RS Tera Inland National Championships at Alton Water SC overall

by Mike Taylor on 12 Sep 2011 RS Tera Inland National Championships, sponsored by Optimum Time, were held at Alton Water Sailing Club over the weekend of 10th and 11th September 2011.

Wow what a weekend! After watching the weather forecasts during the week it was wondered if we would even get a Championship. In the event we had a good mix of winds - always shifty as befits an Inland Championship with some light stuff all the way up to a good breeze with some killer gusts, so something for everyone. We were going to get two excellent all round champions out of this event. Parents were also blessed with very little rain and quite a lot of sun thus allowing them to make the most of the grassy areas at Alton Water to watch the racing on this great reservoir venue near Ipswich.

72 young sailors had turned up, split as 30 in the larger Pro rig fleet and 42 in the Sport rig - a new record for this dynamic young class. Travellers had come from as far afield as the South Coast and Isle of Man.

Saturday dawned bright with a gentle breeze. Sunday's forecast looked awful with heavy winds and rain forecast for Sunday. Race Officer John Glasspool took the option in the sailing instructions to get five races in instead of the usual four, just in case Sunday was going to be a problem. In the two races before lunch Henry Jameson (HISC) and Jack Lewis (Draycote Water SC, aged just eight) opened their accounts in the Sport fleet with race wins whilst Freddie Grogono (Royal Hospital School) took both races in the Pro Fleet in a relatively light breeze.

After lunch there were to be three races back to back. Alex Butler (HISC), George Catchpole (Waveney and Oulton Broad YC) then Alex Butler again were the race winners. This meant that overnight, the four mentioned sailors plus the ever consistent Greg Kelly from the Isle of Man were all in the hunt with just five points between them. In the Pros Will Taylor won the third, Freddie Grogono the fourth and then Flynn Davies the fifth race. The contenders in the Pros were looking like Freddie Grogono, his brother Oliver and Will Taylor.

Overnight the wind howled and the rain fell. Those camping in tents had a rough night and the camper vans were buffeted, with several early morning parental trips to wind in awnings before they blew away. Luckily by the time the sailors started to arrive the sky was brightening and the breeze seemed quite manageable although pretty solid. Who would this stronger breeze favour?

Henry Jameson really was on fire despite being one of the lighter sailors and streaked to three straight wins to take the Sport title. There had been a discussion during the week about whether to award a prize to the best performer from the last winter's intermediate squad, of which Henry had been a member. It was decided that actually there was a fair chance he might be in amongst the real chocolates so the idea was dropped - good call! Anya Green was first lady in the Sport fleet in seventh place.

In the Pros Freddie Grogono continued his run with two firsts and a second to take the Pro Fleet. Brother Oliver took the last race but was piped to second place overall by Will Taylor. Rebecca Lewis (Draycote Water SC) was first lady in seventh and given this was only her third event in the bigger rig it was a commendable achievement. We don't think it will be long before she gives the boys a run for their money in the Pros as she did in the Sport fleet.

The Team Trophy was won by Royal Hospital School by one point from Hayling Island Sailing Club. The new Dawn Bisset Trophy for Sportsmanship was awarded to Lucy Bakker of Hayling Island Sailing Club after a nomination from the Race Officer and Rescue Boats for being exceptional polite and always smiling despite several swims. Actually winning a trophy for being cheerful and polite in this fleet is a special commendendation. Many of the race team who haven't experienced this fleet before commented what a lovely bunch of children sail in the class and what a pleasure it was a host an event for them, so to be singled out is a real achievement - well done Lucy! Young seven year old Rupert Jameson won the prize for youngest competitor and proved you can be quite small and still sail these boats - even in the big breezes of Sunday.

Our very generous sponsors had provided a bountiful number of prizes. Optimum Time provided watches for the first four in each class and our other sponsors a huge number of other prizes. A raffle of sail numbers after the main prize giving made sure that prizes were well spread through the rest of the fleet - our thanks to Optimum Time, Lomo, Hawk Marine Products, Selden, and RS Sailing for providing the prizes.

The fleet now moves on to Hayling Island Sailing Club for the Southern Championships on the 24th/25th September and then the Eastern Championships on the 9th/10th October at Burnham Sailing Club - the venue for next years Nationals.

Why not come and join the fun in this friendly and competitive class.

Sport Fleet
1st 2103 Hayling Island SC Henry Jameson 1, (13), 2, 4, (5), 1, 1,1 10
2nd 2012 WOBYC George Catchpole (15), 3, 3, 1, 2, (4), 4, 2 15
3rd 1985 Hayling Island SC Alex Butler (6), 6, 1, 2, 1, 3,(7), 3 16
4th 1594 Isle of Man YC Greg Kelly 3, (5), (4), 3, 4, 2, 3, 4 19
5th 2123 Draycote Water SC Daniel Lewis 2, 2, 6, (21),3,(7), 5, 6 24
6th 147 Isle of Man YC Ffinlo Wright 5, (10), 8,6, 7, (9), 6, 5 37
7th 438 Hayling Island SC Anya Green 8, 7, 10,(26),6, 6, 2, (11) 39
8th 1288 Hayling Island SC Joshua Boniface (11),4, 7, 5, 8,(10), 9, 7 40
9th 1984 Hayling Island SC Rufus Briggs 4,11, 5, 7, (28), 19,(29), 8 54
10th 2122 Draycote Water SC Jack Lewis 12, 1, 11, (15), 11, 8, 14, (24) 57

Pro Fleet
1st Royal Hospital School Freddie Grogono 1,1, (3),1, (5) ,1,1,2 7
2nd AWSC Will Taylor 2,(12),1,2,2,3,2, (9) 12
3rd Royal Hospital School Oliver Grogono (3), 2, 2, 3, (4), 2, 3,1 13
4th Burnham SC Flynn Davies 8,(9), (9),7,1,7,7,3 33
5th AWSC Freddie Chiddicks (14), 6,6,5,8,4, (15.5), 5 34
6th Royal Hospital School Alex Slatter (16), 5, (8),8,6,5,4,6 34
7th Draycote Water SC Rebecca Lewis 6,7,4,(16),(10),9,5, 8 39
8th Castle Cove SC Tristan Bracegirdle 4,4,10,(14), 9,6,(15.5),7 40
9th Castle Cove SC Yann Bracegirdle 12, 3, (20),10,3,19, (23), 4 51
10th Aldeburgh YC George Hill 11,(14), 5, 4,12,11,9, (14) 52

RS Tera Class Association website