SELDEN RS Tera Start of Season Championship
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Thirty One boats from clubs as far afield as the Isle of Man Yacht Club entered for the RS Tera Southern Area Championships sponsored by SELDEN at Highcliffe Sailing Club over the weekend of 19th and 28th May.
Saturday was a tricky, light to medium wind affair with a shot chop and some tidal influence over the shallow water of Christchurch Bay, with the race team, lead by Peter Bell setting a great course in the South Westerly breeze.
As Sundays forecast was for very light winds, the race team took advantage of the provision in the NOR and SI’s to run four of the scheduled six races back to back on Saturday.
In the PRO fleet, Luke Bailey of the Royal Hospital School, took charge early on winning the first 3 races and taking 3rd in race 4, to lead the fleet overnight, Alex Butler of Hayling Island Sailing Club winning race 4 lay 2nd and Robby Boyd of Royal Lymington Yacht Club 3rd.
The SPORT Fleet also saw a dominant performance, with Jack Lewis of Daycote water Sailing Club winning 3 out of the 4 races, to take a healthy overnight lead, Henry Jameson of Hayling Island Sailing Club, 2nd after winning race 3 and Ben Batchelor from the Isle of Man 3rd.
Sunday dawned with a very light North Easterly breeze , a real challenge for the race team, it was shifting through 50 degrees.
In the 13 strong PRO fleet, there was a new race winner in Ffinlo Wright from the Isle of Man who triumphed in race 5, followed by Alex and the Robby.
It was still all to play for in race 6, with Alex needing to win and if he did Luke needing to place third or better, Alex did win, with Luke doing enough coming third to win the event on count back.
In the 18 strong SPORT fleet, the very consistent Jack won races 5 and 6 to take the event, followed home by Ben and Charlotte Ormerod in race 5 and in race 6 Charlotte clearly revelling in these conditions and Ethan Miles of Emsworth Sailing Club.
Top 3 in the PRO fleet, finished, Luke, Alex, Robby, and in the SPORT, Jack, Henry and Ben
The RS Tera Class Association would like to thank the members and staff of Highcliffe Sailing Club, who proved magnificent hosts, this really is a club that more classes should visit, the ladies in the galley for keeping everyone fed and watered and event sponsors SELDEN, without whom we would not be fortunate enough to be able to hold such great events.