International Class Association

Write-up

Insurance4dinghies RS Tera Start of Season Championships

Forty Eight Boats from clubs as far afield as Castle Cove and Ripon entered for the first RS Tera Start of Season Championships sponsored by insurance4dinghies and RS Sailing at Northampton Sailing Club over the weekend of 27^th and 28^th April.

The first race on Saturday was a shifty and gusty affair with short bursts of hail thrown in for good measure, with the race team, guided by Rear Commodore Sailing, Ian Castle setting  a great course in the North Easterly breeze.

First away were the PRO fleet and after some extremely close racing Crispin Beaumont of Bartley SC returning to the class after a two year break set his marker down for the rest of the regatta, Crispin was followed home by Robby Boyd of Lymington Town SC / Royal Lymington YC and Jonny Tait also of RLYC.

The Sport fleet got away and was lead from start to finish by Billy Vennis Ozane of Hill Head SC / Hayling Island SC, Billy was chased all the way to the line by Jack Lewis of Draycote Water SC, and Matthew Caiger of Bewl Valley SC.

A quick break for lunch and then back out for another 2 races back to back with increased breeze and some mighty gusts under black clouds catching out the unwary.

In the PRO fleet Crispin stamped his authority on the fleet with 2 more wins, in race 2 he was followed home by Alex Butler and Josh Boniface both of HISC and in race 3 by Robby and Josh, this left the overnight top 3 as Crispin, then Robby and Josh.

In the SPORT fleet Jack took race 2 followed by Henry Jameson of HISC and Harrison PYE of DWSC, Race 3 saw another race winner in Harrison, followed by Tom Goacher of LTSC / RLYC, then Henry, this left the overnight top 3 as Harrison, then Jack, then Matthew.

An early finish to the day, allowed all the sailors to catch up with old friends and make new ones followed  by the Northampton SC speciality, Elaines catering.

Sunday dawned with a slightly decreased breeze but from the South West, blowing straight over the dam, a slightly different challenge for the race team, it was very shifty.

Crispin came straight out of the blocks and won both the morning races, though not without some hard work to gain places, in race 4 it was Alex and Josh that kept Crispin honest and in race 5 newcomer to the PRO fleet, having moved up from his SPORT for this event Sam Doble Thomson came 2^nd and Alex third.

In the SPORTS, the very consistant Jack copied Crispins efforts by winning races 4 and 5, followed home by Tom and then and Lucy Greenwood of Alton Water Sports Centre in race 4 and in race 5 Tom Storey and Maddie Wylie of Ripon Sailing Club.

Both Crispin and Jack had done enough before lunch to secure the event in their respective classes.

For race 6, the breeze had built and made the race quite exciting, catching a few sailors out and allowing the patrol boat teams to put in some practice.

 

Crispin made it 6 out of 6 in the PRO followed home by Sam and Robby, this gave Crispin the event, Robby 2^nd place and Sam 3^rd, a great effort in his first time out in the PRO.

Another race winner in the SPORT, Matthew was followed to the finish after a very close battle, involving 8 boats at the front by Henry, then Jack, final places were Jack, then Matthew in 2^ndand Henry 3^rd.

The RS Tera Class Association would like to thank the members and staff of Northampton Sailing Club, who once again proved magnificent hosts, this really is a club that more classes should visit, Elaine and her team for keeping everyone fed and watered and event sponsors insurance4 dinghies and RS Sailing, without whom we would not be fortunate enough to be able to hold such great events.

The prize giving was hosted by Northampton SC Commodore Gordon Halfacre who awarded special prizes as well as the event prizes to Jamie Rastrick, Sydney Pettit and Oscar Cubitt.

 

 

Full RS Tera Start of Seasons Results

 

Report from the RS Tera Pro Sailor Freya Grant-

 

I really enjoyed this weekend even though the conditions where really challenging. Northampton club is really welcoming. I hope there are future events there. (the food was really good)

 

I am not the best in stronger winds as I am smaller then some of the Pro sailors so it was not my best event. But I still had fun. It was stiff competition and everybody was close to each other. Anybody could have won.

 

There was a friendly atmosphere in the sailing club and everybody enjoyed the racing. We came in for lunch which was good as I probably would not have had the energy for three full on races back to back.

 

The races where ran smoothly and they changed the course quickly when the wind changed. The event was altogether a enjoyable event. It was an great start to the season.

 

 

Report from the Sports fleet by Charlotte Scott

 

On 27th and 28th April, Northampton SC hosted the RS Tera Start of Season Championships. On Saturday everyone turned up bright and early ready for a fun filled day of sailing. Boats were unloaded and rigged and sailors were changed in time for a 10:30 briefing and first start at 11:15.

 

As the Teras set off from the shore a HUGE black cloud settled above the lake and- as luck would have it- it started to hail. As the tiny pieces of ice bounced off hulls the usual shouts of 'starboard' and 'windward' carrying  across the water were replaced by 'ouch' and 'I can't see'. Buffs were pulled over heads and sailors huddled down in their boats. Once the shower had passed the wind picked up and the 5 minute signal sounded for the Pro fleet.

 

We sailed in and had a lovely lunch provided by the galley. Some decided that although they loved their hikers/wetsuits the more sensible option was to change into drysuits and stay warmer and dryer. We sailed out to the start line in time for the first signal at 1:15.The Pro Fleet got off to a good start and were almost up the first beat before the Sport start was recalled. This meant the Sports restarted just as they completed lap 1 and the battle up the beat was somewhat congested!

 

The wind had picked up lots so plenty of people went swimming in the lovely warm water of the reservoir throughout this race! 

 

As the races were back-to-back the start of the next race wasn't long after the finish of the last one meaning that the tired and aching sailors had no time to recover before the 3rd and last race of the day. The Pro and Sport starts were both good and the race was finished within an hour meaning the sailors had time to put covers on boats and get changed before dinner which was either lasagne, chilli, or a burger with lovely salad.

 

After dinner everyone left to go to hotels, camper-vans or in some extreme cases- tents!

 

After a good night's sleep the sailors were greeted with lovely breakfast and frozen boats. As the first start was 9:55 boats were rigged and sailors quickly changed ready for two back-to-back cold, fun and windy races.

 

As the sailors launched and started to sail towards the start line they soon realised that the wind wasn't as light as it had looked from the shore and some hiking was required if they didn't want to capsize before the end of the day. Thanks to a ‘salt and pepper pot’ tactic talk over breakfast, Tom Storey and Maddie Wylie flew from the start line and finished the race in brilliant 2nd and 3rd positions!

 

After warm lunches the Teras set out again for the final race of the weekend. The wind had, again, picked up so plenty of capsizes were seen, especially down the run. After an hour of extreme sailing and hiking the exhausted sailors made for shore, packed boats onto road trailers and got changed ready for the prize giving.

 

It was a brilliant weekend of fun sailing!

 

Report by Charlotte Scott 940 Ripon Sailing Club

 

 

 

A great selection of Steves photos can be viewed - 

  http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/sets/72157633403133469/

 

Many Thanks Steve these are fantastic!

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