FINAL ROUNDUP & REVIEW 

What an awesome event! From 75 pre entries the RS Aero Magic Marine UK National Championships at WPNSA finally ended up with a whopping 73 RS Aeros. That bubble of 73 puts the RS Aeros right at the top of the UK Nationals attendance leader board for any single handed predominantly adult class - incredible when just 14 months ago none of these boats were built! After 4 sailors swapped rigs there were a final total of 77 entries.

See the leaded board here (Opt for; show up to 'all' in 'table format'); http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/class/attendance.aspx

The champs provided a great opportunity to meet fellow RS Aero sailors from around the UK with many sailors travelling long distances including Scotland, Isle of Man, Yorkshire and the East Coast. Already, in the UK alone, there are over 360 RS Aeros at approximately 130 locations. Everyone had plenty to discuss with the RS Aero just at the end of its first year. International sailors visited from Estonia, Holland and Antigua and all placed well in the overall points, boding well for the future International circuit.

Sailors ranged from 11 to 67 in age, weights were from 40kg to over 100kg and they came from a variety of sea, estuary and lakes nationwide. A good few of the 73 competitors were returning to sailing/competition due to their enjoyment of the RS Aero and all had a great time with great racing and the buzz of new fleet camaraderie.

Wind wise there was something for everyone over the 3 days of racing. We enjoyed two days out in Weymouth Bay and one in the Harbour with winds varying from a docile 4kn right up to 18kn of excitement.

The format was intentionally experimental. Racing and scoring was in 3 separate fleets (5,7 & 9 rigs) for the Champs, with a planned mass start for the first race of each day producing an additional PY series for the he RS Aero Challenge Cup. With predominantly light breezes at the start of each day the larger rigs dominated this series.

In such a controlled environment and now that we have a large amount of data it would be an interesting idea as a Class to contemplate a conditions based PY adjustment for similar races in the future. Courses varied between trapezium and triangle/sausage, each with good reaches when planing conditions existed.

Many thanks to WPNSA for their impeccable management, our PRO, Arky, and his team for great racing and sponsors, Magic Marine, for their support and fantastic array of prizes. RS provided awesome event support and the RS Aero Class made a great job of pitching up and having fun!

 

DAY 1 - 75 RS Aeros entered in inaugural Championships in Weymouth - by Frances Peters
Yesterday, 34 RS Aeros took to the water to join the Class Coaching to make their final preparations for the first ever Magic Marine RS Aero National Championships. Several short sprint races with coaches on hand to offer words of advice set the bar high as sailors enjoyed 15 knots and bright sunshine in Portland Harbour. Once the final tweaks to the boats had been made, much of the fleet gathered to enjoy the wonderful sunset (and equally wonderful beers) at the local pub on the water's edge.

This morning brought more sunshine and spirits were high in the boat park. Many competitors could be found wandering the boat park, assessing their competition and discussing whether or not they too should be polishing their boat! Others occupied the balcony, soaking up the atmosphere – coffee and bacon bap in hand. There was only one thing missing... wind! With 4 races scheduled, it was set to be a challenging day.

The race committee persisted, and after a couple of attempts, race 1 got underway. The first race of the day saw almost 75 boats on the same start line, competing in a handicap race using the PY system. The race made history as the biggest ever RS Aero start line to date, breaking the current record by 30 boats. In all the excitement and with the inevitable battle to claim a clear lane off the start line, several sailors began their series with a black flag. After his recent World Championship win in the RS500 class and dubbed one of the favourites for the week, Peter Barton in the 7 rig was forced to count a BFD for his first race. While some struggled to fight back from a bad start in such a large fleet, others thrived under the pressure. Henry Jameson was among those in his element. Accustomed to leading the way in large fleets with a background of RS Feva and RS Tera sailing, he took the gun for the RS Aero 5 fleet. Current I14 World Champion, Glen Truswell, led the charge in the 7 fleet, while Luke Deegan of Antigua Sailing Club was first across the line in the 9 fleet.

Now with a more established and stable 10 knot breeze, race 2 got underway. This time the 3 fleets were given their own starts, changing the strategy for some and offering a new opportunity at the front. Will Taylor of Brightlingsea Sailing Club took the win in the 5 fleet, while Matthew Caiger slotted in a 2nd place. In the 7 fleet, Peter Barton came back fighting with a 2nd place, snapping at the heels of Glen Truswell, who posted his second bullet of the day. David Rickard took the lead in the 9 rigs ahead of previous race winner, Luke Deegan.

