Rooster RS Aero World Championships – Day 4

by RS Aero International Class Association on 28 Jul 2017 A forth day of 16-24kn graced the first RS Aero World Championship in Carnac France. The 96 sailors from 16 nations are becoming familiar with the wild rides and surfs downwind through the waves on the Brittany coast.

Rooster sailing have provided podium bibs for the top three in each fleet to wear on the water. In the 21 strong RS Aero 9 fleet all was fairly true to form with Marc Jacobi USA taking two more firsts. Liam Willis GBR managed to wrestle a win from Marc and Greg Bartlett GBR nudging in two thirds to go into the final day with a 5 point lead over Matt Thursfield GBR for the Bronze.

The biggest entry is in the 61 strong RS Aero 7 fleet and the titanic battle continues for the top spot. Peter Barton GBR came out guns blazing in the first race with a convincing lead to equal the series. A small lead at mark 1 in each of the next two races was not enough to hold off the legendary downwind speed of Steve Cockerill GBR ‘Rooster’. Steve took the last two after the two boat battle drove them to a good lead over the fleet and now goes into the final day two points ahead. Paul Bartlett GBR holds a solid third overall with Steve Norbury GBR ‘Selden’ jumping up to fourth and Sean Craig IRE fifth.

Team Estonia had a great day in the RS Aero 7 fleet on Day 4 with three boats packing out the top ten. Ants Haavel EST moved up to sixth with a 4,6,7. European Silver medallist, Kristo Ounap EST jumped to eighth with a 5,3,8.

Noah Rees GBR goes into the final day with a small lead over Yannick Gloster USA for the Top Youth spot. Liina Kolk EST,Juliane Barthel GER and Sarah Cockerill GBR head the battle for the Lady’s title in the 7s.

In the 20 strong RS Aero 5 fleet Andrew Frost GBR pulled out a nice buffer going into the final showdown with a handy 2,1,1. The remaining medal positions are very tight with just three points separating Sander Puppart EST, Andrias Sillaste EST and Kate Sargent GBR (top Lady). Kate showed great downwind technique to again gain places on the run, winning the first race of the day.

The daily Rooster prize giving saw prizes spreading down the fleets with the leaders awarded their race bibs but unable to win a second day prize. Again the leaders of each fleet gave their top tips to the audience. Andrew Frost stressed the importance of working hard to gain places to the very end. Marc Jacobi spoke of the benefit of let the boat go on a slightly eased course when experiencing the worst of the waves on the beat. Steve Cockerill of Rooster gave a thought provoking insight into how the rig swings and accelerates as you go over waves upwind, creating a need to sheet in up a wave and out as it swings forward as you go over the back of a wave. Day 5 is looking like yet another breezy one so the fleet all looks forward to putting those gems into practice!

Tonight the Awards Ceremonyis at 18:00hrs followed by the Panama Partyprovided by sponsors Ron Abuelo, Panama’s premium rum brand, who will be providing rum cocktails with a nautical theme for all competitors.

Bring on Day 5!