'Blasting' conditions for the Staunton Blaster

The Staunton Blaster lives up to its name © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

The Staunton Blaster lived up to its name again with driving rain, and the wind blasting with gusts of up to 40 knots through Day 1 and gusts of up to 28 knots on Day 2. Thirty-two boats from across the Midlands, took part, with 15 different fleets represented. The weekend was an incredible test of endurance for sailors, safety teams and race officers, capsizes were frequent and the safety teams did an excellent job on both days!

Race 1 saw Ogston's, Roscoe Martin sail into first place (RSAero5), Staunton's Matt and Simon Foskett (Fireball) and Pete Gray and Rachael Rhodes (Scorpion) came 2nd and 3rd respectively. Whilst the safety team was kept busy on the water, the race officials were kept just as busy trying to note down Notts County S.C.'s Jamie Manson's (RS600) laps! A welcome break from the weather and everyone headed in to enjoy a choice of very welcome pasta bakes and cakes before taking to the water again for the afternoon's back to back racing. Then it was back on the water for the afternoon's racing, Race 2 started with strong winds and lots of rudders and daggerboards on show. Staunton's Corey Newton (Supernova) had got into his stride by now, with a first place finish, and Notts County's, Jamie Manson (RS600) and Ogston's, Roscoe Martin came 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Back to back Race 3 started promptly and thankfully weather conditions eased. Those sailors who had given up on their New Year gym resolutions were left pleading for an early course shortening, each time they passed through the 'finish' line. Staunton's, Corey Newton, working well in his Supernova had his second, first placed finish of the day, Matt and Simon Foskett (Fireball) likewise took another second place, and Dovestone/Northampton's Andy McKee and Steve Graham (Scorpion) finished third. A great end to day one with Corey Newton finishing first overall - will the trophy change hands in 2018, but still stay in the same family?

The Staunton Blaster lives up to its name - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Day Two and the fourth and fifth races of the Staunton Blaster leg of the Cooler/ Blaster mini-series.

Races 4 and 5 were held back to back on Sunday morning with slightly better conditions than Saturday; wind speed of 19 – 20 knots gusting to 28 knots at times not counting the intermittent snow and sleet showers, interspersed with periods of sunny weather, not for the faint hearted!

Race 4 saw gusty conditions, challenging to most competitors, with a few capsizes to keep the RIB crews busy. The conditions seemed to suit the fast fleet with Matt and Simon Foskett in their Fireball coming in first with Pete Gray and Rachel Rhodes second (Scorpion) and Jamie Manson with a highly gymnastic performance in his RS600 in 3rd place.

The Staunton Blaster lives up to its name - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Race 5 saw the wind fluctuate in strength throughout the race with Andy McKee and Steve Graham in their Scorpion coming first, helped by a splendid spinnaker low broad reach to catch up with the Fireballs, and Corey Newton who had not done so well in Race 4 to take second in his Supernova with Grahame Newton, well ahead in the slow fleet, coming third overall in his Laser full rig, doing well to keep upright in the gusty conditions.

Overall race results of the 5 race series was Corey Newton, first, Matt and Simon Foskett, second and Peter Gray and Rachel Rhodes third, all Staunton Harold sailors, 4th Roscoe Martin of Ogston SC and 5th Jamie Manson of Notts County.

The final leg of this Open Series will be at Notts County on the 24th and 25th February 2018. All sailors are welcome please go to ncsc.org.uk for full details.

A very big thank you to all the travelling sailors who made the event such a great competition. Also to our excellent race and galley teams for a wonderful job, both on and off the water. We would also like to thank the club's very own Paul Williamson whose photos were used throughout the weekend and also Tim Olin, renowned specialist marine photographer who somehow managed to capture a host of amazing photos of this weekend's races, despite the weather conditions! For a high quality copy of the photos shown here email and to take a look at the full album from the weekend please go to www.flickr.com/photos/141388522@N05/sets/72157690335597462

Overall Results: (full race results here)