RS Aero European Championship at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy - Day 2
by RS Aero International Class Association 3 Aug 01:28 BST
1-5 August 2022
Day 2 of the 4th RS Aero European Championship provided an air of anticipation on arrival to the dinghy park with 22kns of breeze across Portland Harbour promising a lively 3 races for the four RS Aero fleets 5,6,7 & 9.
The challenges of the day were the physicality of the up-winds, which there then rewarded with the fun of weaving around waves on the down-winds. The bounce-back of the waves from the harbour breakwater to leeward provided a cauldron of excitement at the leeward gate and bottom reach as sailors focused on keeping their bow up as they bounced over the waves crests whilst planning at mach 10. The fog came in after the first race which provided an added variable - finding the marks! You could see the marks from about halfway up the leg - so it all came good if you kept faith and avoided going too hard into the corners!
Chloe George (GBR) took two more wins in the RS Aero 5s to take the lead. The chasing pack of Tom Ahlheid (GBR), Roscoe Martin (GBR), Andrew Frost (GBR) and Sam Blaker (GBR) are all tightly packed behind.
In the cool new RS Aero 6 fleet yellow jersey holder Chris Hatton (GBR) took two more wins to continue his streak. Ants Haavel (EST) made a move upwards with a 3,2,1 to draw equal 2nd overall with one of Devon's finest Luca Michell (GBR). Top Females are Abigail Larr (GBR), Beth Milledge (GBR) and Cathy Lunn (GBR).
The RS Aero 7s are all about Lithuania with their top RS Aero sailors Vejas Strelciunas (LTU) and Martis Pajarskas (LTU) topping the leader board. Just a few points back is Tim Hire (GBR).
The RS Aero 9's supreme athletes loved the fresh breeze, stretching their legs upwind and enjoying the exciting rides back down wind. Peter Barton (GBR) took the three wins, pushed hard all the way by Chris Larr (GBR) and Ben Charnley (GBR).
The day ended with the daily awards, the UK Class AGM and then a chilled dinner and beers at The Cove Inn overlooking Chesil Beach in the sunset. Day 3 looks set to be another glamour day on Weymouth Bay with 12-14kns from the southwest and sunshine.
Full results available here.