Zhik RS Elite Southern Area Championship at Hayling Island Sailing Club

Zhik RS Elite Southern Area Championship 2024 at HISC © Paul Hammett

The RS Elite fleet at HISC is a thriving, hugely competitive fleet. We can get 15 boats on the start line on Thursday evenings for nip & tuck racing, but the Southerns saw the quality of racing ramp up to another level. Just the slightest loss of concentration could see you slip from the front to the back in a matter of minutes.

The majority of the HISC fleet entered the event and were pleased to receive Zhik discounts at Sandy Point Chandlery as their entry gift.

The forecast for the weekend was for light, patchy wind and sunny spells. Hayling delivered the sunshine on Saturday, & the thermal wind arrived early, allowing the fleet to head out into Hayling Bay after a short postponement. The sea breeze kept us on our toes as it 'waxed and waned'. The race team headed up by RO Paul Hammett did an amazing job to run three 50 minute races in three hours. 10 degree shifts and pressure ranging from 5 to 8 knots meant his mark layers and pin end were as 'frazzled' as the sailors.

Zhik RS Elite Southern Area Championship 2024 at HISC - photo © Sophie Costard

Day one was a triumph for team Soak Therapy as Tom, Jo and Colin gave a masterclass on how to sail an 'elite' fast & clever, securing three bullets. 8 points behind were Ossie, Mike & Tom tied with Nick, Tommy & Debbie. The talk on the balcony was all about how taxing on the brain the racing had been. Little did we know that it was going to get harder on day two.

The forecast for Sunday was a shifty light northerly-ish breeze, so the RO took us way out beyond 'the wreck' in Bracklesham Bay. The first race started in 8 knots & the fleet split as we all hoped to get in sync with the shifts. The wind, however, did a huge left as we got to the first mark making the run more of a reach. The race team seamlessly reset the windward mark and the course was back on track for our second beat & final run. The building breeze saw Ossie back up to speed, and he was able to hold off Tom to the finish. The second race was full of snakes and ladders, but it was Steve, Nigel & Emilia who held their nerve to take the win as the wind peaked at 12 knots. This left the final race open for Tom & team to lose, Ossie kept them covered but not enough to strip them of the title.

Championship winners Tom, Jo, Colin, presented by Sarah Ward during the Zhik RS Elite Southern Area Championship 2024 at HISC - photo © Jo Hewitson

White Storm trophy winners Paul, Garath, Rob presented by Simon Hooper during the Zhik RS Elite Southern Area Championship 2024 at HISC - photo © Jo Hewitson

Now time to give the brain & body a rest before the Nationals at Royal Southern YC with racing starting on Thursday.

A huge thank-you to Zhik & Sandy Point Watersports for their support with amazing prizes. Also Simon Hooper for presenting the White Storm trophy to Paul, Gareth & Rob, in recognition of their impressive port tack start.

Overall Results: