Virtual Rigger RS Tera Southern Area Championship at HISC

Alex Butler during the RS Tera Southern Area Championships © Peter Newton / www.peternewton.zenfolio.com

Jack Lewis during the RS Tera Southern Area Championships © Peter Newton / www.peternewton.zenfolio.com

Fifty-seven boats from clubs as far afield as Ripon Sailing Club entered for the RS Tera Southern Area Championships sponsored by Virtual Rigger at Hayling Island Sailing Club over the weekend of 14th and 15th June.

Saturday was a tricky, shifty, and light to medium wind affair with a shot chop and some tidal influence over the shallow waters of Chichester Harbour, with short bursts of torrential rain.

The race team, lead by Adrian King battled valiantly to set a course in the North Easterly breeze, with tide running up the course, this challenged the SPORT sailors particularly at the start with many being caught out and crossing early.

In the PRO fleet, Alex Butler of Hayling Island Sailing Club, took charge early on winning the first 2 races and taking 2nd in race 3, to lead the fleet overnight, Harry Jones of Draycote Water Sailing Club winning race 3 lay 3rd and Henry Jameson of Hayling Island Sailing Club 2nd.

The SPORT Fleet also saw a dominant performance, with Jack Lewis of Daycote water Sailing Club winning all 3 races, to take a healthy overnight lead, Ethan Miles of HISC, 2nd and Zac Caldwell also HISC 3rd.

PRO fleet upwind during the RS Tera Southern Area Championships - photo © Peter Newton / www.peternewton.zenfolio.com

Sunday dawned with a very light North Easterly breeze, a real challenge for the race team, it was shifting through 20 degrees, as the day went on the breeze built to around 10 knots with some reasonably strong gusts.

The tide again was a real challenge for some of the sailors particularly in the SPORT fleet which required the use of the 'U' flag, catching out the unwary and the bold.

In the 15 strong PRO fleet, Alex stormed away with another 3 wins to take the title, Henry had a consistent day and pushed Alex hard through the event, Matt Smith of Alton Water improved to 2nd in race 4 and 3rd in race 6.

Overall it was Alex from Henry, then Harry for the top 3.

In the 42 strong SPORT fleet, the ever consistent Jack won races 5 and 6 to take the event, his winning streak broken by Rupert Jameson in race 4 who led from start to finish Top 3 in the SPORT fleet, finished, Jack, Ethan, then a very consistent Hamish Morley of HISC in 3rd.

Both fleet winners thanked Adrian King and the on water team, the members and staff of Hayling Island Sailing Club, who proved magnificent hosts, and event sponsors Virtual Rigger for their support and the great prizes.

Next stop for the RS Tera fleet is the Magic Marine RS Tera Inland National Championships at Draycote Water Sailing Club, 28th and 29th June, enter on-line at www.rstera.org.

Overall Results: