RS Elite Late Summer Plans

RS Elite National Championships © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

The RS Elite fleet enjoyed its largest ever and most competitive regatta, and biggest ever party, at the recent Brewin Dolphin RS Elite International Grand Prix (incorporating the UK National Championship).

The event, which was held in the second week of June 2022 at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes, was won after a nail-biting final race by Ossie Stewart and crew sailing More T Vicar, who were separated by a single point from second placed Russel Peters and crew in Riff Raff. After recovering from the International Grand Prix RS Elite sailors are now looking forward to lots more competition and socialising for the rest of the 2022 season.

For those whose enthusiasm has been boosted by the Cowes event there is still plenty of action to come. Chichester Harbour Race Week prides itself on being one of the UK's best attended open regattas and has a full social programme. Racing for RS Elites takes place over three days on 17th 18th and 19th of August. There will be two races per day on windward-leeward courses. The event is hosted by Hayling Island Sailing Club on behalf of the Chichester Harbour Federation. Notice of race and entry forms can be found on chichesterharbourraceweek.sailevent.net.

The RS Elite Eastern Area Championship will be hosted by the Royal Burnham Yacht Club at Burnham-on-Crouch on the 27th, 28th and 29th of August as part of Burnham Week. There will be two races per day in the River Crouch and associated waters. The Royal Burnham home fleet has been growing in recent years and five boats from Burnham took part in the International Grand Prix. The Eastern area championship will be an opportunity for visitors to experience sailing in a rather different environment with different challenges than most RS Elite sailors are accustomed to. Entry details can be found on the Burnham Week website.

The Irish National Championship will be held at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on Belfast Lough on 27th and 28th August. Irish sailors were strongly represented at the International Grand Prix with eight boats competing and a Royal North boat, Simon Brien and crew sailing Kin, taking fifth place overall. The Irish National Championship has always been a popular event with competitive racing and a good social scene. It will provide an opportunity for visitors from the mainland to sample the pleasures of racing in Ireland. More details will be available shortly.

In addition to the summer open events, the RS Elite continues to thrive in club racing with active fleets at Hayling Island, Burnham-on-Crouch and Cowes, and in Northern Ireland at Belfast Lough and Strangford Lough. Internationally, RS Elites are sailed in Norway and Antigua.

The RS Elite Association has a strong vision to build on the success of the International Grand Prix at both national level and local fleet level by helping expand existing fleets and encouraging new fleets. Newly elected RS Elite Association Chair Jo Hewitson is keen to build on the work of retiring Chairman Paul Fisk and is currently planning an ambitious programme of events for the future.