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Henri-Lloyd - For the Obsessed

Rooster RS Tera National Championships at Cardiff Bay Yacht Club

by Emily Davis 6 Jun 2018 04:39 PDT 1-3 June 2018
RS Tera Nationals on Cardiff Bay © Giles Smith

The atmosphere was electric in Cardiff Bay as 110 eager Tera Sailors arrived at CBYC in glorious sunshine to compete in the Rooster RS Tera Nationals 2018. With the Volvo Ocean Race having arrived for a stopover, a carnival spirit was in town and with the sun defying the forecast many arrived early to register on Thursday evening and take in the sights and sounds.

Wall to wall sunshine was the order of the day for Friday; with the forecast not looking promising for Sunday, it was decided by PRO Tom Rusbridge to try and fit in 4 races on Friday. With the wind steadily increasing and the prospect of a sea breeze (albeit on a lake) it was looking possible.

With a great number of volunteer helpers from parents of the fleet this was our most involved nationals ever; sporting their Volunteer Tees the safety team left the shores and the Beach team worked smoothly and efficiently to launch all sailors in a record time.

Shifty conditions from both the light winds and the interesting skyline around the bay made it exhilarating work for the Race team, but PRO Tom had it under control with his efficient team shifting marks around.

Race one saw Jack Oakley (RHS), a frontrunner for the championships, OCS on the start in the PRO fleet but Becky Caiger was still first to the windward mark and held onto her lead the whole way round the course, with Blake Tudor (Brightlingsea) in second and Jakey Wood (HISC) coming in third. Becky took the second race similarly with Jakey moving into second and Oliver Rayner (YDSC) fresh from coming second Junior at the Feva Nationals took third place.

A small on the water break took place to allow sailors to eat and relax before race 3, where Oliver proved he was not tired and took the bullet, Peter Cope (IoMYC) sailing brilliantly to second and Esme Barraclough (YDSC) only just having moved into the Pro Fleet having the race of her life in third. Race 4 saw Jack Oakley finally take the bullet from Fergus Pye (DWSC), Beth Miller (YDSC) taking third place.

In the Sport Fleet race one went to Max Sydenham (Dell Quay SC) pushing Alice Davis (Great Moor SC) into second place on the final run of the race, with Oliver Stratton Brown showing off his shifty Frensham Pond skills. Race two saw 13 sailors fall foul of the U flag; clearly not reading the flags correctly and going on the 1 minute signal. Alice roared away to take the bullet from fellow squad member Ollie Peters (HISC) and Freddie Sunderland (Olton Mere) zooming into third. After the break Alice once more took the lead in race three, Max Sydenham once more proving his worth to take second and Akirah Blackah (Welsh Harp SC) enjoying a well deserved third. All change for race 4; with a big shift halfway up the first beat meant that Felix Stewart (Windermere) got on the right side of it and took the win, with William James (SWYSA) second and Oliver S-B (FPSC) once more in third.

It was clear that this was likely to be a high scoring series with light and shifty winds; though as the sailors returned to shore for some well deserved pasta the wind had increased to a lovely steady breeze.

Alongside the main fleet, a separate Regatta Fleet for a maximum of 20 sailors was being held. This comprised of coaching on and off the water from RS Tera Squad Coach Matthew Caiger, and Legacy Coach and former World Champion Harrison Pye, along with a coached race series. With any number of short races to be held this was a great way to hone your skills before entering the main fleet, make some new friends and win prizes. Race one of the day saw Alex Sydenham (Dell Quay SC) match his brother's win, followed by HISC Clubmates Joshua Inglesfield and Charlie Baker. Race two was led by Archie Dunn (IoMYC), Joshua once more in second and Alex Sydenham hanging in there in third. Harriet Wade (Northampton SC) pulled out all the stops to take the win, Harry Mitchell of Erith SC second and Exe Sailor Josh-John Ringe popping up in third place. In race 4 Archie took pole position once more, Charlie Baker second and Josh-John third. With a fifth race of the day Charlie pushed himself to the front and stole the race from Josh-John, Alex taking third.

Sailors and parents alike enjoyed the great bar and catering facilities and unwound for the evening before an early start.

