Results / Gul RS Solent Grand Slam Lee-on-Solent - 22/06/2002

On 22/23 June, 26 RS600's visited Lee-on-Solent for the third Gul event of the year. The sailors were greeted with perfect force 4-5 winds and the accompanying Solent chop. Race one started with a starboard bias line. After the first beat Brian Greensmith had set the precedent for the weekend's racing. He led round the windward mark and never surrendered his lead. A similar set of events were repeated in races two and three to leave Greensmith with a perfect set of results for the first day. The race for second overall was more closely fought, with long time 600 sailor, Richard Smith, leading the charge. Day two dawned to much lighter winds and perfect sunshine. After a short postponement the sailors were released from the beach to make their way to the race area. As if on cue, the wind filled and held to a steady force 3-4. Race one saw the day one domination of Greensmith broken by Mike Bean. Bean had established a sizeable lead after two laps but was steadily caught down the final run by the chasing pack. He managed to defend his position and sailed home to take a much deserved victory - his first on the Gul circuit. In the second and third races, Greensmith showed that the first day wasn't luck by taking two more wins. He didn't however have everything entirely his own way and was pushed hard in both races by Sanders, Peake and Chapman. Notable performances of the weekend included Pete Sanders, who showed blistering pace downwind, Matt Chapman and Richard Smith. Ian Montague also sailed a consistent regatta to come home in fourth overall. There is however no doubting who dominated the event with an awesome display of boat handling, speed and tactics. Testimony to the time spent on the water this year by Greensmith and a warning to anybody with RS600 national championship ambitions.