RS Aero UK SW Area Championship at Restronguet Sailing Club

RS Aero UK SW Area Championship at Restronguet © Graham Simpson

The second iteration of the RS Aero UK SW Area Championship held at Restronguet SC on 2nd and 3rd May 2026 attracted a total of 22 competitors including 6 visitors amongst them one travelling from as far afield as Halifax.

The even mix of rig types entered ranging from seven to five was transformed at registration on Saturday by the light airs forecast to all sevens bar one 9-rig, one 6-rig, and two 5-rigs.

After the briefing in promising conditions with a decent and steady light breeze blowing across the Carrick Roads towards the clubhouse, the fleet was released on time for the 1300 start into a dead calm.

Rather miraculously, Race Officer Stuart Sly and his team got the fleet away after a short delay waiting for the light air to settle in the SE with a clean start on a 3-lap trapezoid course. With places changing on every leg across the fleet the promising start to the regatta started to dissolve, when the RO was forced into shortening at the end of the second windward-leeward lap due to a major right shift.

Continuous chilly rain to the sound of St Anthony Lighthouse hooting in the distance presaged an hour-long wait for the next start to materialise. All the while the hard-working race team in nightmarish shifting conditions tried hard to get the second of four scheduled starts under way. The testing conditions proved too much for the two youngsters in the 5-rig boats, who returned the short distance to shore before the second race was completed.

After a general recall, race two eventually got under way with shorter legs in very light airs. The fleet settled into a lead group of about ten boats headed by the overnight leaders Mark Ripley (Paignton SC), Poppy Luxton (RSC, sailing an Aero for the first time in a boat borrowed from a fellow club member), and Henry Hallam (RSC, also racing in a borrowed boat). There was a bit of separation then to the other half of the fleet, but every place was keenly contested on every leg throughout.

The delay in proceedings midway through the afternoon meant that the first day was curtailed with the completion of a painfully tricky third race again shortened to the relief of the fleet at the end of the second lap as in race one earlier. The race was made the more difficult with cyclonic airs that produced every direction bar SW at some stage during proceedings.

The weather gods dealt the cruellest blow as the last boat landed ashore and the wind filled in with what had been promised at the start of the day. With no discard in play until completion of the fourth race, the overall leader had 3 wins to his name and second and third only split on countback.

Giving chase in the rest of the top ten places were Bob Warren, Patrick Clarke (both Masters) and George Lenney (6-rig) separated by a single half point (all RSC), Matt Hartley (Royal Engineer YC and Halifax SC), Izzy Langman (Exe SC), Simon Loveridge and Michael Johns (both RSC).

RS Aero UK SW Area Championship at Restronguet - Poppy Luxton shows the way upwind - photo © Graham Simpson

Once ashore and warming through in the bar, Katy's Galley served up a very welcome curry for the hungry participants.

With light airs forecast for Sunday, it was decided not to reschedule the lost race on day two, but to focus on getting in two good races in the morning, if possible. The day dawned more promising than expected with a steady gentle breeze in the SE making access to the race area the most convenient once again for both competitors and their followers on the clubhouse shore spectating.

The ebb tide out of Mylor Creek and the need for a keen contest in the remaining races led to a general recall at the first attempt to start the morning off on time. With Henry playing catch-up among the top ten, Poppy and Mark were clear in the lead of the fleet from the first leg until Poppy finally extended her lead to take a good win by the end. Also showing strongly were visitors Matt Hartley and Andy Petter, who finished the first race of the day in 4th and 6th place respectively.

The start of race 5 was hotly contested as final placings overall were at stake while the fragile breeze began to be threatened by variations in the weather. Individual recalls were signalled with six boats identified OCS that failed to return to start including all 3 leading contenders for the title places.

George Lenney leading the way for the Youth contingent decided to respond to the recall signal and despite this showed his class by taking first place on corrected time ahead of the other leading valid finishers Bob Warren and Patrick Clarke.

Edward Simpson was much better able to contend with the conditions in his 5-rig in the steadier wind than on day one and finished in a creditable 14th and 12th places in the final two races.

RS Aero UK SW Area Championship at Restronguet - Mark Ripley between races, having won all 3 on day 1 - photo © Graham Simpson

Prizes were presented by the Commodore RSC to the top ten finishers overall as well as the category winners with Mark Ripley (Paignton SC) first, Poppy Luxton (RSC) second and first female, and Henry Hallam third. George Lenney pulled up the rankings to 5th overall and first youth, while Bob Warren held on to 4th place and first master with his very consistent string of results.

Edward Simpson and Marley Pound were presented with products made at home by Dave Buzzard last year's SW champion for their sterling efforts as sole representatives in the 5-rig and 2nd and 3rd youth respectively.

Mark Ripley echoed the Commodore RSC Robin Laney's thanks to the race team for their tireless efforts in producing the best of the tricky conditions to lay on highly competitive racing for the entire fleet.

RS Aero UK SW Area Championship at Restronguet - photo © Graham Simpson

Overall Results: