The West Country Boat Repairs RS200 South West 'Ugly' Tour 2024

 

The West Country Boat Repairs RS200 south west 'Ugly' Tour has come to a conclusion for another year, and what a year it has been!

With five successful events, 61 competing boats (plus a good number more if we had managed to get racing at Parkstone!), it was another fab season for the tour. The essence of the SW tour is great racing (wherever you are in the fleet) at some very lovely venues, and the friendly welcome from fellow competitors. With prizes for the first ten overall, plus the top in silver and bronze fleets, there is plenty of incentive to make it to enough events to count towards the series.

With the loss of the Parkstone open (some sailors are still haunted by that freezing, windless day in July), the series was decided by the results from three of the remaining five events. Duncan and Lorna Glen took home the SW tour title in style with a perfect score line, followed by James Williams and Ruth/Christophe/John, and John Teague and Naomi Pound rounding out the podium. Second to sixth places were within 8 points of each other, with a number of final tour positions being decided on the final day of racing at Chew. Prizes for first silver and bronze boat went to the popular pairings of Kyle Brown/Madeleine Strugnell and Martyn Stubbs/Yvonne Smith respectively.

So for three big thank yous, to the people who make the tour possible:-

1. West Country Boat Repairs (Pete Vincent and team). We couldn't do it without you - thank you so much for your continued support. On hand with such great knowledge too, we are so grateful to have such an amazing sponsor for the tour.

2. Our host clubs and the teams behind the events - Bristol Corinthian, St Mawes, Bowmoor, Parkstone, Exe and Chew Valley, your welcome and organisation is so great, making our lives easy to be able to rock up and race knowing that we are in for an excellent day on the water and unrivalled hospitality. To everyone who's been involved in the documents and entry, the race committees, mark layers, safety crews, trolley dollies, cake bakers, bar and catering crews, and everyone else involved - thank you very much!

3. And finally, all our fellow competitors for making the tour such a success. I personally always find myself looking forward to the SW tour events to see the people, and this is truly what makes the tour so great. There is always plenty of catching up, passing on advice and tips, fair racing on the water, and smiles on everyone's face coming off the water. The people are what makes this tour so special so thank you for your continued support (and personal thanks is extended to my Dad for still agreeing to hop in the boat with me once in a while!)

So to next year - we are hoping for greater racing, exciting new venues, and even more boats on the Ugly tour. Already looking forward to seeing you in 2025.

PS: a huge 4th Thank You from the RS Class Association to Lorna who works tirelessly and always with a smile to deliver this fabulous tour and make everyone fee so welcome!