RS Aero UK Southern Championship at Felpham Sailing Club

RS Aero UK Southern Championship at Felpham © Jonathan Hind

The annual RS Aero UK Southern Championship was hosted by Felpham Sailing Club this year. The 39 entries were treated to an exciting weekend at the coast with the breeze peaking at over 20kts each day, awesome waves and lovely sunshine.

The cross shore direction allowed the fleet to launch without drama. As is usual at beach clubs with a shore break the RS Aeros were easily lifted in with three people carrying the gunwales in each corner.

A two lap outer loop windward-leeward course was set with the graft to the top mark more than rewarded by a screaming reach across the wave tops and a thrilling runs catching some great waves downwind.

Ben Flower (Paignton) joined the RS Aero 7s for the weekend and showed us all what hiking should look like! He took the win with good leads and a string of firsts.

Peter Barton (Lymington), Jack Miller (Felpham) and Dom Hall (Hayling) had closer tussles with Jack winning Race 5 but Peter ultimately taking second overall. Dom won Race 6 to take fourth overall.

First Master was Spike Daniels (Hayling) in fifth and First Youth was Sam Brackeley (Felpham) in tenth.

The RS Aero 5s had a close family battle with Tom Ahlheid's (Frensham Pond) 1,1,2,1,2,1 narrowly beating brother Tristan Ahlheid's (Frensham Pond) 2,2,1,2,1,2 in some very tightly fought races, pushing their balance to the limit as they slalomed through the waves downwind.

Abby Hire (Lymington) took a hard earned third overall with Gareth Griffiths (Island Barn) First Master in fourth.

On Saturday night the fleet enjoyed a sociable curry in the clubhouse with local band Michael Noyce smashing out some popular favourites.

Many thanks to all the volunteers at Felpham Sailing Club for all their effort putting on such an excellent weekend and looking after us so well. Thanks to Rooster for their support with the excellent array of prizes.

Next up for the RS Aeros we enter championship season with the fourth RS Aero World Championship at the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, USA, at the end of the month and the consecutive RS Aero Youth Worlds and RS Aero Europeans a month later at Weymouth, UK.

Full details of RS Aero worldwide events can be found at www.rsaerosailing.org

RS Aero UK Southern Championship at Felpham - photo © Jonathan Hind

7 Rig Results:

5 Rig Results: