RS700 Inland Championship at Oxford Sailing Club

by Phillip Highfield and Matt Conner 8 Nov 2021 13:48 GMT 6-7 November 2021

RS700 Inland Championship 2021 © Adrian Howe

Day one

The fleet arrived at Oxford SC for day one of the RS700 inlands to be greeted by rain and a strong breeze. The rain quickly went away, which was nice, and so off the fleet went to see if the gusts were as interesting as they looked.

So race one: Rob Higgins shot off from the port end to lead at the first mark with Theo Galyer close behind. A gaggle of boats rounding close together after the lead two. This would be a theme for the day. Theo worked his way through on the downwind to take the win with Rob close behind. Phil Highfield came though the pack to take third.

White horses were now all over the water. Rob and Theo took the opportunity between races for a speed challenge. Rob took the bragging rights by 0.4 of a knot at a speed of 19.4 knots.

Many of the fleet took this as a chance to practise their capsize recovery.

RS700 Inland Championship 2021 - photo © Adrian Howe

Race two: Theo nailed the start to lead from Rob, finishing in that order. Behind the gusts and shifts were causing chaos, several boats looked good then stopped for a quick dip. William Homewood, lightest in the fleet, was looking good for third till a huge gust only a couple of boat lengths from the line resulted in a swim allowing Phil to sneak though. Will recovered quickly for fourth.

Race 3: the usual suspects were 1st and 2nd. Theo took the lead when both boats tea-bagged in a shift. Behind, Matt Conner fresh from the re-rigging his spinnaker was travelling fast in third. The lead 2 pulled away with Theo taking his 3rd bullet and Rob another second. Matt's upwind pace allowed him time for a quick capsize to take 3rd.

RS700 Inland Championship 2021 - photo © Adrian Howe

It was an exciting day with some big wind. Theo leads overnight from Rob and Phil. Some excellent performances from William to finish the day in 4th overall. Curtis Drew got his best result to date with a fifth in race two.

A big thank you to the race team and the rescue boats we kept busy.

With another day to come it's time for the fleet to head to the pub to prepare themselves.

RS700 Inland Championship - photo © Adrian Howe

Day two

After a tough day one the entire fleet enjoyed a dinner together at a local pub, swapping stories of the day's events as well as tips and advice for was for predicted to be more of the same for day two.

With a forecast of 16-25 knots from the North West there was a definite chill in the air as the fleet gathered. There was hope that a change in direction might result in a slightly more stable wind pattern. That hope was soon to be dashed.

Race One started cleanly and on time and utilised the full length of the reservoir. The fleet split early on the first beat, with those opting for left side gaining advantage from a swinging and dropping breeze. As was the case in the previous day the wind at the windward mark was very patchy and shifty as it came over the landscape. It was Rob Higgins who made it round first, with Colin Dacey in close behind leading a tight bunch coming in from port. Rob looked back with a grin from ear to ear as he saw Theo capsize to windward as he got caught out by a shift whilst pinching for the mark. With three laps to catch up the places, Theo looked pretty determined to do so. Lots of place changing occurred throughout the fleet, with lay lines and favoured sides inconsistent. In the end Rob held through for the win with Colin Dacey second, and Theo Galyer recovering to pick up a third.

Rob Higgins - RS700 Inland Championship - photo © Adrian Howe

The race officer reset the windward mark for race two, with the wind having swung 20 degrees and filled back into its forecast levels. Another clean start and again a split fleet up the first beat. At first left paid but then fortunes favoured and those on the right got lifted back. Theo was first round the mark with Matt Conner on his tail, and Rob Higgins next to follow. With some big gusts now coming through the front three built up a decent gap, with Rob squeezing through to second place on the 3rd lap after some gybing masterclasses. After four laps Theo was back in winning ways, Rob Higgins second, Matt Conner just behind to take third, and a fast-charging Colin Dacey having made up some good ground downwind to come in fourth.

The same course held for the third and final race of the day. For the first time of the event, we had an individual recall as the fleet pushed up for a fast start on a relatively short line. The unnamed offender did the right thing and rounded the pin to start correctly.

With the wind was now consistently hitting high 20s in short, powerful gusts, making smooth progress upwind and down was a challenge across the fleet. First to reach the windward mark was Theo Galyer, then Matt Conner. Close behind were Colin Dacey and William Homewood, in the battle of youth versus experience. In the chasing pack battles remained alive with plenty of places gained and lost as tired arms couldn't react fast enough to the conditions. In that respect few were disappointed to see the shortened course flag go up to drop us to a three lap finish. Over the line first was Theo Galyer with Matt Conner mere seconds behind. Colin Dacey finished the day with another strong result, showing experience matters as Will was left swimming somewhere up the run to allow Phill Highfield and a few other through too.

Theo Galyer - RS700 Inland Championship - photo © Adrian Howe

The fleet regrouped for prize-giving to recognise another convincing win for Theo who adds Inland Champion to his earlier Nationals win. Rob Higgins takes second place and Matt Conner moved up to third, ahead of Phil Highfield in fourth and Colin Dacey in fifth. It was an excellent event with good tight racing in somewhat challenging conditions. The fleet would like to thank Oxford SC for such a warm welcome and well-run event and Rooster for supporting the fleet with great prizes and, of course, some of the finest sailing apparel in the market.

Once again, the RS700 has shown what a versatile platform it provides, with top four results being consistently taken by sailors in their teens and their 60ss, with weights ranging from under 60kg to over 100kg and speeds recorded close to 20 knots!

As this event wraps up our year the prize-giving moved on to award the Rooster RS700 National Tour places, with sailors counting their top three results.

RS700 Inlands prize winners - photo © David Oughton

Theo Galyer wins the Rooster RS700 National Tour
Rob Higgins takes second
Pete Purkiss sneaks in at third
On equal points, but taking fourth slot, is Matt Conner
And Roland Smith picks up the last of the very generous Rooster vouchers for fifth place.
First RS700 youth prize goes to William Homewood.

We've seen lots of new faces this year with good attendance at events, despite some Covid restrictions still in place. We look forward to welcoming even more sailors next year and doing it all again.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Pts
1st	1063	Theo Galyer	HISC	1	1	1	‑3	1	1	5
2nd	1029	Rob Higgins	Chew Valley SC	2	2	2	1	2	(DNC)	9
3rd	1060	Matt Conner	Queen Mary SC	6	(DNF)	3	6	3	2	20
4th	836	Phil Highfield	Great Yarmouth & Gorleston YC	3	3	4	7	‑10	4	21
5th	1027	Colin Dacey	Snettisham Beach SC	‑10	6	9	2	4	3	24
6th	1035	William Homewood	Queen Mary SC	4	4	5	4	‑7	7	24
7th	1046	Miles Roebuck	Oxford SC	7	7	6	‑9	6	6	32
8th	762	Richie Thurlby	Hill Head SC	(DNF)	9	8	5	5	DNF	45
9th	765	James Clark	Chew Valley	5	8	7	10	(DNC)	DNC	48
10th	710	Nathan Steffenoni	Weston SC	9	(DNC)	DNC	12	8	5	52
11th	1068	Roland Smith	HISC	8	10	(DNF)	8	9	DNC	53
12th	909	Chris Wright	Filey SC	(DNF)	11	10	14	11	8	54
13th	871	Curtis Drew	Great Yarmouth & Gorleston YC	(DNF)	5	DNC	11	DNC	DNC	70
14th	846	Ashley Strong	Oxford SC	(DNF)	DNF	DNF	13	12	DNC	79
15th	1042	Pete Purkiss	Brightlingsea SC	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	90
15th	1041	Simon Hawes	Queen Mary SC	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	90
15th	1067	Simon Hamilton	Queen Mary SC	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	90

Rooster RS700 National Tour Results (by Nathan Steffenoni and Roland Smith)

