Musto Performance 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

Richard Stenhouse wins the Musto Skiff Open at Rutland © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Undeterred by a forecast in red and purple, a band of Musto Skiff sailors arrived at Rutland Sailing club on Saturday with more hope than expectation. As white horses whipped the lake, racing was immediately postponed until the wind dropped. By two o'clock time was up and the race officer called it a day. So that was it...

Or was it... The sailors turned to lunch and bimbling. By three, the gusts were peaking at 25kts and the lake looked a little more inviting. Sergei Samus was the first to don kit and head for the beach. In the end, six Mustos launched for a practice/blast down the lake. The sun was out, the breeze was big, and the sailors revelled in prototype Garda conditions for a short time. The extra safety cover provided by the club leant some reassurance as the strengthening wind nudged the sailors off the water again.

The following day looked like it would be a near gale by the official start time. Perhaps there was a chance of a brief window for sailing before the wind ramped up again. The clocks going forward caused some head-scratching on the timing, but eventually alarms were set to get on the water for nine. Forgoing a proper breakfast, the skiffs launched into barely 5 knots of wind and got cracking on some gate starts and windward-leewards.

An hour later the committee boat set up in position but the wind was unnervingly quiescent and the sky uniformly grey, the only hint of what was to come the puffs beginning to roll down the lake. The first race began at marginal flat-wiring pace. Ben Schooling won the pin, but was beaten to the windward mark by Dan Kilsby and Matthew Holden. Taking advantage of their omission of the spreader mark, Ben bore away into the lead, with Ed Wilkinson following close behind. Both gybed set and headed left with their course taking them almost to the gate. Richard Stenhouse dug out to the right, but didn't find the gust he was looking for.

Instead up the next beat Richard worked his way into second. Ben held his lead down the final run for the bullet. Matthew surged down in a gust to take third, with David Richards fourth.

The race was short so there was still time for another. The skiffs powered off the line into sets of punishing gusts. This time there was a higher rate of attrition with a few early capsizes and retirements. Richard Stenhouse led Ben Schooling from the first windward mark. The downwind leg was too tight to hold the kite all the way on the first, and by the second lap there was no chance. Richard and Ben persisted in first and second, with Ed Wilkinson coming in third.

With most sailors heading straight for their trolleys as the conditions became unmanageable, Sergei and Richard hung on in the hope of another race. Wisely the race officer called time and raised the blue and white.

The final result was a tie for first and second in favour of Richard Stenhouse with the most recent win. A three way tie for third was decided for Ed Wilkinson having the highest individual result, with Dan Kilsby and Kit Stenhouse in forth and fifth.

As the sailors hitched on and headed home, hail and white water swept in and blanketed the lake. We were very glad to not be out there at the time.

Overall Results: