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RS Aero UK Spring Championship at Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club

by RS Aero UK Class Association 29 Apr 2019 12:46 PDT 27 April 2019

The RS Aero summer season kicked of with a vengeance on Saturday with weather warnings as Storm Hannah ravaged the UK. The RS Aero Spring Champs are the start of the Class' UK Southern Circuit and Round 2 of the Thames Valley Mini Series. It was with some trepidation that the RS Aero's arrived at Island Barn Reservoir, a raised lake with a nice clear wind (oh dear!), at the western side of London.

In all, 46 sailors had pre-entered, including five charter RS Aeros supported by RS Sailing, and to their credit 38 of those ventured out into the storm. With the likelihood of some significant wind during the day the fleet sensibly made use of their option to downsize, saving a good days racing. This produced two good fleets of RS Aero 5s and RS Aero 7s. The RS Aero 9s all remained tightly rolled in their bags - surplus to requirements!

By the start of Race 2 the morning wind peaked with 34kn gusts which provided a challenge for the fleet just to squeak through the start line in good order! Making effective headway upwind against the gale was a new challenge for many young guns - but they learn quickly. The sailors were rewarded with wild rides back downwind. The blast reaches where incredible and the runs bracing - the key being choosing the moment in which to throw a gybe!

A break for lunch saw the fleet fortified by IBRSC's excellent galley, ready for 3 more ballistic races in the afternoon! The forecasted drop never materialised with gusts peaking at 37kn for most of the afternoon. It was evident that the sailors were becoming hardened to the conditions and techniques that had been a challenge in the morning were dealt with more effectively in the afternoon. Considering the buffeting the fleet were taking it was fabulous to see 12 RS Aeros still out to finish the 5th and final race of the day - and no broken spars to report!

The RS Aero 5s were dominated by Jonathan Bailey (Grafham) and Gareth Griffiths (Island Barn) with two wins apiece. Sammy IJ (Maidenhead) had taken a couple of early 2nds and Ned Stattersfield (Wells) was coming good by the end of the day with a 2,1. Jonathan took the overall win and top Youth title, leaving Gareth to settle for 1st Master in 2nd overall. Completing the podium was top Lady, Lynn Billowes (Warsash), demonstrating the full diversity of the RS Aero 5 fleet. Top Youth Lady was Iona Willows (Dorchester SC) ably taking on the challenge that Storm Hannah had thrown down.

The RS Aero 7s saw Liam Willis (Lymington Town), Peter Barton (Lymington Town) and Tim Hire (Royal Lymington) sharing the wins nicely, with all three tied on 5 points going into the final race! Liam and Peter looked good off the port-biased start. However, starboard was the headed tack and Tim was sailing fast on the opposite side whilst also taking good shifts. He came out clear ahead near the top of the first beat, never to be caught, to take the overall win and top Youth RS Aero 7 title too.

Following Island Barn's splendid afternoon tea and cake the prize giving included the presentation of the awards from the RS Aero UK Winter Series and Winter Championships, supported by Rooster. A draw for a 50% sail voucher, kindly provided by RS Sailing, was made from the 21 sailors who had qualified in the Winter Series. First out of the hat was Nigel Rolfe, our UK Class Chairman, who despite having stayed home with the prospect of a little breeze was allowed to keep it!

Many thanks to Island Barn RSC for providing the RS Aeros with a huge day out. Eespecially to those volunteers out on the water who took the brunt of Hannah's ferocity, too help make a memorable day's sailing possible.

Next up for the RS Aeros is Yorkshire Dales SC this weekend, 4/5th May, in the North followed by the Burghfield SC Sustainability Open in the South on the 11th (charters available!). Full details of all UK events and charter RS Aero opportunities, can be found on the RS Aero UK Events List with many Online Entries now open.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubCatR1R2R3R4R5Pts
RS Aero 5
1st2442Jonathan BaileyGrafham SCY112‑437
2nd2113Gareth GriffithsIsland Barn RSCM(2DN)611210
3rdFRA 18Lynn BillowesWarsash SCL‑6435416
4th2325Ned StattersfieldWells‑Next‑The‑SeaY5(2DN)92117
5th1747Andrew CooneyBroadwater SCM7.53‑86521.5
6th1739David CherrillBroadwater SC 7.5573( DN)22.5
7th2727David PeatyHollowell SCY974(2DN)626
8th2552Sammy Isaacs‑JohnsonMaidenhead SC 226(2DN)22DN32
9th1809Iona WillowsDorchester SCY L3( DN)5822DN38
10th2105Lily BarrettIsland Barn RSCY L4(RET)127RET45
11th2724Josie MeredithPapercourt SCY L12810(2DN)22DN52
12th11Maxi TustainIsland Barn RSCY 11(2DN)1122DN22DN66
13th1685Lucy GreenwoodOxford SC / Oxford UniL10(2DN)22DN22DN22DN76
14th1099Ralph NevileGrafham SCY13(2DN)22DN22DN22DN79
15th2100Julie WillisLymington Town SCL(2DN)22DN22DN22DN22DN88
15th2113Chris SmithIsland Barn RSC (2DN)22DN22DN22DN22DN88
15th2708Maisie BristowIsland Barn RSCY L(2DN)22DN22DN22DN22DN88
15th1566Yana SkvortsovaIsland Barn RSCY L(2DN)22DN22DN22DN22DN88
15th2555Giles BakerDatchet Water SCY(RET)22DN22DN22DN22DN88
15th1454Elliot TomsFowey Gallants SCY(2DN)22DN22DN22DN22DN88
15th1964Alice LucyRutland SCY L(2DN)22DN22DN22DN22DN88
RS Aero 7
1st2439Tim HireRoyal Lym YC / LTSCY131‑516
2nd2810Peter BartonLymington Town SC 22‑3127
3rd2727Liam WillisLymington Town SC ‑912249
4th2441Jeff DavisonIsland Barn RSC 3‑663315
5th2188Mark AddisonUpper Thames SC 4444‑516
6th2808Griff TannerTamesis ‑7756624
7th2550Chris JonesSutton Bingham SCM85(8DN)28DN28DN69
8th2738Spike DanielsHayling Island SC 5(8DN)28DN28DN28DN89
9th1544James WittsQueen Mary SC 6(8DN)28DN28DN28DN90
10th2806Andy HarrisTamesis (8DN)28DN7DNFDNF91
11th2784Richard BarkerIsland Barn RSC (8DN)28DN828DN28DN92
12th2142Tom RussellIsland Barn RSC (8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th2502Peter ChaplinBurghfield SCM(8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th2168Tomaso MacchiWeston SC (8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th2223Mark FoxLee on Solent SCM(8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th2427Nigel RolfeBurghfield SC (8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th2717Chris HarrupBurghfield SC (8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th2807Alex ReeveBurghfield SC (8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th2616Andy GodwinIsland Barn RSC (8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th2786Andy NormanIsland Barn RSc (8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th2346Ben RolfeBurghfield SC (8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th2148Gareth GriffithsIsland Barn RSCM(DNS)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th1490Graham PlattHighcliffe SC (8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th2807Andy HarrisTamesis (8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th1336Joe GallivanLymington Town SC (8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th2785John KewleyIsland Barn RSC (8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112
12th2318Karl ThorneLymington Town SC (8DN)28DN28DN28DN28DN112

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