Hayling Island Sailing Club was the venue for over two hundred competitors from eleven countries last wekendcompeting in the Red Bull Tide Ride, so called since the event coincided with the most extreme tide of the year.

The regatta involved skiff type designs with classes for the 49er, B14, RS800 and International 14 competing over short windward/leeward courses in a series of elimination races.

Breaking away from the traditional open meeting race series, competitors were presented with a first day of qualifying races in a round robin format, which seeded the elimination racing for the final day.

On Sunday the first two classes got away in a north-easterly Force 3 but by the time the 49ers set off the wind had dropped with a roaring tide, so progress was slow to the first mark. Paul Brotherton and Mark Asquith led from Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes although the second pair found better speed downwind to finish first with a Dutch team third.

Rob Greenhalgh and Dan Johnson took the International 14 class, Simon Nelson and Andy Ramus the B14s with Richard Lovering and Nick Hutton the winners of the RS800s.

Feedback from competitors and spectators alike indicated the mould-breaking format was enjoyed and certainly one to use again in the future.