RS Tera Open Open at Frensham Pond Sailing Club

Frensham Pond RS Tera Open © Harry Stratton-Brown

Frensham Pond RS Tera Open © Harry Stratton-Brown

Frensham Pond RS Tera Open © Harry Stratton-Brown

The Frensham Pon SC Tera Open was a very light affair. The fleet launched at 11.45 after a short delay, when the pouring rain abated sufficiently to see some wind related ripples on the water. However, despite the best efforts of the race team, it wasn't possible to set a course as the wind came and went, so the fleet headed back to the club for a delicious lunch.

When the wind still failed to materialise after lunch, a fleet of club Optimists were launched to provide a platform for some paddling races. However this did the trick, and as soon as the Optimists were launched the slighted of breezes emerged from the north west.

The boats had been left on the water over lunch to facilitate a speedy launch and so everyone dashed out onto the pond in hope that the wind would stick around long enough to get in a couple of races.

The wind remained light and patchy but thankfully provided just enough thrust to enable two races for each of the PROs and Sports. The first race in the Pros was won by Oliver Stratton-Brown who spotted a band of wind down the left hand side of the first beat and was never headed. Second was Finaly Lomas-Clarke. In the Sports, George Garner, in his first open, had an excellent start and led the fleet towards the wind in the middle of the pond. Mid-way up the first beat he was overhauled by Tristan Harding, who went on to win with William Stratton-Brown second and George an amazing 5th.

In the second race, it was Oliver in the Pro and Tristan in the Sport who again managed to squeeze the most propulsion out of the tiny puffs of wind, whilst staying out of the increasingly large holes. They both built sizeable leads before the wind shut down almost completely. As the Race Officer contemplated abandoning the race, a patch of wind developed down the right hand side of the last run, enabling the Sport fleet to finish under their own steam, however the Pros made no more progress and had to be finished in their positions on the water.

Overall, Oliver and Tristan were worthy winners, with Harry Slight from Emsworth second in the Pros ahead of Finaly Lomas-Clarke in third. In the Sports, William Stratton Brown was second, with Zoe Lomas-Clarke third, and Ethan Hill from HISC finishing fourth.

At the prize-giving it was widely acknowledged that the conditions had been extremely trying for competitors and organisers alike, but that in the end it had been an enjoyable day, with everyone making the absolute most of the conditions presented.

Overall Results: