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Rooster 2025

Rooster RS Tera Start of Season Championships at Burton Sailing Club

by Simon Lomas-Clarke 27 May 2022 16:54 BST 14-15 May 2022

The UK RS Tera National circuit kicked off in style at the Start of Seasons Championship at Burton Sailing Club on the 14th-15th May. A volunteer army from the host club looked after sailors and families all weekend with the Sea Cadets lending a hand to help unload boats.

The unpromising forecast lived up to expectations on Saturday with the odd zephyr of wind never being enough to have a decent race. After a morning of volleyball and shore games for the main fleet and a drift around for the regatta fleet, sailors took to their boats for some water-based, self-made entertainment.

The Race Officer used the U flag from the off to ensure the scheduled five races could be sailed before the time limit. The Pro fleet led off with the start line which was conveniently positioned by the clubhouse some great spectating. The first race was won by Jac Bailey from Port Dinorwic, with Macsen Barber (Dale YC) second and Ben Anderson from Gurnard third. The Sport fleet was close and competitive with the leading group making the most of the shifty conditions to pull out a good lead. The race long tussle at the front resulted in a win for William Stratton-Brown from Frensham Pond, second for Thomas Whitehead from Filey and third for Ben Greenhalgh (Port Dinorwic).

A quick turn-around into the second race saw Jac Bailey and Oliver Stratton-Brown (Frensham Pond) pull out a sizeable gap from the rest of the Pro fleet. Oliver rounded the last leeward mark on the inside to give him a boat-length advantage starting the last reach. In plaining conditions Jac Bailey powered under Oliver's to take the win by half a boat length. Max Rawlinson from Roa Island came in third. The same three sailors battled in the Sport fleet with Ben Greenhalgh taking the win, Thomas Whitehead second and Will Stratton-Brown third leading to a three-way tie on 4 points overall at the front of the Sport fleet.

The wind continued to freshen for the third race with some great plaining reaches. There were some spiky gusts one of which caused havoc in the Pro fleet on one of the downwind legs. Some good saves by the leaders downwind and at bottom gate gybes resulted in familiar names at the top of the leader board. Gurnard's Ben Anderson used his strong wind skills to take the win with second for Mascen Barber and third for Oliver Stratton-Brown. In the Sport fleet William Stratton-Brown dominated, steadily building a sizeable lead by the end of what became a windy race. Luke Rowlands from Rutland came in second and Mark Soars, another Frensham Pond sailor took third.

The course set by the Race Officer used all available space on the lake and gear changing mode was critical with power hiking at the bottom of the course and light wind finesse near the windward mark under the shelter of the bank. Jac Bailey resumed his place at the top of the Pro fleet with another win, Nina Marsh from Neyland Yacht Club was second and Macsen Barber third. A big, persistent right shift caught out some of the Sport fleet but not Thomas Whitehead who took the win, Luke Rowlands who continued his consistent form with another second to go with his two fourths and Fredrick Wood from Leigh & Lowton was third.

After a pause in proceedings to reset the course to accommodate what became a 45degree change in wind direction the fifth race got under way. Although the start line had moved away from the spectator area those who ventured to the headland were able to watch the action with the windward mark only a few metres away. The wind had dropped but the front of the Pro fleet again had Macsen Barber at the front very closely followed by Jac Bailey with a well-deserved third from Frensham Pond's Andrew Soars. The pond sailors seized their opportunity in the Sport fleet with Frensham Pond taking the top three positions with Wiliam Streatton-Brown first, Mark Soars second and Zoe Lomas-Clarke third.

A dominant performance from Jac Bailey to count a 1,1,1,2 saw him crowned the 2022 Start of Seasons RS Tera Pro Champion with Macsen Barber second and the quietly consistent Ben Anderson third. The question is, can anyone break the dominance of the reigning National Champion Jac Bailey in 2022?

Will Stratton-Brown's score line was just as impressive counting 1,3,1,1 to take the RS Tera Sport trophy from Thomas Whitehead in second. The battle between William and Thomas is going to be one to watch all season. Both winners thanked the army of volunteers from Burton Sailing Club for arranging a fantastic weekend. The team prize was awarded to Frensham Pond SC.

A huge thank you must go to our class sponsor Rooster, for once again providing a fully-laden prize table for the Championships.

Alongside the main fleet racing, 24 of our newest sailors were taking part in the Start of Season Train &Race Regatta Fleet. The format, which was introduced last year, provides a weekend of sail training and race coaching to those new to the Tera under the experienced eye of UKRSTCA Coach, Dylan Collingbourne. Aided by Niamh Davies and Andy Gordon, the fleet were put though a range of training exercises on Saturday and Sunday morning, before completing the weekend with multiple short coached races. Judging by the smiles as the children came off the water, the weekend was a success and all 24 sailors were winners!

UKRSTCA Class Development Manager, Marcus Collingbourne commented, "With the RYA scheduling the Eric Twiname Championships on our original booked weekend for our Start of Seasons, we had to find an alternative venue quickly and once again Burton SC came up trumps. Phil Coleman and his dedicated team of immensely hard-working volunteers put on a Championships that both they and we, as an Association, can be proud of.

"From the massive catering operation, run as an all-inclusive meal deal, to great on the water staffing, free on-site camping and a welcome smile from all those concerned, even providing a top-notch PRO late in the day, Burton SC outdid themselves. The club is truly a hidden gem of a sailing venue!"

Next stop for the UK fleet is Dale Yacht Club for the Rooster UK RS Tera National Championships 2022 on 3-5 June. For all Tera related activity in the UK, check out the UK RS Tera Class Association website at www.rstera.org.uk

Pro Fleet Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5Pts
1st4112Jac BaileyPort Dinorwic SC119125
2nd3766Macsen barberDale YC242318
3rd4200Ben AndersonGurnard SC3714412
4th2392Oliver Stratton‑BrownFrensham Pond SC9236617
5th2575Ruby SunderlandBrading Haven YC65416520
6th822Max RawlinsonRoa Island BC531010725
7th2837Matthew KnowlesBolton SC461218830
8th1693Felicity AngellDraycote Water SC139771636
9th2442Nina MarshNeyland YC12181521140
10th1316Morgan RogersPort Dinorwic SC14111351241
11th915Dara JenkinsBolton SC11206131444
12th2156Ffion BaileyPort Dinorwic SC10162881044
13th2661Charlotte WhiteWilsonian SC18108111544
14th3421Alice EdwardsAbersoch SC81220121345
15th798Harriet PaleyStarcross YC7141115DNF47
16th2214Andrew SoarsFrensham Pond SC2321522351
17th1797Jack WilsonSutton Bingham SC1722169951
18th2842Howard FinnGreat Moor SC211514141861
19th3662Catrin OwensPembrokeshire YC162321171973
20th2456Annabel CaldecottRutland SC191918191773
21st4219Alice PopeRoyal Victoria YC20817DNFDNF81
22nd3922James CatterallDerwent Reservoir SC251326232081
23rd3854Mhairi MacDonaldDocklands Sailing & WC301719262183
24th2664William JohnsonBrightlingsea SC152622252284
25th2702Amelia KilgourCorinthian Otters242424212693
26th4291Max DevonportEmsworth SC222527242495
27th3361Ivan NichollsIsle of Man YC2834232029100
28th3579Aimee BulkesDale YC2627252823101
29th2631Charlie RawlingBurnham SC2929312725110
30th3897Henry RichBowmoor SC3128303027115
31st3037Holly ColeThorpe Bay YC2730343132120
32nd3566Gabriel TierneyThorpe Bay YC323133DNF28124
33rd3257Lily‑Ann MillerBurton SC3533293230124
34th2400Emily RichBowmoor SC3332322931124
35th3427Hannah CaseyBurton SC343535DNSDNF140

Sport Fleet Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5Pts
1st2348William Stratton‑BrownFrensham Pond SC131916
2nd3829Thomas WhiteheadFiley SC224149
3rd3585Luke RowlandsRutland SC44221812
4th4133Ben GreenhalghPort Dinorwic SC3155514
5th3830Daniel WhiteheadFiley SC14584926
6th2459Mark SoarsFrensham Pond SC618118227
7th2111Ollie WilsonSutton Bingham SC513617731
8th3580Tristan HardingFrensham Pond SC1211312632
9th3496Zoe Lomas‑ClarkeFrensham Pond SC1071624336
10th3163Sirene Le PetitPPSA11913101040
11th1610Frederick WoodLeigh & Lowton SC1881531743
12th2218Ethan HillHayling Island SC15101271443
13th2739Lewis GordonScaling Dam SC1314711DSQ45
14th112Cassius DayGurnard SC81210163846
15th2259Jude BeattyRutland SC9332014851
16th1885Ben AngellDraycote Water SC72421211160
17th2511Henry ReedStarcross YC24219201262
18th2387Will AhlheidFrensham Pond SC21221462963
19th3917Matthew BoatmanSunderland YC17626153064
20th309Oliver SmithGurnard SC162022191368
21st596Jago MooreFrensham Pond SC201619132068
22nd3216Jasmine Pillon SimpsonFrensham Pond SC/HISC191517182269
23rd3476Tom SinfieldPort Dinorwic SC251718221673
24th3423Jack SollyStarcross YC262923232496
25th4354Zach WilliamsonRipon SC323027251597
26th2671Philippa PaleyStarcross YC272624292198
27th1769Susanna LocalFrensham Pond SC2831252627106
28th4185Megan GowersPort Dinorwic SC3325302826109
29th2224James BulkesDale YC3919443519112
30th2851Maisie Butler‑SmithFrensham Pond SC3542283023116
31st2927Hannah YatesGurnard SC30342927DNF120
32nd2369Barnaby LawFrensham Pond SC22273539DNF123
33rd3479Monty MawdittThorpe Bay YC3123393833125
34th1785Maeve JenkinsBolton SC29DNF323431126
35th2302Luke MarkeyThorpe Bay YC3428344532128
36th3428Alistair CaseyBurton SC23DNSDNS3625132
37th676Finlay AppletonBrightlingsea SC3635403234137
38th4343Molly wilsonFiley SC4037363136140
39th3856Elizabeth MacDonaldDocklands Sailing & WC4136313737141
40th2162Phoebe GreenhalghPort Dinorwic SC3743414428149
41st3Jake SowerbyBurton SC45403333DNF151
42nd2067Florence OsborneThorpe Bay YC4232434039153
43rd3575Pheobe HodgesBurton SC4644424135162
44th3654Daisy FloydThorpe Bay YC44393742DNF162
45th2987charlotte caldecottRutland SC47413843DNF169
46th1807Isla McKeownGresford SC3838DNFRETDNF172
47th1921Archie DenleyBolton SC43UFDDNFDNSDNF187

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