Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2023 - Aquafleece - LEADERBOARD

RS Vareo Rooster National Tour Round 2 at Chichester Yacht Club

by Nick Crickmore 3 May 2022 16:43 BST 30 April 2022

The RS Vareo fleet met at Chichester Yacht Club for a one day event Saturday 30 April. This was the second event in this year's Rooster National Tour, this time shared with the 2000s.

It was a lovely sunny day of course - Chichester being officially Britain's sunniest spot! Three races were scheduled across a 3 1/2 hour window either side of the day's high tide - a tall order with forecast light to no wind and variable direction.

We launched in good time to get to the race area with just enough following wind to get us all there on schedule. The wind then died but only as the tide became slack so we were able to wait comfortably. After a short delay a light breeze set 90 degrees clockwise from the original and the race team quickly set the windward mark to get us started. Although it was only a short beat across the channel, it went very light and shifty so it took us what seemed an eternity to get to the first mark. Luke Fisher and Chris Abbott got away to have a mini match race finishing well ahead of the pack. The rest of us swapped places dramatically as the wind switched about with Mark Green and Nick Crickmore getting around mark one next and then the wind turned a further 90 degrees to blow directly upstream making the downwind an exciting broad spinnaker reach of about three minutes. Nick got a better spinnaker hoist and pulled clear to take 3rd. The next 'upwind' was a fetch just too tight for spinnakers followed by another downwind blast and short return to finish.

The wind eased a little for race two but with a repositioned windward mark gave us three laps of proper beats and runs. The order was quickly established with the same order first three. Nigel Tinkler, returning to the RS Vareo after a long break, started to get into gear with a 4th place finish.

Race three started as race two and the wind held long enough to complete the race with the addition of the tide starting to ebb to take into account. Luke led from start to finish but there were numerous place changes between Chris, Nick and Nigel fighting for second up to the last windward mark where Chris went right into more wind with some 2000s, but Nigel went inshore out of the tide which paid handsomely and got him 2nd. Nick ran aground at the start of the last leg to the finish showing Mike Dicker exactly where to tack off to beat him for 4th place.

There was just enough wind left to get us all home in time for tea and cakes before the prize-giving.

A clean sheet of firsts for Luke to win overall. Chris was second with two second place finishes. Nigel just beat Nick to 3rd on count back with six points each.

Rooster National Tour prizes included mid-fleet hero to Nick Crickmore and Fidelis to Mike Dicker. No duckhams prize this time as we all managed to stay upright.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3Pts
1st621Luke FisherEmberton Park SC‑1112
2nd649Chris AbbottThe Nottingham SC22‑34
3rd190Nigel TinklerLlandegfedd SC‑7426
4th446Nick CrickmoreWaveney and Oulton Broad SC33‑56
5th346Mike DickerDell Quay SC‑5549
6th372Mark GreenCYC4‑7610
7th381Tim SpencerCYC66‑712

Our next RS Vareo Rooster National Tour event is Llandegfedd SC 14-15 May. Find more info here...

Related Articles

RS Class Association announce new round of grants
Funding for coaching has been released - clubs welcome to apply Following the completion of another successful racing season, a new round of coaching grant funding has been released. Posted on 15 Nov
RS Vareo End of Seasons Regatta at Rutland
Everyone gets a prize in the Vareo fleet courtesy of their Czech friends Despite the adverse weather forecast five Vareos joined in with the end of season fun at Rutland this year. On Saturday we had two races in a moderate breeze and one following a big shift course reset in wind dying to nothing. Posted on 8 Nov
RS Vareo Rooster National Tour at Oxford
Limited waiting around between races much appreciated by competitors The weekend of 21/22 October saw Oxford SC host its first RS Vareo Open meeting in recent times. This was the penultimate event in this year's Rooster National Tour. Posted on 7 Nov
Great North Asymmetric Challenge preview
Enter now for this ever-growing September event Bassenthwaite Sailing Club's Great North Asymmetric Challenge (known as the GNAC) will be held on the 16th and 17th September. For those who like a gybe this is a firm favourite in the northern sailing calendar. This years event is sponsored by Trident. Posted on 19 Aug
Fernhurst Books sponsor RS Class Endeavour prizes
A prize voucher will be awarded to Endeavour boat in each fleet's Noble Marine National Championship The RS Class Association are excited to announce that Fernhurst Books are continuing with their generous support of our national championships through sponsorship of the Endeavour Prize for each fleet. Posted on 11 Aug
Illuminis RS Vareo Inlands at Milton Keynes
The second event in this year's Rooster National Tour The Illuminis RS Vareo Inland National Championships 2023 were held at Milton Keynes Sailing Club over the weekend of 15/16 July with a training day on the preceding Friday. Posted on 21 Jul
Noble Marine RS Vareo Nationals at Great Yarmouth
Eight locals joined by 8 visitors from 7 different clubs Sixteen boats sailed in the 2023 Noble Marine RS Vareo Nationals hosted by the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston SC. The eight local boats from Waveney and Oulton Broad, Rollesby Broad SC and GYGSC were joined by eight visitors from seven different clubs. Posted on 30 Jun
RS Vareo Europeans 2023 at Nove Mlyny Lake
Jointly run by Yacht Club Dyje Brclav and nearby YC Lodni Sporty Brno Three GBR sailors travelled to the Czech Republic for the four day event at Nove Mlyny Lake in the South Moravia wine region. The event was shared with the RS700 class. In total there were 35 RS Vareo competitors from five countries. Posted on 6 Jun
RS Vareos at the Harken RS Sprints
Luke Fisher takes the win at Rutland Sailing Club Following a glorious run down the lake to the start area on Saturday there were some interesting wind shifts allowing both Chris Abbott and Nick Crickmore to have some moments of glory between them each having turns in the lead. Posted on 2 May
RS Vareos at the Harken RS End of Seasons Regatta
Final event of the 2022 RS Vareo Rooster National Tour The Harken RS End of Seasons Regatta at Rutland Sailing Club on 5-6 November was the final event of the 2022 RS Vareo Rooster National Tour. Posted on 10 Nov 2022