Greyer conditions greeted the sailors on Saturday but with glimpses of sunshine it promised to burn through by lunchtime and provide a lovely breeze once more. Racing got underway on time but the pro fleet was abandoned as the leaders went around the windward mark due to a lull. The wind swiftly increased again to allow racing to continue; Joseph Warwicker (Bough Beech) stepping into the spotlight to take first, Tom Stratton-Brown(FPSC) not letting the family name down in second and line pusher Theo Stewart (Windermere) taking third. Fergus Pye (DWSC) had a great win in race 6 having battled it out with Blake Tudor (second) and Becky Caiger once more appearing to take third. With postponements throughout the day there was ample opportunity for kids to eat and drink, socialise on the water and have a great time. Race 7 brought Tom Ahlheid (FPSC) into first finally from Abby Hire (RLymYC) who had recovered from a dunking and Albert Gilmore (Paignton SC) showing his face in third. The wind was building nicely and race 8 was started by 2.30; the 2017 Sport National Champion Ben Tuttle taking the win from Jakey Wood (HISC), whose father Mark was doing a fab job as ARO (pin) and Albert once more chipping away taking third place.

In the Sport fleet, the day was dominated by Start of Seasons Champion Alice with the exception of race 6 which was won superbly by Matthew Rayner (YDSC); second places were taken by Will James, newcomer to the Tera circuit John Bridgeman (LLSC, CSC), Ollie Peters (HISC) and Freddie Sunderland (Olton Mere) pleasing his mother on the committee boat! Thirds went to Teddy Dunn (IoMYC) finally showing what he was made of, Ollie Peters, Adelicia Lavender (Felptham SC) having a great race and 9 year old Jac Bailey from Port Dinorwic SC proving skill comes before age.

In the Regatta Fleet, races were won by William Sears who had been unable to make the previous day, Josh-John Ringe and Joshua Inglesfield tore away with the last two races. Seconds went to Harry Mitchel and Josh-John, thirds to Archie (x2) William Sears and Alex Sydenham. There was all to play for!

Boats were hastily sailed ashore and the sailors were ferried across to the Volvo Ocean Village, where they got to experience life on a Volvo Ocean racing yacht, see the yachts up close and personal, experience virtual reality and gather plenty of freebies before being ferried once more back to CBYC for a fantastic BBQ in amazing weather.

Sunday's forecast still looked dismal; yet when sailors awoke many were surprised to see wind in the trees and an almost fresh breeze! Racing was on. In the Pro Fleet especially the last two races of the series could change everything; though many believed Alice had won with two races to spare in the Sport fleet, she could in fact be caught! It was all tense in the boat park...

In the Pros, race 9 saw Blake Tudor final get the first he had been seeking, Fergus second and Tom Ahlheid third. With overnight leader Albert not in the top 6 it looked like it could be all over for him!! 2017 Sport fleet World Champion took the bullet in the last race followed by Blake but with Albert coming in third he managed to hold on and take the series, proving that even without a single win it is possible to keep chipping away and take the title!

In the Sports Alice wasn't resting on her laurels and soared away to win the race and the Championship with one race to spare; Freddie Sunderland once more in second and Max Steele (Datchet) taking third place. The final race went to Alice, William Bailey (Ripon, YDSC) in second and Will James third. A very impressive scoresheet from Alice proved her a worthy National Champion, reading the wind and the water all the way.

The final races were held in the Regatta Fleet; Orla Barraclough (YDSC) managed to push herself into the top three in race 14, but Archie Dunn was the star of the day with three bullets, propelling him to Regatta Fleet National Champion.

Prize giving was held swiftly with an impressive array of prizes from Sponsors Wildwind, Rooster Sailing and Selden, along with some great goodies from the Volvo Ocean Race teams. With Special Guest Bleddyn Mon from the Turn the tide on Plastic race team speaking to the young sailors and delivering prizes, there were some great photo opportunities and a prize giving for all to remember. Our thanks go to CBYC for hosting the event, all our sponsors, Andy Taphause at RS Sailing for his great event support, all the volunteer helpers across the event, Volvo Ocean racing and the weather gods who provided some of the hottest and driest weather for a Tera Nationals in June. Our next event is the Inlands at Burton SC, 30th June-1st July. Entry is open here for the main fleet, regatta fleet entry will be open soon. The RS Tera Class prides itself on its friendliness and inclusivity; all are welcome to our events and we would love to see new faces.

For more information about the RS Tera Legacy coaching scheme visit uk.rstera.org/docs/Training%20Legacy%202017final.pdf

Overall Results:

Pro Fleet

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10Pts
1st2410Albert GillmorePaignton Sailing Club / RDYC-1649-1747338341
2nd1880Tom AhlheidFrensham pond sc-116587-26183947
3rd2897Blake TudorBrightlingsea SC2(OCS)4516221(DSQ)1253
4th2560Jake ThompsonFrensham Pond SC857-145810-139153
5th2584Becky CaigerSevenoaks School11-21963-1511131054
6th1693Fergus PyeDraycote Water Sailing Club137(DNC)21716-182654
7th2602Oliver RaynerYorkshire Dales SC10314-21194410-2655
8th3442Jakey WoodHayling Island Sailing Club32-12-2091252111155
9th2359Ben TuttleHISC5151311-20-161215466
10th2821Theo StewartWindermere School-14116123131454-1568
11th2025Abby HireRoyal Lymington YC4-218181510210-19875
12th3211Joseph WarwickerBough Beech SC15-18101315-191715581
13th3257Esme BarracloughYDSC20-223686-299181686
14th2612jack oakleyroyal hospital school(OCS)1316114-2018671489
15th2764Tom Stratton-Brownfpsc1712-20-35211914161394
16th2111Beth MillerYorkshire Dales Sailing Club219-263-2815111262198
17th2879Eilish GrahamSSSC68151024-34-35201412109
18th2086James RussellRoyal Harwich Yacht Club910-29161921-2216127110
19th2305William SunderlandOlton Mere Sailing Club2320147134-271522-32118
20th3354Peter CopeIsle of Man Yacht Club71622111291321-32(DNC)120
21st2950James JohnsonWindermere School-2217-222210141772022129
22nd1854Freddie FisherHISC12141119-3124-36193119149
23rd2632Caitlin MorleyBurnham sailing club27251715129-37-312325153
24th888Beth LewisFrensham2824-32-32261816241717170
25th2171Carys AttwellRutland SC18-2724232217202724-29175
26th2402Jacob KnockPort Dinorwic Sailing Club252318302927725-35-42184
27th743Lizzie FosterEmsworth29-37-382727318232920194
28th2968Tom JohnsonWindermere School-3029282825-3824222118195
29th2344Esther TuttleHISC24(OCS)1925-382530292824204
30th1316Ffion BaileyPort Dinorwic Sailing Club1926273134333226-41-35228
31st2936James KnightDraycote Water Sailing Club3128-3629322233-383427236
32nd984Sarah ProbertBCSC / SWYSA-371930-37302828353037237
33rd2323Imogen PalmerCorinthian otters36313424-37302534-3723237
34th3229Henry CollinsQueen Mary Sailing Club39342334352323-40-4228239
35th915Dylan WeirRestronguet SC-403931263332-42332630250
36th3251Callum FraserBurnham Sailing Club353535-401837-39392733259
37th309Madeline BilbroughHISC34362533-4139-40283631262
38th1452Leah MurphyPort Dinorwic Sailing Club3230-40-38363638302536263
39th985Ollie WilliamsEmsworth Sailing Club33-38373623-4234363334266
40th2638Albie CutbillHISC/SWYSA263233-41-424131373941280
41st1853Francis HartgroveRoyal Hospital School38333939-40352632-4339281
42nd3198George RavenhillHayling Island SC(OCS)(DNF)DNC42394041414040327
43rd3422Lucy RyanBrightlingsea SC(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC3838340

1st Girl Becky Caiger (Sevenoaks)
2nd Girl Abby Hire (RLymYC)
3rd Girl Esme Barraclough (YDSC)

