RS Aero 5 Squad weekend at Hayling Island

by Peter Barton on 11 Dec 2014 In the five weeks since Queen Mary the RS Aero5 squad has already doubled to 10 young Aeronauts. RS Aero and Tera parents not wanting to miss out on the fun made up another four larger rigs and an open invite to the Hayling Aero fleet gave a total of 18 entries. Four more new boats were delivered to new owners.

Plenty of variety ensued with winds ranging from four – eight kn on Saturday to 16-35kn on Sunday with sailors of weights ranging from 38kg to 98kg all enjoying their boats.

Saturday’s coaching focus was on both tide and starting which was relevant at Hayling and in preparation for Sunday’s race series. At the end of Saturday many sailors were looking forward to more wind - but you must be careful what you wish for!

Sunday, as expected, dawned with an increase in wind with an excited air of anticipation whilst enjoying Hayling’s 5* breakfast. At launch time it was a ‘fresh but not frightening’ 18kn so we went for it. A six race series was planned using pursuit starts with each of the three Aero rigs starting 30 seconds apart for a race lasting approximately 18 minutes. A triangle-sausage course was laid with the gybe mark a long way offset to produce some fantastic tight reaching. The well sailed five rigs looked great in a blow with the larger rigs struggling to pull back their time quickly enough.

During race two a squall came through with winds escalating quickly to a recorded 35 knot maximum. Shallow water, waves and strong wind are often a fatal formula for rigs when they hit the ground in a capsize but it proved a great testament to the rigs and the lightweight hulls that no mast damage resulted in the extreme conditions. Another benefit of having just a 30kg hull! An early lunch was called to re-group and allow the squall to pass.

Re-energized we launched again into about 20-25 knots and succeeded in three more races. Some great screaming reaches, nervous runs and valuable heavy air gybing practice were to be had. The fleet was exhausted but still beaming at the debrief and looking forward to more time on the water over the Christmas break. Well done to all the sailors for their energy and attitude in the testing conditions.



 Results - 5 races 4 to count:

Posn	Name	Club	Rig	Sail	1	2	3	4	5	Pnts
1	Liam Willis	Lymington Town	5	1003	2	1	1	3	2	6
2	Louis Wright	Hayling	5	1109	9	2	3	5	1	11
3	Chris Blake	Netley	9	1116	8	4	2	2	4	12
4	Doug Baker	Hayling	9	1030	3	3	4	6	DNS	16
5	Kent Martin	Ogston	7	1089	4	8	5	4	6	19
6	Ben Poe	Sutton Bingham	5	1107	6	7	7	6	5	24
7	Ian Swann	Hayling	9	1036	DNS	DNS	6	1	3	29
8	George Catchpole	Waveney and Oulton Broad	5	1028	11	10	8	8	7	33
9	Ffinlo Wright	IOM	5	1171	1	5	9	DNS	DNS	34
10	Hugo/Ash Robathan	Oxford	5	1103	DNS	DNS	10	7	8	44
11	Dave Batchelor	IOM	7	1	5	9	DNS	DNS	DNS	52
12	Jason Hardman	Hayling	9	1024	10	6	DNS	DNS	DNS	54
13	Thomas Blake	Netley	5	1117	12	11	DNS	DNS	DNS	61
14	Archie Hainsworth	Alton	5	1173	7	DNF	DNS	DNS	DNS	64
15	Maggie Dunn	Lyme Regis	5	100	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	76
16	Mike Taylor	Alton	9	1164	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	76
17	Erin Murphy	IOM	5	1028	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	76
18	Charlie Pearce	West Mersea	5	1108	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	76