RS400 Nationals Warmup at East Lothian Yacht Club Regatta

RS400s at the East Lothian Regatta © Mike Willis

A small and select grouping of RS400s attended the annual East Lothian Yacht Club regatta on the weekend of 4/5 June to get some pre-match practice in at the venue for this year's Noble Marine Rooster National Championships.

They were treated to two days of champagne sailing conditions on "Scotland's Riviera" coastline, fantastic hospitality by the ELYC club members on the shore and in the clubhouse, and tight racing on six efficient and perfectly laid windward/leeward courses set by Robbie Lawson the PRO for the event (also getting in some pre-Nationals practice).

It was smiles all round after the weekend so if you haven't entered the Nationals, or were wavering, rest assured it will be an awesome week if it's anything like this weekend!

RS400s at the East Lothian Regatta - photo © Mike Willis

The forecast was for two days of gentle easterlies, which on the Saturday was boosted by wall to wall sunshine (yes this was in Scotland!) and the corresponding sea breeze which gave rise to a nice chop, planing conditions with smiles galore and sore legs to match on the sail in.

The racing couldn't possibly have been any tighter with all boats very evenly matched on boat speed and boat craft, meaning it was all down to tactics and the occasional stroke of luck here and there. Everyone had their moment in the limelight....and similarly all boats had moments scratching their heads thinking they hadn't done much wrong, but had been pipped at marks or the finish line by a only a boat length or two.

Despite the closeness, new/old boys in the fleet Jamie and Keith seemed to have the edge upwind on the Saturday and won all three races with impressive hiking skills and nailing of the tough lay lines in the tidal conditions being the difference, with John and Andy showing fast downhill speed (perhaps the new mast since the last event making the difference?) and pipping Neil and Hannah at the finish more than once.

Keith may have made his only tactical mistake of the day by heading home for the evening leaving Jamie at the hands of the Musto Skiff fleet for an evening in North Berwick's bars.....

RS400s at the East Lothian Regatta - photo © Mike Willis

Day two dawned with more cloud and an earlier start time meant the wind stayed light. Neil and Hannah managed to sneak ahead of Jon and Amanda to win the first race and then were pipped by John and Andy on the line (again!) in the second. John and Andy consolidated their downwind speed advantage to take the final race of the day bringing them equal on total points with Jamie and Keith, who won the event on countback.

After the racing all four boats agreed it had been an absolutely perfect training weekend. Tight racing, spot on race management and great preparation for the forthcoming nationals. Well done and thanks again to all at ELYC for a fantastic weekend... please just hit the repeat button for the Nationals on 8-12 August !

Next up for the Scottish RS400 Stewart Brewing Circuit Event is Royal Tay 18/19th June as the Nationals preparation programmes continue.

RS400s at the East Lothian Regatta - photo © Mike Willis

Overall Results:

RS400s at the East Lothian Regatta - photo © Mike Willis