2015 Alton Water Single Handed Open overall
by Mark Hainsworth on 25 Sep 2015
RS Aeros, RS Teras and a Mixed Fleet - 2015 Alton Water Single Handed Open Steve Greenwood
2015 Alton Water Single Handed Open – 54 boats came to Alton water on a fine autumnal day for what was a fun Single Hander Open.
This event served as the final event in the Eastern Traveller Series for the RS Teras and an RS Aero open as well as a shake down for some Lasers, Toppers, and even a Moth.
The intention was for three races in the afternoon but sadly the wind decided not to play ball. With a course set to try and make best use of what wind there was, the RS Aeros made best use of it and managed to complete three races. Sadly the larger fleets only managed two before the wind disappeared.
The RS Aeros revelled in the light winds. Only nine and seven rigs were represented with the two lightest lads deciding together to go big. Matt Thursfield, Peter Townend and Richard Watsham travelled over from the west to spend the weekend at Alton. Archie Hainsworth showed his intent in the first race beating the nine rigs over the water, but once the visitors figured out the vagaries of the lake, and the wind strengthened a little they did not let Archie have it all his way and Pete took the second race ahead of Matt and Richard.
Archie managed to catch the nines up again in the third race, for which the wind had increased slightly allowing an extra lap to be sailed. Charlie Pearce in his new seven rig and Malcolm Mellor were not to be outdone and battled with each other for the minor seven places, finishing in that order. Sadly Gavin Johnson was not able to finish the third race and keep the visitors honest.
In the RS Tera Pros young Matt Taylor displayed some superb light wind skills taking both races and completing a clean sweep of wins in the series, regardless of which rig he used. Matt Smith, James Oakley and Tristan Richardson battled it out with each other for the minor places. Overall Matt had the Series win.
In the RS Tera Sports Joshua Davies had the skills and patience to win both races with Blake Tudor and Jack Oakley along with Ned Stattersfield taking the minor places. Matt Taylor had already sealed the series win in the Sports.
In the rest of the single handers, a large group of lasers and toppers entered at the very last minute, after the start sequence decision had been made. As a result the fleet spread out and many of the faster boats went ashore waiting for the slower ones to finish. The prospect of another light air race was too much for some to come back out and race the second. In the only race the majority did Arthur Brown won easily in his radial, with Mark Schofield and Josh Richardson taking second and third. Dan could not get his moth foiling so decided just to have some fun. In the second race Josh did one better finishing behind a much improved Daisy Western in her Oppie, with local RS 300 sailor Oli Harris in third.
High spirits and good humour were the order of the day and there was a level of anticipation for Barts Bash the next day. The membership secretary was testing out his new found computer skills to get the race results out and a few beers and ice creams were consumed after the racing from the excellent Regatta cafe on site.
RS Aero
Rank |
Helm |
sail no. |
club |
py |
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
overall |
1 |
Archie Hainsworth |
1173 |
