Magic Marine RS Aero UK Nationals at Royal Torbay Yacht Club

by RS Aero UK Class Association 7 Jun 2016 20:28 BST 2-5 June 2016

Tight packed starts at Torquay - Magic Marine RS Aero UK Nationals © Jean Border / www.borderphotos2010.com

Ed Norbury's bow challenge - Magic Marine RS Aero UK Nationals © Jean Border / www.borderphotos2010.com

Royal Torbay Yacht Club played host to the 2016 RS Aero UK Nationals sponsored by Magic Marine with 70 entries set for a long weekend on the English Riviera. Competitors travelled from as far afield as France and Holland to compete on the Olympic racecourse of Torbay.

The Championship opened with a coaching with a comprehensive session ashore covering RS Aero specifics before moving onto technique and tuning for those looking for that final edge to take into their racing. Three short coached warm up races followed with about 40 boats revving up for the first formal race. The fleet finally peeled off to where the Race Officer was set to start the RS Aero Challenge Cup at 15:00.

The RS Aero Challenge Cup was an 'All Aero' PY race, outside the championship series. With just 1 race and only RS Aeros the Class was able to implement an exciting initiative of varying PYs for wind strengths, to reduce any disadvantage at the end of the wind bandings without tipping the balance from the favoured. Three sets of PY numbers were specified for light, medium and strong winds. The race officer recorded an average of 6kn on the committee boat in the run up to the start and the light wind set of PYs were selected, going some way assist the disadvantaged smaller sailed RS Aero 5s.

A fleet of nearly 50 boats jostled for position on the start line. During the race the RS Aero 9s had the pace in the light with Gareth Griffiths taking line honours but the 7 rig of Peter Barton kept close enough to the lead bubble of 9s to take the PY win followed by Gareth Griffiths and Nigel Rolfe in their 9s. The PY varying was successful as a deliberate 'part measure' to make an improvement with the results suggesting the number changes could have been greater still.

The evening's Opening Ceremony had speeches by the Vice Commodore and daily prize giving to award the Challenge Cup prizes and special awards. Class Social Coordinator, Ben Rolfe, instigated his master plan of venues in town to meet after dinner at the Yacht Club and was happy to lead by example on to the night clubs of Torquay for those with energy to spare...

Day 1 of the Champs proper had fantastic racing with a steady but light easterly breeze producing some waves. This punctuated by a little tide gain to the left and periodic clicks in direction to the right provided an interesting challenge making it difficult for any one sailor to dominate the day. Each fleet enjoyed 4 races over a triangle-sausage course with a range of leaders.

Kate Sargent of the Netherlands came away from Day 1 with a small lead over Archie Hainsworth in the 5s. David Ellis won 3 races but had only a small lead over Harvey Martin with three 2nds in the 7s. Peter Barton led the 9s with Paul Bartlett and Anthony York also winning races.

Day 2 had a postponement and whilst the fleet basked in the beautiful Devonshire sunshine Kate Sargent, technical designer for Magic Marine, gave her talk on the design benefits within the Magic Marine range. There followed an impromptu 'Top Tips' session from the lead sailors of Day 1 giving away all their prized secrets of how they thought they had made it to the front of their races. At 14:30 racing was sensibly canned for the day leaving the fleet time to enjoy the local delights of the area or catch up on sleep.

Saturday night the fleet smartened up for the Class Dinner in the Royal Torbay YC for the Annual Awards Ceremony and daily prizes. To a big screen presentation the most coveted awards were eagerly anticipated. Top Photo went to Dovey SC's shot staring Chelmarsh's 'Three Amigos' enjoying their 9 rigs on the ocean in picturesque Dovey last month. Top Video went to Harriet Critchley's creation, depicting the apprehension and enjoyment of her first sail on a breezy day with the 5 rig sail at Bolton. Paul Robson was awarded for 'Endeavours to Class' for his commitment to coaching the five winter series weekends.

Watch Harriet Critchley's inspiring video, with blue skies and fluffy clouds over the Lancashire fells...

