RS Aero UK Inland, Ladies and Masters Championships at Rutland Sailing Club
by RS Aero UK Class Association 28 Oct 2019 16:55 GMT
12-13 October 2019
RS Aero UK Inland, Ladies and Masters Championships © Alan Hatton
79 RS Aeros made the RS Aero UK Inland Champs at Rutland SC the largest weekend RS Aero event yet as the Class continues to grow. Medium breezes prevailed over the weekend and the three RS Aero fleets raced off Class starts with inner and outer loop courses spreading competitors across the lake.
Ben Rolfe (Burghfield) was on top form on Day 1 in his RS Aero 9, winning all four races from Chris Larr (Northampton) and Alan Beaton (Notts County) taking the 2nds.
In the RS Aero 5s Jonathan Bailey (Grafham) and David Ellis (Lymington Town) were enjoying a tight tussle for supremacy whilst Sam Blaker (Benfleet), Fergus Pye (Draycote) and Theo Deverell (Hunts) also had a look in at the front during the day.
The RS Aero 7s had a whopping 57 boats on the start line with super tight racing throughout the fleet in the medium breeze. As ever, clear air and the canny knack of catching Rutland's gust lines and lifted tacks were super critical as the racetrack challenged all the sailors. Noah Rees proved to be a consistent fleet leader with a 1,2,1 before a blot on his series after leading the fleet into a navigational error in Race 4. The challenge in the large equally matched fleet was consistency and anyone with string of top 10 results was in the running for the top spots going into the second day.
Sunday's forecast was for new weather to arrive with a 180' wind change set to happen around midday. Under challengingly unstable conditions one race was possible before the fleet returned ashore.
Chris took the final RS Aero 9 race, however, Ben Rolfe had done enough on Saturday to take the RS Aero 9 Inland title from Chris in second and Richard Watsham (Starcross) in third. Jonathan continued his winning ways to take the final RS Aero 5 race and with it the Inland title from David in second and Sam in third.
With a packed out start line and flicking breeze it was all on in the RS Aero 7s - and ultimately the weekend was perhaps lost rather than won! Two boats were over early at the port end who happened to be the series leaders Noah and Mark Riddington (Emsworth) who would have needed just a 15th and eighth respectively to claim the title. Harry Joyce (Bowmoor) was looking good to pick up the pieces, comfortably within the top five that he needed until he lost a couple on the final approach to the finish.
Peter Barton led the fleet home in the tricky final race followed by Keith Escritt (Yorkshire Dales) and Chris Hatton (Bowmoor). With the regatta proving high scoring this was just enough for Peter to take the title on a tie break from Harry. Mark was third and Keith fourth, with the top four split by only two points! All the lead contenders were left musing the 'what if...' of where they could have saved a few points over the weekend to take the title that had proven to be wide open!
The Champs doubled as the UK Ladies and Masters titles too. Abby Hire was top Lady in the RS Aero 5s whilst Ellie Craig finished top Lady in the RS Aero 7s. A larger Masters turnout in the RS Aero 7s saw Harry Joyce win from Keith Escritt 2nd and Jeff Davison in third, all in the top five overall. Whilst last year the Aero Youth dominated the front of the fleet at this event, this year it was the Masters!
Thanks to Class sponsors Rooster and Noble Marine for their continued generous support and the excellent spread of prizes for both the Inlands and also the UK Northern Series of 2019 that was also awarded at Rutland. Thanks to Rutland SC for being wonderful hosts as ever, providing some great racing on a testing weekend.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | Cat. | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts |
|---|
| RS Aero 5 Class |
|---|