The final race saw the wind drop again and so began a light and tactical race as sailors remained in the individual fleets. Henry Jameson reverted to form, posting another bullet to leave him topping the leader board overnight. Peter Barton went from strength to strength and won the final race of the day, leaving him 2nd and snapping at Truswell's heels overnight in the 7 fleet. David Ellis of Lymington Town Sailing Club posted a 2nd place in the final race for the 7 rigs, putting him 3rd overnight. Ben Rolfe of Burghfield Sailing Club took his turn to lead the way for the final race of the day in the 9 fleet, leaving him in 2nd place overnight behind Deegan.

Boats returned to shore to resume racing in the morning and there's more breeze forecast. It's all to play for with 5 races scheduled and plans to race in the bay.

 

Sailors were met this morning with a steady 10-12 knot breeze from the North East. Four races were scheduled in the 2012 Olympic Waters of Weymouth Bay.

After sailing out to the start line, race 1 got underway on time with about 75 boats on the start line to compete in the daily handicap style race. A short beat and a rapidly dying breeze kept racing tight and it was those on the left of the course that sought out the better pressure to reach the mark in the lead. Henry Jameson picked up where he left off, taking the bullet in the 5 rigs. Meanwhile overnight leader in the 7 rigs, Glen Truswell took the bullet in his fleet, ahead of Peter Barton and Jack Holden. The fight for the win in the 9 rigs came down to the final mark when Olympic medallist, Simon Hiscocks battled for pole position against Luke Deegan. It was Deegan that came out on top and crossed the line ahead of a cursing Hiscocks.

After a short wait as the wind clocked round, race 2 got underway in a solid 10 knots. This time it was Will Taylor's turn to lead the way in the 5 fleet after a strong start. Not far behind him were Henry Jameson and Matthew Caiger. Peter Barton took his second win of the series in the 7 rigs, ahead of Truswell, while Robbie Wilson of Wormit Boating Club in Scotland finished 3rd. It was Luke Deegan that led the way in the 9 rigs for the second race of the day, this time chased by David Rickard.

A steady increase in breeze saw 15 knots on the start line for the 3rd race. Will Taylor took to the breeze like a duck to water in the 5 rigs and finished with a strong lead while Louis Wright of Hayling Island Sailing Club, also evidently enjoying the breeze, took 2nd. The battle between Barton and Truswell continued in the 7 fleet, with Truswell returning to the lead for the finish. Jack Holden of Arun Yacht Club took 3rd. Luke Deegan was starting to make it look easy in the 9 rigs, casually posting another bullet ahead of Rickard and Hiscocks.

A fourth race in a building breeze after a long upwind sail to the race course started to take its toll on sailors. Boat handling was proving more of a challenge and hiking was becoming increasingly intermittent across the fleet! Will Taylor made an exception to the rule, taking the win in the final race by a good margin and putting himself in pole position overnight. After gear failure off the start line in race 3, Matt Caiger came back fighting and was happy to take 2nd in the final race, securing 3rd place overnight behind Jameson. Meanwhile Debbie Degge sailed a consistent day to leave herself in 4th place overnight and leading lady. In the 7 fleet, Glen Truswell was taking no prisoners and took another bullet, securing the leading spot overnight. True to form, Barton took 2nd place, leaving himself just 3 points shy of Truswell going into the final day. Fergus Barnham of Snettisham Beach Sailing Club sits in 3rd place overnight after a consistent day. Determined to beat Deegan's winning streak in the 9 fleet, David Rickard crossed the line 1st in the final race, leaving himself in 2nd going into the final day ahead of Simon Hiscocks and Matt Thursfield, while Truswell remains in the lead.

A long day on the water will now be concluded with a BBQ on shore, before competitors head over to Weymouth to let their hair down in advance of the final day of racing tomorrow.


DAY 3 - Overall - Champions crowned in Weymouth - by Frances Peters
Monday brought a light and drizzly morning. The flags were hoisted to signal another day of racing in Weymouth bay and the sail out to the starting area ensued.

The journey was worth it as the rain soon cleared and the breeze increased to finish with some of the best racing of the series. The handicap race was first with approaching 75 boats on the start line and the first race of the day got underway in around 8-10 knots. Wind coming off the cliffs made for patchy conditions and it was all to play for. Henry Jameson came back fighting after losing his lead yesterday and took the bullet in the 5 rigs, hot on his heels was Archie Hainsworth of Alton Water Sailing Club. Meanwhile the Truswell domination continued in the 7 rigs, with Jack Holden making his mark by throwing in a 2nd. Ants Haavel, who had travelled all the way from Estonia to compete, took 3rd. David Rickard led Luke Deegan in the 9 rigs, with Giovanni Belgrano of Gurnard SC in 3rd.

