Mill Volvo NE RS Tera Northern Travellers at Ripon Sailing Club
by Fiona Spence 22 Jul 2018 21:49 BST
21-22 July 2018
Upwind-Downwind at Ripon SC's RS Tera open meeting © Fiona Spence
Ripon Sailing Club's Mill Volvo NE sponsored RS Tera open meeting enjoyed warm sunny conditions and a mix of light to medium winds over the weekend of 21/22 July 2018; the event was the penultimate round in the RS Tera North series. Race Officer Ben Raynor wisely postponed the start on Saturday morning to allow the wind to fill in for the 21 entries across the two fleets.
Racing got underway at noon and two back to back races were completed before lunch. In the Sport fleet Matthew Rayner (YDSC/RSC) signalled his intent for the weekend with two wins, chased hard by Tilda Brayshay (RSC/YDSC) and John Bridgeman (Leigh & Lowton SC); Jess Peeters (RSC) also contributed to the regular tussle and the four enjoyed close racing, these four didn't get it all their own way with Ripon's Tom Bates, Optimist sailor Chris Hampshire & Topper sailor Tom Moss challenging them in both races. The five strong Pro fleet enjoyed competitive racing with the lead changing frequently between Esme Barraclough (YDSC/RSC), Oliver Rayer (YDSC/RSC) and James Johnson (Windermere School); lunchtime saw a win each for Barraclough & Rayner.
The wind direction shifted and increased for the afternoon races and RO Rayner sent the fleet off on a figure of eight covering most of the lake. Local sailor George Spence found his sea legs and joined M Rayner, Brayshay & Bridgman at the front of the Sport fleet with Bates & Moss chasing the quartet at the front; Brayshay took race 3 but Rayner was back in front for race 4 to lead overnight. The Pro fleet continued their close racing with Tom Johnson (Windermere School) joining the fray and taking two thirds from his brother. Consistency by Barraclough meant she led overnight with O Rayner two points behind and all to play for on Sunday morning.
Sunday racing got off to a prompt start in sunny, warm conditions and benefited from a bit more breeze. The Pro fleet decided to shake things up a bit and James Johnson took race 5 with Barraclough in second and Rayner in third and Edward Smith (RSC) pipped Tom Johnson to fourth; these results meant Barraclough took the overall victory with a race to spare but second & third overall was still open.
Race 6 saw Barraclough remind the gents who was in charge with another win with Tom Johnson in second and James Johnson in third but consistent O Rayner took 2nd overall. The Sport fleet quickly split with M Rayner, Peeters, Brayshay, Bridgman, Spence, Bates & Hampshire pulling away in race 5 on the first beat. A capsize at the windward mark put Spence out of the running and after multiple position changes, particularly in Ripon's infamously shifty channel, Rayner confirmed his first overall with another race win with Bridgeman beating Brayshay, Hampshire & Peeters to take second.
Race 7 was completed in a filling wind with Peeters' weekend of consistent top five finishes let down with a seventh; Brayshay beat Bridgeman with Rayner nipping at his heels. Spence took fourth on the finish line from Orla Barraclough (YDSC/RSC) who finally broke into the top six after a weekend of consistent sailing with a well deserved fifth chased home by Bates in sixth.
A great weekend of racing across the fleet with over a dozen newcomers to the series this season. Encouraging performances in the middle and back of the fleet by younger and novice helms promises continued development in youth sailing in the region over the next few years. Youngest competitor Louise Bridgeman (L&L SC) sailed well in all races as did Aidan Ranns (RSC) & William Wood (RSC) who enjoyed their first foray into open meeting sailing. Thanks to all who made the weekend such a great success.
RS Tera Pro results:
1. Esme Barraclough (YDSC/RSC)
2. Oliver Rayner (YDSC/RSC)
3. James Johnson (Windermere School)
4. Tom Johnson (Windermere School)
5. Edward Smith (RSC)
RS Tera Sport results:
1. Matthew Rayner (YDSC / RSC)
2. Tilda Brayshay (RSC/YDSC)
3. John Bridgeman (L&L SC)
4. Jess Peeters (RSC)
5. Christopher Hampshire (RSC)
6. Thomas Bates (RSC)
7. George Spence (RSC)
8. Orla Barraclough (YDSC/RSC)
First U10 George Spence (RSC)
First Series Newcomer Christopher Hampshire (RSC)