RS Tera National Championships at Brightlingsea Sailing Club - Day 1
by Tom Mitchell 25 Aug 2019 11:14 BST
24-26 August 2019
Launching at the RS Tera Nationals © Nicola West
Over 130 sailors turned up to Brightlingsea Sailing Club for the largest ever UK RS Tera National event, greeted by stunning sunshine and a light forecast on the hottest August bank holiday on record. The championship course started under postponement allowing the sailors a chance to get out to the race course and racing got under way just after midday in a variable force 2-3 SE breeze.
With a fleet of 73 Sport rigs on one line, the start was certain to be key and with a fair tide pushing sailors back from the line there was opportunity to gain from a solid transit and getting right up on the line. Race one seemed to favour the right on the first beat with 2086 (Nathan Russell) first to the top mark and demonstrating some excellent sailing in chop and covering up the second beat to maintain his lead to win the first.
In the second race, 3575 (Freddie Sunderland) was first to the first windward mark but 2086 was able to capitalise on a big left hander for the second beat to come through for his second bullet in a row.
The third race saw another big shift to the left come through just before the start seeing boats start to venture to the pin for the first time. After a fight at the pin 2226 (Finlay Lomas-Clarke) managed to pull off a port tack start to take advantage and round mark 1 in second behind 2603 (Matthew Rayner). Despite spins at mark 1, 2603 held on to take the third race. With an unfavourable forecast for Monday, PRO Tom Rusbridge, managed to get through the racing efficiently to fit in an extra race today.
The fourth race saw the fleet push the line a lot more than previous races and a number of boats were caught OCS. 2156 (Jack Bailey) won the last race of the day to jump up to 2nd overnight behind Matthew Rayner in 2603 who leads.
The Pro rigs had a fleet of 39, with 798 (Alice Davis) taking the first and third races of the day. Races 2 and 4 were won by 282 (Felix Stewart), meaning that after 4 races on day 1 the overnight leader was Alice Davis, followed by Felix Stewart in 2nd and Beth Miller (2111) in third. The fleets are all looking forward to another glorious day on the water for day 2!
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