Day 3 brought more optimism with more heat and the fleet launched promptly. Once the wind stabilised racing got underway and with up to 10kn of wind kickers were taught and downhauls were even starting to come on. This time a trapezium course was set and the tight top reach even saw a little planning and surfing with small waves coming in with the easterly.

The wind slowly died with one race completed. Antony York's win in the 9s brought him up to 2nd overall behind Peter Barton overall who had kept consistent with a 2nd. Archie Hainsworth's race win gave him the lead over Kate Sargent who was stuck in 4th in the 5s. David Ellis did just enough with a 4th in the 7s to take the title, whilst Fergus Barnham moved up to 2nd overall with his second race win of the series.

The coveted Club Champs title for the combined results of any club's top 3 went to Lymington Town SC with a 1st, 1st and anchor man, Liam Willis, kicked the ball into the net with his 6th in the 9s, Starcross YC's emerging RS Aero fleet were 2nd. Nine families qualified for the Family category requiring two family members. Team Gribbin, Claire and Luke of Paignton SC, pulled it off with a 4th and 5th from the Tardrews and Bartletts.

Magic Marine's awesome support provided a fantastic array of great prizes. RS Sailing donated three beautiful half boat perpetual trophies for the three fleet's annual Championships and were on hand, as ever, with their usual legendary event support. Also many thanks to the Freeland family of Downs SC, for donating a whopping great youth Trophy Cup after Toby Freeland was the first winner in 2015.

Thanks to the ever so friendly and professional team at Royal Torbay YC for a most memorable and enjoyable Champs with the comfort of their lovely club house. The Class looks forward to returning again soon.

A full photo Gallery is online at www.borderphotos2010.com thanks to RTYC member Jean Border.

Keep in touch with Everything Aero via the Class website at www.rsaerosailing.org and facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/rsaeroclass

The next biggie on the RS Aero World calendar is the USA Atlantic Coast Championship at Newport, Rhode Island 8-10th July followed soon after by the first RS Aero European Championships at Travemunde Woche, Germany, 25-29th July. The RS Aero Worldwide calendar can be found at http://www.rsaerosailing.org/index.asp?p=events

RS Aero 7s on the reach - Magic Marine RS Aero UK Nationals - photo © Jean Border / www.borderphotos2010.com

Category Prize Winners:

Junior - Under 15 (not 15 this year)
1st - Anne-Marie Ratnage, Bough Beach (5)
2nd - Henry Gillett, Royal Harwich (5)
3rd - Lauren Paton, Royal Torbay (5)

Youth - Under 19 (not 19 this year)
1st - Archie Hainsworth, Alton Water (1st/5s)
2nd - Harvey Martin, Ogston (3rd/7s) - First Youth RS Aero 7
3rd - George Tardrew, Hayling Island (3rd/5s)

Lady
1st - Kate Sargent, HOLLAND (1st/5s)
2nd - Claire Gribbin, Paignton (4th/5s)
3rd - Jane Peckham, Gurnard (6th/7s) - First Lady RS Aero 7

Master - 55 or over this year, based on PY series
1st - Paul Bartlett, Starcross (3rd/9s)
2nd - Gareth Griffiths, Island Barn (5th/9s)
3rd - Debbie Degge, Bartley (9th/7s) - First Master RS Aero 7

Family Fortunes - Best 2 family members overall
1st - Claire & Luke Gribbin, Paignton, 9pts
2nd - George & Lucy Tardrew, Halyling Island, 12pts
3rd - Paul & Greg Bartlett, Starcross, 14pts
4th - Fergus & Finlay Barnham, Snettisham Beach, 16pts
5th - Will & Mike Taylor, Brightlingsea, 18pts

Club Champs - Best 3 club results overall
1st - Lymington Town SC, 8pts (1st, 1st & 6th)
2nd - Starcross YC, 26pts (3rd, 11th, 12th)
3rd - Hayling Island SC, 30pts (3rd, 9th & 18th)

Furthest Travelled - Barend Hillterman, HOLLAND (via Germany to collect boats!)

Outstanding Services to the RS Aero Class - Paul Robson - For coaching the Winter Training weekends

Outstanding Services to RS Aero Events - Richard Willows - stepped in as PRO at his home 'Roadford Rocket' event at Roadford SC, Devon, in February. This meant missing sailing, but he loaned his RS Aero.

Archie Hainsworth - RS Aero 5 UK National Champion - photo © Jean Border / www.borderphotos2010.com

RS Aero 5 Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Category	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Net Pts
1	1173	Archie Hainsworth	Y	Alton Water SC	2	3	3	1	1	7
2	125	Kate Sargent	L	NETHERLANDS	3	1	1	3	4	8
3	8	George Tardrew	Y	Hayling Island SC	5	2	4	4	3	13
4	1206	Claire Gribbin	L	Paignton SC	1	6	6	6	2	15
5	146	Luke Gribbin	Y	Paignton SC	4	4	2	5	7	15
6	1849	Anne‑Marie Ratnage	L J	Bough Beech SC	7	5	5	2	5	17
7	1012	Marion Lowe	L M	Bradford on AvonSC	8	7	8	7	6	28
8	206	Henry Gillett	Y	Royal Harwich YC	6	8	9	8	9	31
9	1044	Lucy Tardrew	L	Hayling Island SC	9	9	7	9	8	33
10	9	Lauren Paton	L J	Royal Torbay YC	12	12	12	12	10	46
11	23	Fin Amstrong	Y	Royal Torbay YC	12	12	12	12	12	48

David Ellis - RS Aero 7 UK National Champion - photo © Jean Border / www.borderphotos2010.com

RS Aero 7 Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Category	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Net Pts
1	1209	David Ellis		Lymington Town SC	1	6	1	1	4	7
2	1534	Fergus Barnham		Snettisham Beach SC	9	1	3	4	1	9
3	1089	Harvey Martin	Y	Ogston SC	2	35	2	2	8	14
4	2	Barend Hiltermann		HOLLAND	8	3	4	5	2	14
5	5	Will Taylor		Brightlingsea SC	11	2	5	11	6	24
6	1715	Jane Peckham	L	Gurnard SC	12	11	7	8	3	29
7	1232	Steve Norbury		Warsash SC	4	15	9	3	16	31
8	1543	Debbie Degge	L M	Bartley SC	5	5	11	10	35	31
9	8637	Chris Jones	M	Sutton Bingham SC	6	13	21	7	5	31
10	1568	Caitlin Atkin	L Y	Whitstable YC	7	8	6	15	13	34
11	1	Greg Bartlett		Starcross YC	3	7	10	35	15	35
12	1598	John Harvey		Thornbury SC	20	17	8	6	10	41
13	1302	Karl Thorne		LymTownSC/RoyalLymYC	13	9	12	18	11	45
14	1533	Finlay Barnham		Snettisham Beach SC	10	10	15	12	21	47
15	1589	Chris Harrup		Burghfield SC	15	4	20	14	17	50
16	1045	Richard Willows	M	Roadford Lake SC	18	18	17	9	9	53
17	1485	Edward Norbury	Y	Warsash SC	14	35	14	13	14	55
18	1792	Andy Hill		Hayling Island SC	17	12	22	17	12	58
19	1402	Jane Homewood	L	Lymington Town SC	22	19	13	16	20	68
20	1594	Julie Archer	L	Ullswater YC	16	16	19	20	23	71
21	1745	John Hobson		Notts County SC	21	14	16	21	35	72
22	1211	Nicholas Eales	M	LymTownSC/RoyalLymYC	19	24	18	19	18	74
23	1921	Charles Clapham		Royal Torbay YC	32	23	28	24	7	82
24	1219	Arnaud Bouchez		Wimereux FRANCE	25	21	23	23	22	89
25	1509	Peter Craggs		York RI SC	24	22	27	25	19	90
26	1258	Nick Craven		Ripon SC	28	26	26	22	24	98
27	3	Charlie Inigo‑Jones	M	Hayling Island SC	29	20	24	27	35	100
28	1264	Jackie Craven	L	Ripon SC	26	29	25	29	26	106
29	1091	Penelope Gillett	L	Royal Harwich YC	23	27	30	28	29	107
30	1141	Jonathan Rickels	M	Grafham Water SC	27	31	31	26	27	111
31	1586	Nicholas Freeston	M	LymTownSC/RoyalLymYC	30	25	29	35	35	119
32	1098	Richard Perriss		Royal Torbay YC	31	28	32	30	30	119
33	1339	Cliff Webb	M	Cawsand Bay SC	33	30	33	35	28	124
34	1894	Samantha Foster	L	Loch Tummel SC	35	35	35	35	25	130

Peter Barton - RS Aero 9 UK National Champion - photo © Jean Border / www.borderphotos2010.com

RS Aero 9 Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Category	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Net Pts
1	1175	Peter Barton		Lymington Town SC	1	4	3	1	2	7
2	175	Anthony York		Northampton SC	6	1	7	5	1	13
3	1930	Paul Bartlett	M	Starcross YC	3	5	1	6	9	15
4	1888	Chris Larr		Northampton SC	2	6	2	11	7	17
5	1023	Gareth Griffiths	M	Island Barn reservoir SC	5	8	5	10	3	21
6	4	Liam Willis	Y	Lymington Town SC	8	3	15	3	10	24
7	1689	Andrew Snell		Datchet Water SC	4	9	8	12	5	26
8	1806	Nev Herbert		Royal Lymington YC	11	7	14	2	8	28
9	1581	Ben Rolfe		Burghfield SC	10	2	4	13	15	29
10	1669	Giovanni Belgrano	M	Gurnard SC	14	14	10	8	6	38
11	1551	Nigel Rolfe		Burghfield SC	12	19	13	4	13	42
12	1298	Richard Watsham		Starcross YC	9	16	17	7	16	48
13	1164	Mike Taylor		Brightlingsea SC	16	18	12	19	4	50
14	1489	Robert Freeland		Downs SC	20	13	6	14	18	51
15	1135	Phil White		Frampton on Severn SC	13	11	20	9	19	52
16	1071	Peter Chaplin	M	Burghfield SC	18	17	9	15	14	55
17	7	Andrew Wilde		Burghfield SC	7	15	16	20	27	58
18	1618	Dave Harris	M	Severn SC	17	20	11	16	20	64
19	999	Ben Flower	Y	BabbacombeCorinthianSC	15	12	18	21	27	66
20	1207	Mark Tissiman	M	Chelmarsh/Saundersfoot	19	10	22	22	17	68
21	1095	Tony Jukes	M	Chelmarsh SC	22	21	21	17	12	71
22	1654	Mark Lambdin		Bradford On Avon SC	21	23	24	24	11	79
23	1097	Chris Jones	M	Chelmarsh SC	23	22	23	23	22	90
24	1793	Jim Hood		LymingtonTownSC	27	27	19	18	27	91
25	61745	John Hobson		Notts County SC	27	27	27	27	21	102
26	2001	Alex Newton‑Southon		Lymington Town SC	27	27	27	27	23	104

RS Aero Challenge Cup Results:

Pos	Rig	Sail No	Helm	Elapsed	Handicap	Corrected	Finishing Place
1	7	1175	Peter Barton	00:55:31	1066	00:52:05	1
2	9	1023	Gareth Griffiths	00:54:03	1025	00:52:44	2
3	9	1551	Nigel Rolfe	00:54:20	1025	00:53:00	3
4	9	999	Ben Flower	00:54:31	1025	00:53:11	4
5	9	1071	Peter Chaplin	00:54:43	1025	00:53:23	5
6	9	1888	Chris Larr	00:55:53	1025	00:54:31	6
7	7	1534	Fergus Barnham	00:59:50	1066	00:56:08	7
8	7	1232	Steve Norbury	00:59:55	1066	00:56:12	8
9	7	1	Greg Bartlett	01:00:23	1066	00:56:39	9
10	9	1207	Mark Tissiman	00:58:10	1025	00:56:45	10
11	7	1589	Chris Harrup	01:00:46	1066	00:57:00	11
12	7	1533	Finlay Barnham	01:00:58	1066	00:57:12	12
13	9	1669	Giovanni Belgrano	00:59:13	1025	00:57:46	13
14	9	7	Andrew Wilde	01:00:08	1025	00:58:40	14
15	7	1089	Harvey Martin	01:04:52	1066	01:00:51	15
16	7	4	Liam Willis	01:05:17	1066	01:01:14	16
17	7	1485	Edward Norbury	01:05:26	1066	01:01:23	17
18	7	1676	Anthony York	01:05:28	1066	01:01:25	18
19	9	1298	Richard Watsham	01:03:08	1025	01:01:36	19
20	9	1489	Robert Freeland	01:03:26	1025	01:01:53	20
21	9	1581	Ben Rolfe	01:03:47	1025	01:02:14	21
22	5	125	Kate Sargent	01:10:20	1125	01:02:31	22
23	7	8637	Chris Jones	01:07:16	1066	01:03:06	23
24	7	1792	Andy Hill	01:07:21	1066	01:03:11	24
25	9	1930	Paul Bartlett	01:04:58	1025	01:03:23	25
26	5	1543	Debbie Degge	01:11:36	1125	01:03:39	26
27	7	1568	Caitlin Atkin	01:07:56	1066	01:03:44	27
28	9	1135	Phil White	01:05:30	1025	01:03:54	28
29	7	1715	Jane Peckham	01:08:18	1066	01:04:04	29
30	7	1921	Charles Clapham	01:08:56	1066	01:04:40	30
31	7	1045	Richard Willows	01:08:59	1066	01:04:43	31
32	5	1849	Anne‑Marie Ratnage	01:13:36	1125	01:05:25	32
33	5	1173	Archie Hainsworth	01:13:39	1125	01:05:28	33
34	5	1206	Claire Gribbin	01:13:56	1125	01:05:43	34
35	5	146	Luke Gribbin	01:14:25	1125	01:06:09	35
36	7	1594	Julie Archer	01:10:37	1066	01:06:15	36
37	7	1098	Richard Perriss	01:11:11	1066	01:06:47	37
38	7	1091	Penelope Gillett	01:12:00	1066	01:07:33	38
39	7	1586	Nicholas Freeston	01:12:34	1066	01:08:04	39
40	7	1339	Cliff Webb	01:14:11	1066	01:09:35	40
41	7	1219	Arnaud Bouchez	01:15:26	1066	01:10:46	41
42	5	206	Henry Gillett	01:19:46	1125	01:10:54	42
43	7	1141	Jonathan Rickels	01:16:26	1066	01:11:42	43
44	5	1402	Jane Homewood	01:21:22	1125	01:12:20	44
71	7	2	Barend Hiltermann		1066		OCS
71	5	1044	Lucy Tardrew		1125		DNF
71	9	9	Alex Newton‑Southon		1025		DNC
71	9	1095	Tony Jukes		1025		DNC
71	9	1097	Chris Jones		1025		DNC
71	9	1689	Andrew Snell		1025		DNC
71	9	1164	Mike Taylor		1025		DNC
71	9	1654	Mark Lambdin		1025		DNC
71	9	1793	Jim Hood		1025		DNC
71	7	3	Charlie Inigo‑Jones		1066		DNC
71	7	11	Will Taylor		1066		DNC
71	7	77	Samantha Foster		1066		DNC
71	7	1211	Nicholas Eales		1066		DNC
71	7	1258	Nick Craven		1066		DNC
71	7	1264	Jackie Craven		1066		DNC
71	7	1209	David Ellis		1066		DNC
71	7	1302	Karl Thorne		1066		DNC
71	7	1370	Nev Herbert		1066		DNC
71	7	1509	Peter Craggs		1066		DNC
71	7	1598	John Harvey		1066		DNC
71	7	1618	Dave Harris		1066		DNC
71	7	1745	John Hobson		1066		DNC
71	5	23	Fin Amstrong		1125		DNC
71	5	9	Lauren Paton		1125		DNC
71	5	1000	George Tardrew		1125		DNC
71	5	1012	Marion Lowe		1125		DNC