Close racing at Warsash Sailing Club this weekend (12-13 November) had sailors jostling for podium positions and a final ranking boost in the last RYA Olympic Classes National Ranking Series event of 2005.

In the Finn fleet, Ed Wright’s first place finish from the weekend’s racing was enough to see him overtake the absent Chris Brittle at the top of the 2005 Series ranking list. Fellow RYA Team GBR squad member Matt Howard secured second place to finish third overall in the rankings, while Nick Craig occupied the third step of the podium this weekend, with ten points from the four races.

Rob Wilson and Mark Bulkeley took the Warsash title in the Tornado event, with three first place finishes across their four races, but in second place Andrew Walsh and Ed Barney did enough to hold their position at the top of the final Series rankings. John Ready and Ryan Crawford came in third on nine points.

Pippa Wilson and Sheena Craig put together a string of solid performances in the 470 event, not only consolidating their position at the head of the women’s rankings by posting the best female result in Warsash, but they also gave the men a run for their money by finishing second in the combined 470 fleet. Nic Asher and Elliott Willis came out on top, securing three wins across their five races, but admitted that they didn’t have it all their own way.

“There was a lot more wind today but it was off the shore so it was pretty shifty and gusty, and that made the racing very hard,” explained Asher. “There were three or four of us up there in every race battling it out – it was a tough event all in all so we’re pretty pleased with the win.”

John Gimson-Stuart Bithell were the second placed boat in the men’s 470 fleet, while Luke Patience and Chris Grube’s third place from the weekend’s racing was enough to maintain their lead at the top of the final 2005 rankings.

Visiting German team Jan and Hannes Peckolt topped the weekend’s 49er fleet ahead of Simon Hiscocks and Chris Draper, but the Brit’s final flourish at Warsash pushes them to the top of the final 49er rankings. Fellow RYA Team GBR squad members Paul Campbell-James and Mark Asquith completed the podium line-up in third place.