RS Tera 2012 Year Review
by Andre Ozanne 19 Dec 2012 13:50 GMT
RS Tera Worlds 2012 © RS Tera Class Association
RS Tera's season started off in the leafy confines of the upper reaches of the Thames at the ever friendly Desborough Sailing Club with wisps of air and barges plodding through the race area and finished off at Hill Head Sailing Club with gusts hitting 29 knots and teeth gritting Solent chop.
This huge variety in conditions were in direct contrast to the healthy consistency of competitors taking part in events up and down the country, with the Nationals attracting 90 sailors, the Worlds held in Italy 74 and the inlands 84. Consistency looks set for the future as the UK class association and the International Class Association are organising more great events for 2013. The 2013 Worlds will take place at Weymouth starting on the 28th July at the 2012 Olympic venue with an anticipated entry of 150, though the Worlds will be the big event, much interest is taking hold in Northern clubs such as Ripon and Derwent along with all the healthy participation in the Eastern region and the South.
Burnham Sailing Club had the delight of running the Nationals and under the steady and driving hand of Abi Davies a superb event was orchestrated. First day saw some trying conditions and a long sail to and from the sailing area meant a lot of exhausted and early to bed sailors with parents having a relaxing drink and some impromptu karaoke. With 90 sailors from around the UK the sports rigged Teras finished off with the top three all from southern clubs though the pros were all local sailors. Henry dispelling and James compelling local knowledge, both showing authoritive scores.
2012 RS Tera National Championship Results:
Sport
1 Henry Jameson (Hayling Island SC) 2 2 1 1 3 5 1 2, 9pts
2 Alex Butler (Hayling Island SC) 5 1 3 4 5 1 0 DNC 1, 19pts
3 Billy Vennis Ozanne (Hill Head SC) 8 6 4 3 7 1 3 3, 20pts
Pros
1 James Hutton Penman (Burnham SC) 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2, 7pts
2 Flynn Davies (Burnham SC) 5 7 3 3 5 8 4 1, 21pts
3 Will Taylor (Alton/Burnham SC) 13 8 7 4 8 1 7 3, 30pts
With a number of events held in the Eastern region by Aldeburgh YC, Alton Water, and Waveney and Outlton SC all set before the Worlds, attendances were healthy as these provided great training venues for a shifty wind venue held at Lake Iseo, Garda's less heard of cute little sister.
With School holidays in full swing a host of GBR sailors rocked up in Northern Italy but with a strong contingent from South Africa, Locals and also from Holland, Germany, Spain, CZE, and Denmark it was not a Brits abroad regatta.
With such a stunning venue and friendliness beyond the call of duty, Association Nautica Sebina under the guidance of Imsaf Amry, Luca Vezzoli, Marina and Luca Porro along with a huge helpful team, nothing but no wind could have stopped a memorable, competitive and enjoyable regatta. The wind gods had been well fed and why wouldn't they when you had a glorious trattoria run by Chiccia at the sailing club. So ten races were run with some very early morning starts to grab hold of the katabatic winds contorting around the stunning shear rock faces sucking up to the water's edge. The pros 1st race top 6 results gave a good insight into who would be up on the podium. Margarita Porro with superb sailing style and local knowledge took the bullet and would have given the top GBR sailors some flutters unfortunately she had to retire for a number of races due to injury but came back in the latter part of the week with another win. Greg Kelly laid out a copy book of consistency and though pushed hard by James Hutton Penman, Greg wrapped up the title with a day to spare. With fine style and enjoying the sunny conditions Rebecca Lewis shone consistently to take the top spot for the Ladies trophy and was knocking on second overalls score.
In contrast, the Sport's first race result would give no foresight into who would lift the trophy at the end of the week. With one of the youngest competitors in the regatta, Jack Lewis taking the bullet and then his older brother Daniel taking the second bullet one could start to think that perhaps a family crew of Rebecca, Daniel and Jack might be taking the SB20 worlds by storm in 10 years' time. South African sailors Georgou Divaris, James Hellstrom, Chad Stevenson and Sam Lombard started to stamp their competitive sailing style onto the fleet and by mid regatta were looking very strong.
The last race of day 3 saw Georgou take the bullet with GBR sailor Billy Vennis Ozanne taking the next place, with Georgou at the top of the leader board and Billy now dropping a high score and moving into second, a two horse race started to emerge. Billy then smoked 3 bullets in a row. This set the scene for a tense final race where Georgou had to finish two places in front of Billy to lift the silverware. Georgou sailed an intelligent race and took second place on the line, Billy kept a low risk strategy and by the final leg he was a few metres back from Georgou and crossed the line as World Champion. With a team of international jury close at all times all sailors gained from their detailed interaction. Niamh Davies had an inspired final race and took the first ladies prize. With a fabulous regatta gala event organised by Paul Pettit International Class Chairman and Insaf Amry and weather to wish we Brits could inherit, Italian friendliness from a small sailing club with a most impressive roll of honour, Olympians and World champs in 470, Tornados and A class cats it's a place well worth investigating.
