GJW Direct RS Tera Start of Season Championships at Northampton

Bethan Matthew during the GJW Direct RS Tera Start of Season Championships at Northampton © Steve Greenwood

Ben Batchelor during the GJW Direct RS Tera Start of Season Championships at Northampton © Steve Greenwood

Seventy-six boats from clubs as far afield as The Isle of Man and Derwent Reservoir entered for the second RS Tera Start of Season Championships sponsored by GJW Direct Insurance and Magic Marine at Northampton Sailing Club over the weekend of 26th and 27th April.

If this is a sign of the season to come then the fleet is in for a brilliant year. The first race on Saturday was a shifty and overcast affair of around 10 Knots, with the race team, guided PRO, Ian Castle setting a great course in the Southerly breeze.

First away were the PRO fleet and was lead from the start by Ossian Bracegirdle, only to be piped near the end of the race by Archie Hainsworth of Alton Water Sports, after some extremely close racing Bethan Matthew of Aldeburgh YC followed these two home.

The Sport fleet got away and was lead from start to finish by last year's winner Jack Lewis of Draycote Water SC, Jack was chased all the way to the line by Roscoe Martin of Ogston SC, and Ben Batchelor of the Isle of Man Yacht Club.

A quick break for lunch and then back out for another two races back to back with increased breeze and some strong gusts in beautiful sunshine, a perfect sailing afternoon.

In the PRO fleet Archie stamped his authority on the fleet with another win and a second, in race three he was followed home by Henry Jameson of Hayling Island SC and Matthew Caiger of Bewl Valley SC in race 2, Henry took line honours in race 3, with Matthew following Archie in third.

This left the top three overnight as Archie, then Henry and Bethan.

In the SPORT fleet Jack took race two followed by Henry Rastrick and Maddie Wylie both of Ripon SC, Race three saw another race winner in James Oakley of the Royal Hospital School, the Henry Collison of Royal Lymington YC and then Ben.

This left the top three overnight as Roscoe, then Henry and Ben.

An early finish to the day, allowed all the sailors to catch up with old friends and make new ones followed by the Northampton SC speciality, Elaines catering.

Sunday dawned with a slightly decreased breeze but from the North East, blowing straight over the trees on the Eastern shore, a slightly different challenge for the race team, it was very shifty, and a very different challenge for the sailors, dealing with shift, gusts, bend and holes.

Bethan made her move on the fleet taking races four and five though not without some hard work to gain places, following Bethan in race four it was Henry then a very consistent Harry Jones of Draycote Water and in race five Ossian and then Henry.

In the SPORTS, Roscoe took his first event win, followed by Jack, then Henry, race five saw another race winner in Ben Batchelor, followed by Freddy Wood of Hayling Island SC and Matthew Taylor of Alton Water.

For race six, the breeze had started to ease with some large areas of very little breeze on the reservoir, and rain – lots of it!

A new race winner Ana Paterson of Ripon, in the PRO followed home by Ossian and Bethan, this gave Bethan the event on count-back from Henry, with Archie in third.

Matthew had obviously got a taste of being at the front in race six for the SPORTS, taking the last race in style, followed home by Andrew Frost of Sutton Bingham and Henry, Jack had done enough to secure this event for the second year running, followed by Roscoe and Henry.

The RS Tera Class Association would like to thank the members and staff of Northampton Sailing Club, who once again proved magnificent hosts, this really is a club that more classes should visit, Elaine and her team for keeping everyone fed and watered and event sponsors GJW Direct Insurance and Magic Marine, without whom we would not be fortunate enough to be able to hold such great events.

The prize giving was hosted by Northampton SC Vice Commodore Neil Barford, and PRO and Rear Commodore Sailing Ian Castle who awarded special prizes to Ellie Clark and Oliver Johnson.

Overall Results: (top ten, 6 races, 1 discard)