The latest round of the French RS Aero Open circuit saw fourteen RS Aeros entered at Carnac, warming up ahead of next year’s RS Aero Europeans being held at the same venue. The event was taking place alongside the popular Breizhskiff series with RS Aeros being given their own start and separate course. As ever the Baie de Quiberon provided a beautiful backdrop and despite the difficult looking forecast, five races were held over the weekend in steady breezes.

 

On the Saturday the Race Officer kept the fleet ashore until the late in the afternoon to be ready for the forcast wind, which duly arrived. With a six to seven knot northerly wind blowing the Committee boat started the first sequence only to have to abandon it when the wind shifted 180 degrees with two minutes to go. The Race team did a brilliant job of quickly moving the course and promptly started another countdown allowing the fleet to get away cleanly first time. Nico Honor lead initially only to be overhauled by Ludovic Roblin with youngster Timeo Thierry finishing third establishing a familiar pattern for the week end. With the breeze dying and the evening drawing on, the fleet headed back to shore for an inclusive dinner generously provided by the Yacht Club de Carnac.

 

Day two saw a steady 7 knot southerly holding for most of the day and the fleet set out for an on time start at 10:00. With the wind blowing partially over the land, there were plenty of shifts and holes to deal with but Ludovic and Nico were consistently quicker than the rest of the fleet and battled it out for the top spot sharing race wins. Timeo was solidly third fastest of showing an impressive improvement for his first season in a borrowed RS Aero. Ultimately Ludovic just had the edge over Nico to take the series by one point with Timeo comfortably taking third place.

 

There were two stand out performers over the week end, the first being Timeo sailing a boat generously lent to him by the Yacht Club de Carnac and showing an impressive improvement for a youngster over a short period of time. Secondly the Yacht Club de Carnac for their excellent and efficient race management, great food, for encouraging youth sailing by giving Timeo use of one of their RS Aeros and finally for lending their other RS Aero to Benoit Cailleux at short notice upon hearing that Benoit's own boat had been damaged in an accident whilst being towed.

 

We look forward to returning next year over the long weekend of 21-24th June for the RS Aero Europeans and for the RS Aero Open again in September. For anyone who may be interested, there is another three day event in the same bay at Quiberon on the 9-11th May at the popular Teignouse Cup. The RS Aeros have been the largest fleet at this event for the last two years and for 2024 it will also form the French National Championship. Ideal preparation for the Europeans six weeks later!!