The Starcross Steamer on the Exe estuary is the largest winter sailing event in the UK's Southwest and included again this winter in the RS Aero UK Winter Series. Its popularity is such that this year it reached its online entry limit of 100 boats several weeks in advance! The weather gods were kind with a moderate breeze blowing down the Exe estuary with relatively mild temperatures and no rain!

 

The format is one big 150 minute pursuit race with the Mirror dinghy setting off first at 11:00 to lead for the first part of the race. The fastest boats, the B14s and RS800s, would start an hour later with 92 and 87 minutes respectively to catch the 100 boat fleet, with all the other 30 or so classes starting in order during the hour in-between. Whoever leads 150 minutes after the first start, at 13:30, takes the Cup with the fleet finished as they round their next mark after that time.

 

The RS Aero 5s  set off at 11:30 with the RS Aero 7s chasing after them 5 minutes later.  With the steady breeze gusting over 15kn two fast planing reaches reaches saw the RS Aeros light up and able to hang with many faster spinnaker boats on these legs. Leverage was ultimately king though, favouring trapeze boats with a slight bias on the course towards beating upwind as a strong ebb current kicked in with the addition of recent rainfall.

 

Tight racing between family Bartlett saw Greg narrowly edge out his Dad, Paul, for the top RS Aero spot in a creditable 17th and 18th overall. A third Starcross Aero, Mark Pollard, was just behind in 23rd.

 

Paul Bartlett's 2nd RS Aero placing at Starcross, together with his 1st at Yorkshire Dales in the north in December, propel him to the top of the RS Aero UK Winter Series leader board!

  

An RS Aero 9 won this trophy in a light breeze last year but Peter Barton opted early on to come back this year in his RS800. Conditions turned out great on the day for the RS800 and Peter with crew Chris Feibusch kept it tidy enough to take the win again. Back in an Aero for next year!!!

 

Next up is Round 6 of the RS Aero UK Winter Series, The Blithfield Barrel in the Midlands this Sunday 12th Feb followed by our RS Aero UK Winter Champs at the Oxford Blue on Saturday 18th Feb where 33 RS Aeros are already singed up! Don't forget the opportunity of our monthly Winter Training at Oxford on Sunday 19th.

No let up during the winter!