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	Stokes Bay	RS Summer	Lymington	Nationals Weekend	Brightlingsea	Oxford	Pts
1	1063	Theo Galyer	HISC	‑43	10	1	1	‑43	1	3
2	1029	Rob Higgins	Chew Valley Lake SC	‑43	1	‑43	2	‑43	2	5
3	1042	Pete Purkiss	Brightlingsea SC	‑43	4	‑43	6	1	‑15	11
4	1060	Matt Conner	QMSC	‑43	‑8	3	5	‑43	3	11
5	1068	Roland Smith	HISC	‑43	9	7	‑14	2	‑11	18
6	1061	Andrew Wright	QMSC	‑43	5	8	8	‑43	‑43	21
7	710	Nathan Steffenoni	Weston SC	‑43	7	6	9	‑43	‑10	22
8	871	Curtis Drew	Hickling SC	1	12	‑43	‑19	‑43	13	26
9	1035	William Homewood	Lymington Town SC	‑43	‑43	5	15	‑43	6	26
10	765	James Clark	Chew Valley Lake SC	‑43	6	‑43	13	‑43	9	28
11	801	Stephen Carr	Brightlingsea SC	‑43	15	9	‑24	5	‑43	29
12	846	Ashley Strong	Oxford SC	‑43	14	‑43	‑27	6	14	34
13	931	Malcolm Streeton	HISC	‑43	11	12	18	‑43	‑43	41
14	1041	Simon Hawes	Queen Mary SC	‑43	‑43	11	16	‑43	15	42
15	1062	Matt Carter	Lancing SC	‑43	3	‑43	3	‑43	43	49
16	1020	Stephen Hermanson	QMSC	‑43	2	‑43	17	‑43	43	62
17	1067	Simon Hamilton	QMSC	‑43	‑43	‑43	12	43	15	70
18	836	Phillip Highfield	Great Yarmouth & G YC	‑43	‑43	‑43	23	43	4	70
19	945	Richard Lilley	Lymington Town SC	‑43	‑43	2	43	‑43	43	88
20	861	Richard Goldklang	Brightlingsea SC	‑43	‑43	‑43	43	3	43	89
21	720	Richard Wadsworth	RNSA/ Stokes Bay	‑43	‑43	43	4	‑43	43	90
22	954	Richard Keeton	RLymYC	‑43	‑43	4	43	‑43	43	90
23	855	David Bridle	Brightlingsea SC	‑43	‑43	‑43	43	4	43	90
24	1027	Colin Dacey	Snettisham Beach SC	‑43	‑43	‑43	43	43	5	91
25	88	Jack Napolitano	Snettisham Beach SC	‑43	‑43	‑43	7	43	43	93
26	1046	Miles Roebuck	Oxford SC	‑43	‑43	‑43	43	43	7	93
27	762	Richie Thurlby	Hill Head SC	‑43	‑43	‑43	43	43	8	94
28	859	Peter O'nions	Draycote Water SC	‑43	‑43	‑43	10	43	43	96
29	825	Ed Reeves	RLymYC	‑43	‑43	10	‑43	43	43	96
30	1022	Ian Swann	HISC	‑43	‑43	‑43	11	43	43	97
31	909	Chris Wright	Filey SC	‑43	‑43	‑43	43	43	12	98
32	769	Paul Hemsley	RLymYC	‑43	‑43	13	‑43	43	43	99
33	978	Stephen McDonald	Starcross YC	‑43	13	‑43	‑43	43	43	99
34	1039	Charles Russell	Mounts Bay SC	‑43	16	‑43	‑43	43	43	102
35	798	Guy Boullenger	Chew Valley Lake SC	‑43	‑43	‑43	20	43	43	106
36	926	Simon Clark	Lyme Regis SC	‑43	‑43	‑43	21	43	43	107
37	882	Peter Atkinson	Lee on Solent SC	‑43	‑43	‑43	22	43	43	108
38	851	John Lawson	AC Treffort Voile	‑43	‑43	‑43	25	43	43	111
39	961	Stephen Keating	Datchet Water SC	‑43	‑43	‑43	26	43	43	112
40	982	Paul McStay	RLymYC	‑43	‑43	‑43	43	43	43	129
41	881	Nick Holland	HISC	‑43	‑43	‑43	43	43	43	129
42	708	Tom Pickles	HISC	‑43	‑43	‑43	43	43	43	129