| 1st | 3042 | Jonathan Bailey | Grafham Water SC | Y | 2 | 1 | ‑4 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 2nd | 1209 | David Ellis | Lymington Town SC | | 1 | 2 | ‑5 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 3rd | 2071 | Sam Blaker | BenfleetYC/Thorpe BayYC | Y | ‑4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 13 |
| 4th | 1096 | Fergus Pye | Draycote WSC | Y | 5 | ‑7 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 18 |
| 5th | 1819 | Ben Millard | Emsworth SC | Y | ‑8 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 18 |
| 6th | 2325 | Ned Stattersfield | Wells‑Next‑The‑Sea | Y | 3 | 5 | ‑8 | 7 | 5 | 20 |
| 7th | 2317 | Theo Deverell | Hunts SC | Y | 7 | 8 | 9 | 2 | ‑10 | 26 |
| 8th | 1566 | Abby Hire | Royal Lymington YC | Y L | 6 | 6 | 7 | ‑9 | 8 | 27 |
| 9th | 2708 | Maisie Bristow | Island Barn RSC | Y L | 9 | ‑12 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 29 |
| 10th | 2748 | Oliver Hickling | Wembley SC | Y | ‑12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 37 |
| 11th | 1888 | Abigail Larr | Northampton SC | Y L | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | ‑13 | 44 |
| 12th | 2929 | Elliot Toms | Fowey Gallants SC | Y | ‑14 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 45 |
| 13th | 1773 | Rosemary Dillworth | Bowmoor SC | L | 11 | ‑13 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 47 |
| 14th | 1135 | James Smaggasgale | Hillingdon OAC | Y | 13 | ‑14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 55 |
| RS Aero 7 Class |
|---|
| 1st | 2813 | Peter Barton | Lymington Town SC | | 15 | 1 | 2 | (BFD) | 1 | 19 |
| 2nd | 2532 | Harry Joyce | Bowmoor SC | M | 5 | 3 | 5 | ‑12 | 6 | 19 |
| 3rd | 2553 | Mark Riddington | Emsworth Slipper SC | | 6 | 9 | 4 | 1 | (BFD) | 20 |
| 4th | 1415 | Keith Escritt | Yorkshire Dales SC | M | 9 | 6 | ‑15 | 4 | 2 | 21 |
| 5th | 2441 | Jeff Davison | Island Barn SC | M | 2 | ‑18 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 23 |
| 6th | 3052 | Marshall King | Queen Mary SC | | ‑18 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 25 |
| 7th | 2922 | Andrew Wishart | Broadwater SC | | 11 | ‑21 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 28 |
| 8th | 2439 | Tim Hire | Royal Lym YC / Lym Town SC | Y | 3 | ‑33 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 31 |
| 9th | 1590 | Chris Hatton | Bowmoor SC | Y | 12 | 7 | 11 | (DNC) | 3 | 33 |
| 10th | 3005 | Nigel Rolfe | Burghfield SC | M | ‑20 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 34 |
| 11th | 2550 | Chris Jones | Sutton Bingham SC | M | 8 | 17 | 9 | ‑19 | 7 | 41 |
| 12th | 3000 | Steve Norbury | Warsash SC | | 10 | 4 | ‑19 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
| 13th | 2603 | Ellie Craig | Draycote WSC | L | 13 | 10 | ‑16 | 13 | 8 | 44 |
| 14th | 3050 | Sean Craig | Royal St George YC | M | ‑19 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 50 |
| 15th | 2672 | Will Gifford | Whitefriars SC | | 7 | ‑38 | 10 | 21 | 15 | 53 |
| 16th | 2527 | Robbie Lawson | East Lothian YC | | 4 | 15 | 18 | ‑34 | 24 | 61 |
| 17th | 2060 | Luke McGill | Sunderland YC | | ‑30 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 23 | 61 |
| 18th | 2875 | Noah Rees | TorpointMosquito/CawsandBaySC | | 1 | 2 | 1 | (DNC) | BFD | 62 |
| 19th | 2648 | Ben Powell | Orwell YC | M | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | ‑22 | 66 |
| 20th | 2318 | Karl Thorne | Lymington Town SC | | 14 | 20 | 30 | 6 | (DNC) | 70 |
| 21st | 2649 | Kent Martin | Ogston SC | | 17 | ‑37 | 23 | 20 | 11 | 71 |
| 22nd | 2502 | Peter Chaplin | Burghfield SC | M | ‑31 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 80 |
| 23rd | 2890 | Andrew Rawson | Weston SC | | ‑25 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 16 | 81 |
| 24th | 3043 | Philip Bailey | Grafham Water SC | | ‑27 | 14 | 22 | 26 | 27 | 89 |
| 25th | 1739 | David Cherrill | Broadwater SC | M | 21 | ‑32 | 26 | 23 | 29 | 99 |
| 26th | 1062 | Dan Phillips | Ripon SC | | ‑41 | 28 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 102 |