Sport Fleet

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10Pts
1st798Alice DavisGreat Moor SC211-161-511119
2nd2671William JamesSWYSA64-1022-11654332
3rd2969Felix StewartWindermere School89614-30766-1447
4th2162Freddie SunderlandOlton Mere Sailing Club538615-21822-1649
5th228Oliver PetersHayling Island10248-2232-2116954
6th2505Max SteeleDatchet Water SC4(UFD)9-111041183554
7th1874Tristan AhlheidFrensham pond sc78595-294-28101765
8th1901Max SydenhamDell Quay Sailing Club1112188-241215-22673
9th3159William BaileyRipon SC /Yorkshire Dales SC17-181157-2714128276
10th2386Teddy DunnIsle of Man Yacht Club962743-4916913(DNC)87
11th2603Matthew RaynerYorkshire Dales SC15520-30141518-211290
12th3496Adelicia LavenderFelpham SC14714-20181531111-3393
13th2156Jac BaileyPort Dinorwic Sailing Club-2910177259-293722100
14th3000Brett TudorBrightlingsea SC-2512-211913131914144108
15th1484Felix PowellAlton Water12(UFD)7-269231720157110
16th2392Oliver Stratton-Brownfpsc313-30319-3315132720113
17th2941Akira BlackahWelsh Harp Sailing Club1626315-32623-29918116
18th3140Gregan Bergmann SmithHayling Sailing Club-34302414-3310104208120
19th3262Imogen WadeNorthampton Sailing Club-24(UFD)121321822241711128
20th1906Toby HatsellMiddle Nene SC1115-29122419202212-25135
21st2353John BridgemanLLSC and CSC13(UFD)461017244-4825.510167.5
22nd2154Tilda BrayshayRipon SC19(UFD)-4025201721103226170
23rd1763Finlay Lomas-ClarkeFrensham Pond SC371413-43117-40343521172
24th3091Toby SmithRutland Sailing Club22(UFD)19-4916461339519179
25th2365Max RawlinsonConiston282526-3823161823-2927186
26th2597Oliver ThompsonHISC261618-3129202430-3130193
27th822Olivia RawlinsonConiston23201617263228-4433-36195
28th2645Joseph HenderdsonWelsh Harp Sailing Club302123(DNC)626-51462824204
29th2739Nathan RussellRoyal Harwich Yacht Club21(UFD)1524-534330162443216
30th2611Freddie MacLavertyLlandudno/ Rhydal School43(UFD)442231-459172332221
31st3250Kai BlackahWelsh Harp Sailing Club1831-36-42342527353615221
32nd625Ben StokesHayling Island SC31192233-37353526-3729230
33rd1690Maya Bergmann SmithHayling Sailing Club27(UFD)32(UFD)433733725.534238.5
34th2157Sophie BlaydesHISC39223123-4940-46324013240
35th1948Jessica PeetersRipon Sailing Club3517284535182540(DSQ)-48243
36th88Ben StokesHayling Island Sailing Club4027-482127-4838431939254
37th1922Fflur PiercePDSC/Rydal Penrhos(RET)(DNC)43DNC301234311831256
38th3029Holly FisherHISC332342-44-523632253937267
39th8Joshua StokesHayling Island Sailing Club41242534(DNC)2226(DNC)DNC40269
40th2872Holly MitchellHISC36283329-4838374230-46273
41st2090Toby ThompsonFrensham Pond SC3836-50-47401447334128277
42nd1591Harry McTiernanBrightlingsea20(UFD)372751344936-5235289
43rd3506Troy TsangWelsh Harp Sailing Club-453534324128-52453838291
44th2397Max ShielRoyal Hospital School-5533352847-5336384344304
45th2456Attwell LaurenRutland SC-492947481239484144-51308
46th2993Henry RavenhillHayling Island44(UFD)4141(OCS)4143274923309
47th1761Toby FieldEmsworth Sailing Club42(UFD)(DNC)DNC443131194745316
48th3253Toby PearsonBrightlingsea Sailing club32(UFD)39393844-53374642317
49th2822Amy BowersHayling Island Sailing Club-52403836505045-513450343
50th945Megan RhodesSWYSA4737-53403642415051-53344
51st2852Katy FisherHISC5132453545474249-53-52346
52nd1856Ben WoodcockRoyal Hospital School4834495146-5239-524549361
53rd2125Rebecca KnockPort Dinorwic Sailing Club503851502855(DNC)(DNC)4854374
54th3422Lucy RyanBrightlingsea Sailing Club5339524639515047(DNC)(DNC)377
55th415SOPHIE PEARSONBRIGHTLINGSEA SAILING CLUB-5441-5437545454535047390
56th2670Alex BakerHISC46(DNC)(DNC)DNC42DNCDNCDNC4241399

1st Girl Alice Davis (GMSC)
2nd Girl Adelicia Lavender (Felpham SC)
3rd Girl Imogen Wade (NSC)

Regatta Fleet

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12R13R14R15Pts
1st2092Archie DunnIsle of Man Yacht Club41-8153-73512131131
2nd3423Josh John - RingeExe5-6332-912263222235
3rd2260Joshua InglesfieldHayling Island224-84-741131374339
4th1901Alex SydenhamDell Quay Sailing Club13663635-105861-11760
5th1387Charlie BakerHISC385218-10487545-10565
6th2175Orla BarracloughYorkshire Dales SC-7774656-10746563470
7th2871Harry MitchellErith YC-952992294-114795673
8th2348William Stratton BrownFpsc6497-101963279-106978
9th3263Harriet WadeNorthampton Sailing Club-11915848799-118891196
10th2356Charlie WilliamsEmsworth Sailing Club1011101071051111-12-121112710125
11th2387William AhlheidFPSC810111111-1211-126101012111212135
12th1217William SearsChristchurch Sailing Club(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNC11DNC8DNC8910488136
13th719Enzo Loius GoodsellBrightlingsea1212(DNS)(DNS)12DNCDNCDNCDNC131313131313170

Endeavour Prizes

Frances Hartgrove (RHS)
Sophie Pearson (BSC)
William Ahlheid (FPSC)

Committee Boat Prizes

James Johnson – for politeness and Sportsmanship
Theo Stewart – for continually pushing the line successfully
Toby Smith – for 4 successful Port hand Flyers
Meghan Rhodes – for smiling through the series
Enzo Louis Goodsell – for keeping going

Club Trophy Frensham Pond SC
Jameson Trophy Caitlin Morley (Burnham SC)
U10 Selden Trophy: Jac Bailey (Port Dinorwic)

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