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Rooster 2025

Rooster RS600 Inland Championships at Grafham Water Sailing Club

by Sally Campbell 8 Sep 2020 13:07 BST 5 September 2020
Rooster RS600 Inland Championships at Grafham © RS UK Class Association

Despite these difficult times the 2020 RS600 Rooster Inlands took place on Saturday 5th September at Grafham Water Sailing Club. It was decided to run the event as a single day and what a day it turned out to be. The RS600s enjoyed almost perfect sailing conditions, with a 10-15 knot westerly gracing all three races.

A healthy 24 boats entered this year and it was great to see several newcomers as well as old faces joining this fleet.

This was the first event since the introduction of the new square-top black mainsail. Around half the fleet have already made the switch so we had a good opportunity to see the old and the new sails against each other. The good news is that the difference was barely spoken about as there seemed to be no discernible advantage from either, which is exactly what the class wanted. Keeping the old sail competitive whilst enabling the boat to get an up to the minute modern look. The black sail really looks the business on the water.

Also at the event, was Ian Montague's brand new boat No 1000. The first one built since the early 2000's and now built by Boat Yard at Beer. The second boat has just been completed and there was lots of interest from others being shown so this is clearly an important part of the RS600s future.

So to the racing, with all three races to count it was vital to avoid any major catastrophe. George Smith sailed the first two races almost faultlessly, pulling off bullets in both. Close behind was Jamie Mawson with a second and third.

Going into Race 3 George had only to score a fourth or better if Jamie won. Jamie did go on to win the race and George for a while made life difficult for himself before picking the shifts and moving into second and so winning the 2020 Inlands by what was in the end a comfortable margin and a well deserved win.

Other notable performances came from Wayne Hancox, scoring a second in race 2, Olly Straker leading for much of that race before succumbing to a capsize. Newcomers to the fleet Ben Harden, Tim Cutsforth and Daniel Johnson also showed excellent early form in the class and will be the ones to watch in the future.

We should praise Grafham Water Sailing Club, who organised a faultless event. Great courses, quick race turn around from the Race Officer. Even a superb packed lunch supplied as part of the entry fee. Thank you to all concerned.

The RS600 Fleet is in a really good place, with an ultra modern new style sail, new boats being built and many new comers, both young and old(er) joining the fleet. Lets hope 2021 is a little more normal and we can meet up on the water to do this again soon!

Overall Results:

PosHelmSail No ClubR1R2R3Pts
1stGeorge Smith988Bough Beech1124
2ndJamie Mawson810Notts County2316
3rdIan Montague1000Stone Sailing Club44513
4thMichael Iszatt951King George SC65415
5thWayne Hancox919Grafham Water SC521017
6thIan Marshall654Bowmoor SC37919
7thBen Harden842Burnham Sailing Club86620
8thChristopher Haslam670Hickling Broad Sailing Club198330
9thTim Cutsforth800Felpham Sailing Club1710734
10thAlistair Farman648Grafham Water SC12111235
11thMark Healing876King George SC9131537
12thJamie Watson761Thornbury SC15121138
13thDaniel Johnson713Weston sailing club79DNC41
14thMartyn Barrett918Rutland Sailing Club13151341
15thOlly Straker944Velociwrap Graphics14DNC847
16thLuke South979Emsworth1014DNC49
17thBen Latham920Errwood Sailing Club11DNC1450
18thCliff Haslam933Hickling Broad Sailing Club16161850
19thGraham Timms710Grafham Water SC21171654
20thMartin Hollinworth837SBSC18DNC1760
21stEd Bellamy815Grafham Water SC20DNCDNC70
22ndMatthew Butler719Stewartby Sailing ClubDNCDNCDNC75
22ndGeorgie Altham702 DNCDNCDNC75
22ndRyan Walford895Snowflakes SCDNCDNCDNC75

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