| 27th | 1584 | Richard Woods | Torpoint Mosquito SC | M | 24 | ‑46 | 41 | 28 | 12 | 105 |
| 28th | 2415 | Jack Miller | Felpham SC | Y | 38 | 41 | 24 | 9 | (DNC) | 112 |
| 29th | 2543 | Edward Norbury | Warsash SC | | 22 | 26 | 31 | ‑41 | 33 | 112 |
| 30th | 2146 | Nick Craven | Scammonden SC | | 28 | 25 | ‑38 | 33 | 26 | 112 |
| 31st | 2870 | Cathy Partington | Leigh and Lowton SC | L | 34 | 13 | 34 | 32 | (DNC) | 113 |
| 32nd | 2808 | Steve Roberts | Torpoint Mosquito SC | | 36 | 22 | ‑37 | 36 | 21 | 115 |
| 33rd | 1345 | Tom Croome | Alton Water | Y | ‑39 | 39 | 32 | 15 | 30 | 116 |
| 34th | 2717 | Chris Harrup | Burghfield SC | | 42 | 29 | 33 | 16 | (DNC) | 120 |
| 35th | 2738 | Andrew Daniels | Hayling Island SC | | (RET) | 11 | 28 | 29 | DNC | 126 |
| 36th | 1261 | Martin Roots | Tata Steel SC | | 26 | 30 | 39 | ‑42 | 34 | 129 |
| 37th | 3032 | Thomas Penty | Beaver SC | | 43 | ‑54 | 27 | 45 | 18 | 133 |
| 38th | 2605 | Mark Fowler | Hunts SC | M | 32 | 27 | ‑49 | 38 | 36 | 133 |
| 39th | 2581 | Peter Craggs | York RI SC | | 29 | ‑42 | 29 | 35 | 41 | 134 |
| 40th | 1653 | Richard Butler | Covenham SC / Rutland SC | M | 23 | ‑45 | 42 | 43 | 28 | 136 |
| 41st | 2147 | Bill Knights | Hunts SC | | (DNC) | 34 | 46 | 25 | 38 | 143 |
| 42nd | 2195 | David Blaker | Thorpe Bay YC | | 33 | 36 | 44 | 30 | (DNC) | 143 |
| 43rd | 3051 | Philip Kilburn | Notts County SC | M | ‑46 | 44 | 35 | 31 | 37 | 147 |
| 44th | 2952 | Catherine Hemsley | Felpham SC | L M | 40 | 47 | ‑51 | 27 | 40 | 154 |
| 45th | 1400 | Gary Fowler | Hunts SC | M | 45 | 31 | ‑50 | 50 | 32 | 158 |
| 46th | 2319 | Ben Eeles | Brightlingsea SC | | 48 | 40 | ‑55 | 40 | 31 | 159 |
| 47th | 3053 | Andy Baker | Hollowell SC | M | 37 | 43 | 47 | 39 | (DNC) | 166 |
| 48th | 2125 | Julie Archer | Ullswater YC | L M | 44 | 35 | 40 | 48 | (DNC) | 167 |
| 49th | 2285 | Roger Cowan | Burghfield SC | | 47 | ‑51 | 36 | 51 | 35 | 169 |
| 50th | 3031 | Paul Hemingway | Carsington SC | M | ‑50 | 48 | 45 | 37 | 39 | 169 |
| 51st | 3011 | Lawrence Hayward | Staunton Harold SC | M | 35 | 52 | 43 | 49 | (DNC) | 179 |
| 52nd | 2362 | Claire Geoghegan | Brightlingsea SC | L | 51 | 49 | ‑52 | 44 | 43 | 187 |
| 53rd | 3027 | Andy McKee | Rutland SC | | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 20 | 194 |
| 54th | 2986 | Mark Smith | Eastbourne Sovereign SC | | 49 | ‑53 | 53 | 52 | 42 | 196 |
| 55th | 3025 | Michael Airey | Rutland SC | M | 52 | 50 | 48 | 46 | (DNC) | 196 |
| 56th | 1365 | Steven Angell | Draycote WSC | | (DNF) | 55 | 54 | 47 | 44 | 200 |
| 57th | 2628 | David Wiggins | Rutland SC | M | 53 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 227 |
| RS Aero 9 Class |
|---|
| 1st | 3003 | Ben Rolfe | Burghfield SC | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | (DNC) | 4 |
| 2nd | 2891 | Chris Larr | Northampton SC | | 2 | ‑8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 3rd | 3023 | Richard Watsham | Starcross YC / RNSA | | ‑7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 12 |
| 4th | 1744 | Matt Thursfield | Chelmarsh SC | | 3 | 3 | 4 | ‑6 | 4 | 14 |
| 5th | 2186 | Alan Beaton | Notts County SC | M | 4 | 2 | 7 | ‑8 | 3 | 16 |
| 6th | 2832 | Clive Harries | Yorkshire Dales SC | M | 5 | ‑7 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 20 |
| 7th | 3054 | Tim Garvin | Queen Mary SC | | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | (DNC) | 23 |
| 8th | 1218 | Chris Abbott | Nottingham SC | | 8 | 6 | 8 | 5 | (DNC) | 27 |
Next up for the RS Aeros in the UK is the End of Season Championship were the fleet visits the growing RS Aero fleet at Draycoye Water SC on the 9/10th November. The Class is fortunate to have National Juror, David Battye, in attendance at Draycote who will assist the Class and especially those preparing for the upcoming World Championships in Australia over New Year. The RS Aero Winter Series then starts at the Bowmoor Bubble 30th November.
Find full details of all UK RS Aero events here