Musto Skiff Open at Rutland Sailing Club

Musto Skiffs at Rutland © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Musto Skiffs at Rutland © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Musto Skiffs at Rutland © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

After the last few weeks of spring conditions, the winds returned for the first Musto Skiff Open of the year at Rutland Sailing Club, held along with the B14 and Cherub fleets.

The fleet of 18 Mustos launched into what looked like great conditions, hoisted the kites and set off downwind to the bottom of the lake. When there and looking back upwind to the shore it was a different picture, although as said before the launch if the boats weren't built for this then they would have put smaller sails on! So onto the racing, and a test to see who had been training over the winter.

Jamie Hilton led round the windward mark in the first race but was forced to capsize at the bottom of the run when his mainsheet came unspliced, letting Ben Schooling through for a short period before he too went in and leaving Ian Trotter to take the win, followed by Dan Trotter and Richard Stenhouse.

Race 2 saw a slightly depleted fleet as the cold and wind started to take their toll. Richard Stenhouse took the win followed by Ben Schooling and Ian Trotter in Third. The 3rd race again saw the Richard Stenhouse followed by Ben Schooling with Kit Stenhouse taking third.

For those remaining, Race 4 saw a monster gust and the whole fleet capsize, even the mighty Sten! Nigel Walbank held it together best with only one capsize, however on the last leg Richard Stenhouse and Ben Schooling managed to get through with an all or nothing approach to the run, this time paying off.

Sunday dawned with similar conditions, but after a good nights sleep and with extra layers on, all were ready.

Race 5 saw Jamie Hilton to the windward mark first who then bore away and set off forgetting that we were racing the outer loop. Letting Sten through to take the win, while Jamie recovered to a second and Dan Trotter in third.

The last race saw Richard Stenhouse lead the fleet round followed again by Jamie Hilton and Ian Trotter.

The final scores left Richard Stenhouse the clear winner, followed by Ben Schooling and Paul Molesworth taking third thanks to a consistent set of results.

Musto Skiffs at Rutland - photo © Tim Olin

Many thanks to Rutland Sailing club for a well run event and the rescue crews who were never bored. Next event in the calendar is Stokes Bay for the test event to the nationals which are to be held there later in the year.

More photos can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/48594582@N05/sets/72157642863887093

Overall Results: