2015 Magic Marine RS Aero UK Series - Round 1

by Matt Thursfield on 19 May 2015 Chelmarsh Sailing Club in the heart of rural Shropshire saw the first event of the inaugural RS Aero UK Series kindly sponsored by Magic Marine. A forecast of 16mph with gusts into the 20s encouraged a healthy fleet of 25 sailors from around the UK to this picturesque piece of water. The direction was almost perfect for Chelmarsh, straight down the lake giving the ARO, Tony Hanan the opportunity to use most of the 100 acres to set a course perfectly suited to the Aero Fleet, reaches of varying angles with a thrown in tactical run.

With the bodyweights of the helms ranging from 50kg to over 100kg, all three rigs were being used, all getting underway with a mass start; the order of the day being handicap racing to find the overall victor, with the separate rigs’ results being extracted to be used for the four-event traveller series.

With a wide range of experience within the fleet, racing was always going to be close, those who have spent time in their boats to work out how to make it go fast at the sharp end, racing alongside several owners having taken recent delivery of their new toy, as well as those who had grabbed one of the Association boats for a taster race. The spectrum was completed with those helms who know how to do it but need more time to really make it work.

Leading the 25 strong fleet around for most of the day was Matt Thursfield (RS Aero 9) however the particular aspect of Chelmarsh with gusts sweeping down one side of the lake then the other, meant that the chasing pack were always in with a shout of narrowing the time gaps sufficiently to bring the handicap system into play. Peter Barton (RS Aero7) was the helm with the fastest medium rig. It was he who had covered Matt throughout the runs all day, Cat and Mouse sailing with Matt trying to break cover, Pete’s lighter bodyweight (75kg vs 104kg) giving him control despite having the smaller rig. It was the reaches where the 8.9m2 rig came into its own – just getting on the plane that fraction earlier allowed Matt to get away – but by enough? Only after the results were processed would we really know.

With a four race program and three races completed, the lead two were in a position where whoever took the last race would be the event winner. The final result was in the hands of the other sailors on the water, Matt in his nine rig had managed to get away and into clean air, Peter in the seven was sailing amongst other seven rigs of Pete Townend, Gareth Williams, Paul Robson and Dave Cherrill who themselves were being slowed by Richard Watsham and Gareth Griffiths in their nines. All looking good for Matt, three laps done, the shortened course flag up, the gun taken. The wind for this few minutes of the last race was going to be key. The nines of Richard and Gareth along with Peter Barton had managed to break through the other sevens and were screaming along the final two reaches. Would Barton close the time gap to Matt who was anxiously clockwatching? Just 1 min 54 secs after a marginal planing upwind fetch to the finish on a nice shift. It had been almost three minutes at one point. Was it still enough?

As the Magic Marine Prize Box was being forklifted into the clubhouse, SailWave was doing its stuff. Matt had done enough by 45 seconds to win the event based on the last race sailed, both he and Pete having three points. Third went to Gareth Williams (RS Aero7), fourth to Gareth Griffiths (nine), fifth was Paul Robson (seven). Leading the fives home was Ffinlo Wright having made the journey across from the Isle of Man; lead lady was Cathy Bartram also in a five rig.

It was a brilliant day both on and off the water. A huge vote of thanks to all behind the scenes, the amazing lunch from the Whitehouse/Collingwood/Stanley kitchen, the Race Management team of Mike, Tony, Maria and Tracy supported by the safety squads, as well as fleet captain Rob Fisk-Moore for organising the day and generally getting Chelmarsh to be such a hotbed of RS Aero Sailing. Chelmarsh would also like to thank RS Sailing, Junior in particular, for supporting the event and the class as more potential sailors got their first experience of what the boat has to offer.

The next event on the circuit is Lymington on 13th-14th June. With Harken providing a very generous supply of prizes and goodies and Vibrant Forest Brewery generously supplying two casks of beer for after racing tipples it looks set to be a weekend to remember! With a large fleet of their own, the Class could see a whopping turnout on the startline. Be there! Full details and online entry here.

 Results:

Rank	sail	Name	Club	Rig	PY	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total	Net
1	1208	Matt Thursfield	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 9	1035	1	2	2	1	6	4
2	1175	Peter Barton	Lymington Town	RS Aero 7	1065	2	1	1	2	6	4
3	1118	Gareth Williams	Leigh & Lowton	RS Aero 7	1065	7	4	5	4	20	13
4	1023	Gareth Griffiths	Island Barn Res	RS Aero 9	1035	3	10	3	8	24	14
5	1079	Paul Robson	Reading	RS Aero 7	1065	4	5	7	5	21	14
6	1298	Richard Watsham	Starcross	RS Aero 9	1035	8	3	6	7	24	16
7	1428	Peter Townend	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 7	1065	DNF	6	4	6	42	16
8	1002	David Cherrill	Broadwater	RS Aero 7	1065	6	9	8	3	26	17
9	100	Ade White	Draycote	RS Aero 7	1065	5	8	9	OCS	48	22
10	1171	Ffinlo Wright	Isle of Man	RS Aero 5	1102	11	7	10	10	38	27
11	1033	Peter Gale	Reddich	RS Aero 9	1035	10	16	13	11	50	34
12	1178	Cathy Bartram	Chew Valley Lake	RS Aero 5	1102	9	11	18	18	56	38
13	1097	Chris Jones	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 7	1065	12	13	16	13	54	38
14	1207	Mark Tissiman	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 7	1065	13	15	12	14	54	39
15	1095	Tony Jukes	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 9	1035	18	12	15	12	57	39
16	1096	Robert Fiske-Moore	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 7	1065	16	14	14	16	60	44
17	1370	Steve Taylor	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 7	1065	DNS	DNS	11	9	72	46
18	1413	Adrian Speke	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 7	1065	15	17	17	20	69	49
19	1412	Peter Wilson	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 5	1102	20	18	19	RET	83	57
20	1092	Richard Woods	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 9	1035	19	19	20	19	77	57
21	1206	Dave Thursfield	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 7	1065	14	20	DNS	DNS	86	60
22	205	Alison Taylor	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 5	1102	DNS	DNS	DNS	15	93	67
23	1205	Dave Beard	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 7	1065	17	DNS	DNS	DNS	95	69
24	206	David Partridge	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 7	1065	DNS	DNS	DNF	17	95	69
25	1094	Rob Hampton	Chelmarsh	RS Aero 7	1065	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	104	78