Race two brought a different challenge as new wind funnelled down the valley between the cliffs, giving those who had clocked the gain on the port layline a 'fast forward' mode and leaving the unfortunate souls on the right high and dry. George Catchpole cracked the strategy in the 5 rigs to take the win, followed by Henry Jameson and Debbie Degge. Andrew Snell made his appearance at the top in the 7 fleet, leading Peter Barton and Mark Carleton. Olympic Medallist and Weymouth local, Simon Hiscocks pulled it out of the bag to take his first win of the series in the 9 rigs, ahead of Toby Freeland and David Rickard.

In his element in the building breeze, Will Taylor returned to the top of the 5 fleet for the 3rd race ahead of Harry Jones. The 5 rig series ended with a bullet from Matthew Caiger, which was enough to secure him Bronze overall behind Taylor, who won the first ever RS Aero 5 National title and Henry Jameson, who settled for silver.

The Truswell/Barton battle that had started to become the norm in the 7 rig continued right up until the end, with Truswell coming out on top for the final 2 races, securing himself the title in style ahead of Peter Barton. With this weekend being his first time in the RS Aero, Jack Holden found his feet quickly and sailed a consistent last day to take 3rd overall.

No change at the front of the RS Aero 9 fleet, the final races saw the usual suspects battling it out at the top. Luke Deegan laid claim to the National title ahead of David Rickard and Simon Hiscocks.

It's been a fantastic weekend, with a vibrant and friendly scene both on the water and at the bar in the evenings. So many RS Aeros out on the water over 11 nip and tuck races just a year on from the initial launch of the class has certainly made it one to remember and has given us all a taste of things to come.

 

A full photo Gallery is HERE, thanks to Chris Appleton, Frances Peters and Alex Newton-Southon

 

A gigantic THANK YOU to our event sponsors MAGIC MARINE for all the fantastic prizes.

 

1st  - Will Taylor, Brightlingsea

2nd - Henry Jameson, Hayling Island

3rd  - Matthew Caiger, Sevenoaks School

 

RS Aero 7   

1st - Glen Truswell, Castle Cove

 

1st - Luke Deegan, Gurnard/Antigua

2nd - David Rickard, Gurnard
3rd - Simon Hiscocks, WPNSA

 

1st  - Luke Deegan, Gurnard/Antigua (9)

2nd - Glen Truswell, Castle Cove (7)

3rd - David Rickard, Gurnard (9)

4th - Simon Hiscocks, WPNSA (9)

5th - Ian Swann, Hayling (9)

6th - Fergus Barnham, Snettisham (7)

 

1st - Henry Jameson, Hayling Island (5)

2nd - Archie Hainsworth, Alton Water (5)

 

1st - Toby Freeland, Downs (9)

 

 

 

=2nd - Fergus & Finlay Barnham, Snettisham, 1st Aero/Aero, 10pts

=2nd - Mathew & Will Caiger, Sevenoaks School, Aero/Tera, 10pts

4th - Henry & Rupert Jameson, Hayling Island Aero/Tera, 11pts

 

Furthest Travelled - Ants Haavel, Tallinn, ESTONIA

 

RS Aero 5 - Emily Davis, Great Moor

RS Aero 7  - Paul Harwood, Wimbleball, Exmoor

RS Aero 9  - Chris Smith, Poole & Chris James, Exe 

 

Robert Fisk-Moore, Chelmarsh Fleet Captain - Robert has led and nurtured the Shropshire based Chelmarsh Fleet making it now the largest inland RS Aero club in the world with 15 RS Aeros. Two brand new RS Aeros have just been delivered to the club following Robert's successful grant application to Sport England for RS Aeros to not only help people into sailing but to also keep existing sailors interested in sailing.

 

Ian Jameson - Our PRO at the Dutch Eurocup in July and the Start-of-Seasons Champs in April

Lucy Jameson - Assistance organising the Winter Training venues, the Dutch Eurocup and the Start-of-Seasons 

 

Ian Swann - Wobbling in on a light wind run when near the front of the fleet and failing to recover quickly.

Simon Hiscocks - Starting on the one minute gun then turning around after 30 seconds to start just in time!

Jack Holden & Tom Partington - For contemplating fitting a compass to a rotating mast!

Giovanni Belgrano - for inviting his wife to name his new RS Aero!