of 1185 regretting suppin' Adnams Broadside

at Felixstowe Ferry this year, it's the crew of 1185 regretting

visiting a Gay bar the night before!!

Friday last day and just two more races to settle the championship. It was close, just one point between Super Spars and Farter and Chunder. 3rd and 4th had already been settled between Ride the Punani and Cousin Trestec. The Pitch Pole Princes in Super Spars aced the day to take the Championship in the light airs by a substantial lead. Congratulations - very well sailed guys !

Another great week came to a close with the RWO Pro-Am won by Pros Cousin Trestec and first timer Ams, Calshot Dave and Rachel in 1002.

The back end of the fleet was hotly contested as usual, with an easy win from first timers Gil and Phillipe having only very recently bought 800, losing out to the other Datchet pair, Dave and Andrew Skinner. Great to see hot competition throughout the fleet.

Many thanks to all at SRR in La Rochelle for a well organised event. A venue we can thoroughly recommend to all classes.

Next event is the Cousin Trestec sponsored Nationals at Herne Bay SC on 25th to 27th August.

Overall Results Here....

Pro-am Results Here....

ISO Nationals: Herne Bay SC (25th - 27th August)

Herne Bay SC excelled in their hospitality and organisation over the Bank Holiday weekend for the Cousin Trestec sponsored ISO National Championship.

Though a disappointing turnout, in this transission year for the ISOs having switched sail suppliers from Sobstad to Hyde, the fleet was a very competitive one with 4 past National Champions competing. A variety of sail and wing combinations were used throughout the fleet proving that there was certainly not a categorical fast combination that stood out. That is of course if your names not Lloyd & Graham sailing the Super fast Superspars boat (no wings and all Hydes) who dominated the event.

ISO Inlands - Bewl Valley SC (20th / 21st October)

With light wins forecasted, we headed east for the last meeting of the season at Bewl Valley Sailing Club, and they weren't wrong!

Saturday

First Race.

We all launched and then drifted to the start line to be met by a sudden increase of wind to at least a F2 as the one minute gun went off! What a relief to us well built chaps in 1022 the Concept Sails boat! Rob and Barry just managed to pip Ian and James in 00, around the up wind mark, closely followed by Lloyd and Graham in 1188 the Super Spars sponsored boat and rest of the fleet.

Concept Sails manages to hold on to 1st place for a while before ending up in third place by the second rounding of the up wind mark due to the helm taking a sightseeing tour of the reservoir. You know who I am talking about!! With Lloyd and Graham in the Super Spar boat taken over the lead. Mr and Mrs Lindley in 1013 (RWO) moving into second and that's how it ended with Richard and Tom in an excellent fourth place in 760.

Second Race.

After a slight delay, whilst the race officer attempted to find an up wind position for the top mark in a rather light and shifty wind, we started the longest race in the world, with the Lindleys in the RWO boat rounding the mark first, being chased by Lloyd and Graham in 1185 'SuperSpar' and the rest of the fleet.
By sticking closely to the Dam wall, Mr. and Mrs. Lindley started to open the gap in first place, assisted by the rest of the fleet doing more turns than in an episode of strictly come dancing trailing behind!
1st Place went to Pete and Annie (RWO), followed by Mike and Jonny in Neil Pride, then Lloyd and Graham, with Rob and Barry in fourth.

Third Race

This started with Ian and James in 00, Wet and Windy getting a flyer at the wrong end of the line, only to have the fleet get a general recall by the time we were ¾ the way up to the first mark. Gutted! We started again, with Rob and Barry in 1022 attempting to push Ian and James in the wet and windy boat over the line early then following them! To watch the rest of fleet disappear, with Lloyd and Graham in 1185 take another 1st, followed by Eamon and Kate in 641 take a well disserved 2nd, Pete and Annie in third followed by Bruce and Steve in a fine fourth.

Sunday

As some of us woke up in a completely frozen camp site we prayed for some wind.

Fourth Race

We started the fourth and what was the final race amongst the club racers and something to do with the flying 15, which I am still trying to work out?????
The wind we prayed for did not happen and we all drifted across the start line and around the course with Lloyd and Graham in 1185 supported by SuperSpars taking first and the Inlands Championship, followed Pete and Annie in the RWO 1013 boat and Ian and James in 00 Wet and Windy. Many thanks to Bewl Valley Sailing Club for holding the event and to everybody who entered. A big well done to Lloyd and Graham in 1185 for becoming the Inlands, National and the Europeans Champions for 2007. A big thank you to the class sponsors for their support this season, RWO Marine Equipment Ltd and Cousin Trestec. Finally, a personal thank you to Rich at Concept Sails for his support of 1022.

Overall Results Here....

Pro-Am Results Here....

Asymmetric Open: Langstone SC (15th / 16th September)

There were plenty of boats for the Asymmetric Open but unfortunately not many ISOs; this was a great pity because the conditions over the weekend offered something for everyone.

Light winds, glorious sunshine and flat water as we completed the 3 races on Saturday. Bob and Luke (sponsored by Cousin Trestec) got off to a flying start in race 1, first to the first two marks, but some excuse about the kite halyard meant everyone went through them at the leeward buoy and they finished in fourth.