RS Tera Inland Championships at Burton Sailing Club

2018 RS Tera Inalnd Championships at Burton © Giles Smith Photography

2018 RS Tera Inalnd Championships at Burton © Giles Smith Photography

Conditions could only be described as ultra glamorous as 61 sailors arrived at a leisurely hour at the stunning setting of Burton Sailing Club, for the RS Tera Rooster Inland Championships 2018. Glorious sunshine and a much awaited 15-18knt breeze was the order of the day. Tom Rusbridge PRO wasted no time in briefing the sailors and getting them on the water to try and make the most of the conditions.

In the Pro Fleet, race one saw Abby Hire(RLymYC) roar up the first beat and continue to lead the fleet down the run on the first lap; however the second beat saw it all change and Tom Ahlheid (Frensham) took over the lead after reading the very shifty conditions well. He maintained this to the end but it was a tight finish with Esme Baraclough (Yorkshire Dales) hot on his heels and Frensham Clubmate Luke Anstey taking third. In race two Burnham sailor Dylan McPherson took the win closely followed by Draycote's Fergus Pye, Oliver Rayner (Yorkshire Dales) in third. Conditions were proving very shifty and there were different faces at the front on all the laps. Race three saw Abby manage to keep her first place all the way to the end of the race, Windermere sailor Theo Stewart taking second and William Sunderland (Olton Mere) sailed brilliantly to third place. The last race of the day gave Beth Miller(YDSC) a fantastic first win with Luke Anstey (Frensham) taking second and Fergus in third, making Fergus overnight leader, though tied on points with Theo. With only five points separating places from first to eighth overnight everything could change!

The sport fleet's first race was led by Alice Davis all the way, though she was very closely followed by Max Steele (Datchet) in second and Max Sydenham (Dell Quay) in third. After a long delay from several postponements due to massive shifts on the course, they finally got away for the second race, with Max Steele successfully trying his luck on the opposite side of the course to the others taking the bullet from Max Sydenham, Tristan Ahlheid (Frensham) pushing into third. Race 3 saw Alice in a strong leading position until the final lap when she suffered from gear failure to her boom. She fell into second place from Tristan Ahlheid and amazingly managed to hold off the baying pack until the final mark where a scuffle with Max Steele ended in some penalty turns. Max snuck past and managed to take second and Olly Peters (HISC) roared through to take third.

The final race of the day began; shifts were frequent and massive causing the Race officer to make a black flag start, a couple of sailors falling foul. Those on the right side of the course made massive gains and Toby Hatsell (Middle Nene SC) managed to be there to sail away into the distance from everyone and record his first race win of a major championship. Max, consistent as ever, took second and Teddy Dunn (IoMYC) showed what he was made of taking third. This left Max in a strong position overnight with only five points, Toby second and Alice third.

The Regatta Fleet, a couple sporting the mini sail, enjoyed a morning of many capsizes in the gusty conditions, expertly tutored by Ellen Morley and Dylan Collingbourne. With a break for lunch the smiling faces were keen to get out to complete as many races as they could. By the end of the day there was a clear sailor at the top of the leaderboard; Ella Harris from Weston SC in her first major Tera event! With a debrief onshore they got set to enjoy the evening's festivities.

Sailors and parents enjoyed a fantastic BBQ evening, continuing to enjoy the fabulous sunshine, though the wind did not abate for some time.

2018 RS Tera Inalnd Championships at Burton - photo © Giles Smith Photography

Sunday dawned with a slightly lighter breeze, though no less shifty. The sunshine continued to blaze and the morning soon heated up more than the day before.

The Pro Fleet got underway on time and Tom Ahlheid wasted no time repeating his placing for the first race the day before, taking the bullet from fellow clubmate Luke and Abby Hire taking third. Race 6 saw the clubmates reverse places, with Luke this time taking the win from Tom and William Sunderland once more taking third place. Theo Stewart (Windermere) wasn't going to let Frensham have it all their own way, however, taking the win and pushing Luke into second, Abby once more battling her way into third. In the final race, Luke and Tom both had to use their discard as another Frensham sailor, Tom Stratton Brown, roared away with the win, Joe Warwicker(Bough Beech) showing his face to take second and William Sunderland proving his consistency with yet another third. This gave the championship to Luke, with Tom Ahlheid in second and Theo Stewart taking third place overall.

In the Sports, Race 5 was led all the way by Felix Stewart (Windermere), shift expert Tristan Ahlheid (Frensham) taking second place and William Bailey (Ripon, YDSC) in third. Max Steele recovered some form to take the bullet in race 6, closely followed by Alice whose boom repair had unfortunately failed again and had been under jury rig all day, William Bailey very consistent in third again. With results all over the place the title was still up for grabs! Tristan once more used his shift management to take the win in race 7 from Felix, Adelicia Lavender (Felpham) sailing jolly well to take third place. Felix stormed his way through to take race 8, Max Sydenham (Dell Quay) in second and Tilda Brayshay (Ripon/ YDSC) sailing a blinder to third place. Max's consistency on day one however had given him the championship title, meanwhile Felix's Super Sailing Sunday meant that he roared into second place in front of Alice in third.

The Regatta Fleet made the most of the slightly lighter conditions with much more controlled sailing, showing off the skills they had learned the day before. After five more races the leaderboard was topped by Ella, Alex Sydenham (Dell Quay) taking second place and Archie Dunn in third.

Prize-giving swiftly ensued in the stunning scenery of Derbyshire; with Rooster sailing Vouchers and commemorative mugs there was plenty for all! Our thanks go to Burton Sailing Club for their amazing hospitality and brilliant galley service, Tom Rusbridge for his fantastic PRO skills once again, Rooster Sailing for prizes and all the sailors and their families who make these events.

2018 RS Tera Inalnd Championships at Burton - photo © Giles Smith Photography

Our next event is the World Championships at WPNSA; this is going to be AMAZING, for more details see www.rstera.org/index.asp?p=calendar&id=190

Pro Fleet Results:

Sport Fleet Results:

Regatta Fleet Results:

2018 RS Tera Inalnd Championships at Burton - photo © Giles Smith Photography