2012 RS Tera World Championships Results:
Sport
1st Billy Vennis Ozanne (Hayling Island/Hill Head SC) 21 3 2 17 6 2 1 1 1 3, 19pts
2nd Georgou Divaris (George Lake YC) 17 6 3 8 1 1 2 2 3 2, 20pts
3rd James Hellstrom (George Lake YC) 6 5 5 4 10 3 13 10 10 9, 52pts
Pro
1st Greg Kelly (Isle of Man SC) 2 7 1 6 1 11 1 1 2 2, 16pts
2nd James Hutton Penman (Burnham SC) 3 4 3 1 2 2 7dnf 13 ocs, 35pts
3rd Rebecca Lewis (RYA) 7 5 2 10 5 4 3 6 18 5, 37pts
Ladies
Sport
1st Niamh Davies (Burnham SC)
2nd Charlotte Omerod (Oxford Pirates SC)
3rd Lucy Greenwood (Burnham SC)
Pro
1st Rebecca Lewis (RYA)
2nd Margarita Porro (Association Nautica Sebina)
3rd Kathryn Hutton Penman (Burnham SC)
The Inland Nationals were sensibly hosted at Northampton Sailing Club and this brought a host of sailors from Ripon SC and Derwent SC in the north to Castle Cove SC in the south. In the sports with super light airs testing the race team for all of the 1st day the micro sailors must have been feeling a little cock sure and guest who pops up, Jack Lewis in his element on a light air, shifty pond. Henry Rastrick from Ripon SC was showing some impressive results along with Alex Butler, Ethan Miles, and Ossian Bracegirdle.
Day 2 dawned with forecasts predicting increases in wind strengths, giving opportunities for the older heavier sailors. By the end of the event Jack with his impressive consistency took the trophy with Billy Vennis Ozanne making gains on the second day to take the next spot. Henry Rastrick took third and showed how impressive the Northern clubs training and events, are, building some very fine sailors. Young sailors enjoyed this venue like, Freddie Peters, Ethan Miles, Lucy Greenwood, Ana Paterson, Harrison Pye, Matthew Caiger along with many others all had a great event.
Pros saw Daniel Lewis make a great start along with Luke Bailey but by the end of the day Greg Kelly fresh from his Italian job was continuing to be mr. consistent. Day 2 saw Rebecca Lewis and Anya Green put some good results together and they climbed up the leader board along with Kathryn Hutton Penman and Amie Shute at the final wash up 4 ladies sat within the top 9.
This event was also a selector for the national squads winter training sessions which are now in full swing. Training events are toured around the country to give a variety of sailing venues and bring the event close to sailors in each region. The Northern, the Eastern region and clubs such as Hayling Island and Royal Lymington are also holding winter training sessions.
2012 Inland National Championships Results:
Sport
1 Jack Lewis (Draycote Water SC) 3 2 2 3 3 2 3 5, 15pts
2 Billy Vennis Ozanne (Hayling Island/Hill Head SC) 2 14 12 4 2 1 7 1.5, 17.5pts
3 Henry Rastrick (Ripon SC) 1 6 1 12 5 4 1 15, 18pts
Pros
1 Greg Kelly (Isle of Man SC) 1 1 2 6 5 3 8 4, 16pts
2 Luke Bailey (Royal Hosp. School) 2 15 3 5 4 5 11 1, 20pts
3 Will Taylor (Alton Water SC) 8 6 7 7 1 1 3 5, 23pts
Full results and all open and regional race reports can be found on the UK website www.rstera.co.uk with full information on the 2013 fixtures around the UK.
The UK class association is busy liaising with the International Class association to put on an impressive event on the waters of Portland in July 2012. The RS Tera class revels in a friendly,competitive scene and with a good number of charter boats available from www.rssailing.com/en the chance for many young sailors to have a pop at a World Championships is ready and waiting, all information about the event is available at www.rsteraworlds.com
If you're a parent reading this and wish your budding world champion a great chance, RS Sailing are offering a special deal on RS Teras at present so act quickly and you could make your young sailor's day.
Wrapping up on behalf of all the sailors a big thank you to all the event sponsors and to all the class association volunteers who work very hard to make great events. Lucy Jameson as class secretary does a huge amount of behind the scenes work along with many others on behalf of the whole memberships a great festive period and a fantastic new sailing season.