RHS / Alton Water |
1065 |
1 |
-4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Peter Townend |
1093 |
Chelmarsh |
1030 |
-4 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
Matt Thursfield |
1208 |
Chelmarsh |
1030 |
-2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
Richard Watsham |
1298 |
Starcross |
1030 |
3 |
3 |
-4 |
6 |
5 |
Charlie Pearce |
1108 |
Alton Water |
1065 |
-7 |
6 |
5 |
11 |
6 |
Malcolm Mellor |
1020 |
Hickling Broad |
1065 |
-6 |
5 |
6 |
11 |
7 |
Gavin Johnson |
1455 |
Alton Water |
1030 |
5 |
7 |
(8.0 DNF) |
12 |
RS Tera Pro
Rank |
Helm |
sail no. |
R1 |
R2 |
overall |
1 |
Matthew Taylor |
1747 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Matthew Smith |
984 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
James Oakley |
2261 |
6 |
2 |
8 |
4 |
Tristan Richardson |
676 |
3 |
6 |
9 |
5 |
William Caiger |
2440 |
4 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
Tim Hire |
745 |
5 |
9 |
14 |
7 |
Lucy Greenwood |
2526 |
11 |
4 |
15 |
8 |
Issy Taylor Jones |
1X1 |
7 |
8 |
15 |
9 |
Oscar Cubitt |
4161 |
10 |
7 |
17 |
10 |
Dylan Collinbourne |
678 |
9 |
10 |
19 |
11 |
Harey O'Sullivan |
2315 |
8 |
12 |
20 |
12 |
Josie Ruffles |
2355 |
12 |
13 |
25 |
13 |
Joshua Alldis |
X |
15 |
11 |
26 |
14 |
Will Doble Thomson |
2527 |
13 |
14 |
27 |
15 |
Henry Lloyd |
2302 |
16 |
15 |
31 |
16 |
Drew Bessy |
1854 |
14 |
18.0 DNS |
32 |
17 |
Natasha Cubitt |
2138 |
18.0 DNC |
16 |
34 |
RS Tera Sport
Rank |
Helm |
sail no. |
R1 |
R2 |
overall |
1 |
Joshua Davies |
2661 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
Blake Tudor |
2897 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
Jack Oakley |
2612 |
6 |
2 |
8 |
4 |
Ned Stattersfield |
2325 |
5 |
3 |
8 |
5 |
Samuel Balker |
2472 |
4 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
Joseph Balker |
2743 |
3 |
7 |
10 |
7 |
Dylan Mcpherson |
2442 |
7 |
6 |
13 |
8 |
Felix Powell |
1484 |
9 |
8 |
17 |
9 |
Abby Hire |
2025 |
8 |
9 |
17 |
10 |
Thomas Ward |
8 |
12 |
10 |
22 |
11 |
Oliver Johnson |
2167 |
10 |
13.0 DNS |
23 |
12 |
James Russell |
2086 |
11 |
13.0 DNS |
24 |
Mixed
Rank |
Helm |
sail no. |
class |
py |
R1 |
R2 |
overall |
1 |
Josh Richardson |
128714 |
LASER |
1091 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
Oli Harris |
513 |
RS 300 |
985 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
Daisey Weston |
5889 |
OPTIMIST |
1665 |
14 |
1 |
15 |
4 |
Arthur Brown |
179741 |
LASER RADIAL |
1135 |
1 |
19.0 DNS |
20 |
5 |
Jack Berry |
47222 |
TOPPER 4.2 |
1353 |
16 |
4 |
20 |
6 |
Mark Schofield |
206805 |
LASER |
1091 |
2 |
19.0 DNS |
21 |
7 |
Martin Hawkes |
43369 |
TOPPER |
1340 |
15 |
6 |
21 |
8 |
James Hawthorn |
45335 |
TOPPER |
1340 |
17 |
5 |
22 |
9 |
John Russell |
183408 |
LASER |
1091 |
5 |
19.0 DNS |
24 |
10 |
Richard Maidstone |
146653 |
LASER |
1091 |
6 |
19.0 DNS |
25 |
11 |
Phoebe Twigg |
198993 |
LASER |
1091 |
7 |
19.0 DNS |
26 |
12 |
Theo Harris |
RHS 6 |
LASER RADIAL |
1135 |
8 |
19.0 DNS |
27 |
13 |
Mark Smith |
572 |
RS VAREO |
1071 |
9 |
19.0 DNS |
28 |
14 |
Will Taylor |
RHS 14 |
LASER 4.7 |
1195 |
10 |
19.0 DNS |
29 |
15 |
Elliot Berry |
47450 |
TOPPER |
1340 |
11 |
19.0 DNF |
30 |
16 |
Freddie Woottan |
RHS 15 |
LASER 4.7 |
1195 |
12 |
19.0 DNS |
31 |
17 |
Joe Ward |
158599 |
LASER |
1091 |
13 |
19.0 DNS |
32 |
18 |
Dan Patter |
3418 |
MOTH FOILING |
570 |
19.0 DNC |
19.0 DNS |
38 |
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