RS Tera End of Season Championships 2021 at Draycote Water Sailing Club

Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2021 © John Edwards

The UK RS Tera fleet made their way last weekend to the Midlands and the familiar waters of Draycote Water Sailing Club for their last Class National regatta of the year, the Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2021.

With 60 boats entered across the Pro and Sport fleet and 5 of our youngest sailors taking part in the Regatta Train & Race weekend Draycote was a sea of orange and white sails.

Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2021 - photo © John Edwards

On day one of the RS Tera End of Season Championships the competitors launched in good time to enjoy the 12-15 knots of South Westerly wind. There were shifts and gusts to contend with throughout the day, leading to some very close tight racing in both the Sport and Pro fleets. The Pro fleet decided that the pin and was the place to be for the first start, collecting in a big huddle. Jac Bailey from Port Dinorwic escaped, built a sizeable lead by the first mark and extended to win comfortably. In the Sport fleet Ben Greenhalgh, also from Port Dinorwic, led commandingly. It was a close battle between Tristan Harding and Macsen Barber for a second with Tristan leading Macsen around the wrong course just before the finish.

For the second race the race officer moved the line slightly to alleviate congestion at the pin but it made little difference and the contenders decided that was the place to be. Jac Bailey, the winner of the race one, got caught up in the melee and fell foul of the U flag. Ffleur Pierce took advantage, taking the bullet for the Pro and in the Sport fleet Ben Greenhalgh again extended to win commandingly.

Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2021 - photo © John Edwards

The pattern continued with Greenhalgh in the Sport and Jac Bailey in the Pro again winning their respective fleets. In the fourth and final race of the day the fleet realised that the pin had now been moved enough meaning that it wasn't worth starting at that end and the committee boat was the place to be. In the Pro fleet Port Dinorwic Sailing Club continued to dominate with a 1-2 in the Pro fleet (Jac then Ffleur) to finish 1-2-3 overall for the day. In the sport fleet Ben again won to leave him in a very commanding position overall.

On Sunday the wind shifted round to the South, over the clubhouse with strong gusts and big shifts. The weather was cold but the fleet set out for another hard days racing.

Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2021 - photo © John Edwards

In the first race the majority of the Pro fleet headed off the line to the left-hand side of the beat near the windward shore. Those who went right found more breeze and it paid handsomely and rounded the first mark in the top places. The increase in breeze from the previous day caught out a lot of the Pro fleet with multiple spectacular swims on the first downwind. Ffleur Pierce, always poised to take advantage continued her consistent regatta and her patience was rewarded with the win. In the Sport fleet Ben Greenhalgh didn't have it all his own way in the first race of the day and Macsen Barber from Dale Yacht Club took the win.

Second race of the day saw Jac Bailey returning to form and winning the Pro fleet with a great second place from Jack Bew. In continued contrast to the first day it was all to play for at the front of the Sport fleet with Serene Le Petit taking a well-deserved victory followed by Tristan Harding.

Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2021 - photo © John Edwards

With a deteriorating forecast the Race Officer was quick to turn races around to get the full championship of races into the weekend. Jac Bailey continued his domination of the Pro fleet in the increasingly windy conditions. His domination of the fleet was complete with a race to spare, and a UFD. Will Bradley from Gurnard took the win in the Sport fleet from Ben Greenhalgh and with that result Ben sealed the Sport fleet championship with one race to spare.

The wind abated a little in the final race but things at the front of the fleet didn't change. Jac Bailey and Ben Greenhalgh took wins to well and truly impose their dominance on the two high standard fleets. A great set of results from the two winners who have set a high standard for the those to aspire to during their winter training.

Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2021 - photo © John Edwards

A special mention must go to our 9 sailors who "graduated" from our Regatta Fleet at the recent RS Tera Nationals in Filey and competed in their first main fleet racing - well done! Coach Dylan Collingbourne commented: "The Regatta fleet at the End of Seasons saw 5 eager sailors take to the waters at Draycote. They focused on how to make to RS Tera its fastest upwind and manoeuvres around the race course. The first day gave them light air to focus on boat handling and the second day gave them fruitier winds where all 5 sailors tackled it for their coached regatta. Even though there may have been a few swims and spectacular death rolls down some of the runs, all five came off the water with smiles and having learnt how to reduce the capsizes in the afternoon and jibing in heavy winds."

Congratulations to all of the sailors who competed throughout the weekend in cold, testing conditions. A testament to the quality and depth of the UK Tera fleet.

Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2021 - photo © John Edwards

The UK RS Tera Class Association would like to thank Dave Rowe at Draycote Water for again hosting a terrific event, our PRO Matt Rowley who stepped in at the last minute and did a sterling job (wishing Rich Pye a speedy recovery), and all the Draycote staff and Association parents for manning the safety fleet.

Special thanks to our sponsor Rooster, who once again provided a fully-laden prize table for the event, we are very grateful for their continuing support of the Class.

Prize winners in the Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2021 - photo © Steven Angell

The UK RS Tera Class Association is looking forward to hosting extensive training this winter across all the regions to continue the impressive growth of the RS Tera over the last couple of years.

Further information on the activities of the RS Tera in the UK can be found on the UK RS Tera Class Association website at www.rstera.org.uk

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