With gales on the Saturday the RS Aero Southwestern Championship, within the Paignton SC Spring Regatta, was held over just one day on the Sunday with 3 back to back races able to be held in strong winds over 20kn at times. 

 

Greg Bartlett (Starcross YC) won both races 2 &3 overall which alongside his 6th in race 1 gave him 2nd overall and first RS Aero 7.

 

1st RS Aero 5 and 7th overall was Mark Ripley (Paignton SC), just a few points ahead of Claire Gribbin (Paignton SC) in 8th.

 

With a no discard series an OCS in race 2 proved proved costly for the RS Aero 7s of Richard Watsham (Starcross SC) and Paul Bartlett (Starcross YC) adding precious points to drop them down to 10th and 11th respectively, just ahead of Nick Craven (Paignton SC) in 12th who had popped in a tasty 3rd place for that race.

 

Thanks to Paignton SC and race officer James Ripley of Sailboat Racing Services for their achievement in delivering this regional regatta as the UK steadily emerges from restrictions. 

 

With the building fleet locally and in the southwest we look forward to visiting Paignton SC for our 2022 RS Aero UK National Championships from 28-31st May 2022, SAVE THE DATE! Torbay is one of the UK's premier Championship venues with a fantastic sailing area on the English Riviera which we enjoyed for our 2nd UK Champs in 2016 from RTYC.

The early UK Champs date in 2022 will provide an excellent build up to the RS Aero World Championships in the USA a month later and the RS Games in Weymouth in August.

 

Next Up on the UK RS Aero calendar is the Lymington Town open on 15th May (entry closes 12th) before the fleet visits Weymouth & Portland for the two day RS Aero UK Southern Championship on 29/30th May (after accommodation restrictions ease on the 17th).