Rope4Boats RS200 Inland Championships and Rooster National Tour at Grafham Water Sailing Club

Rope4Boats RS200 Inland Championships and Rooster National Tour at Grafham © Paul Sanwell / OPP

40 keen RS200 sailors were greeted by a warm welcome from Grafham SC as they arrived at the Rope4Boats 2022 Inland championships and Rooster National Tour event. A blustery forecast proved accurate for what was to be a testing but manageable first day.

Race 1: Straight out of the blocks were David Jessop and Sophie Mear who led for the first lap. However, a capsize on the second run allowed Ben Whaley and Lorna Glen to slip past to take the bullet, followed closely by Steve and Sarah Cockerill whilst Paris Thomas and Marta Ribera took third.

By now the wind had started to ease slightly. However, the gusts were still as punchy as ever: those with their head out of the boat could jump on the gusts and rocket down the course, sailing faster and lower than the others, making huge gains on the fleet! This made for tense racing; you were never safe until you crossed the finish line!

Race 2: Ben and Lorna made the most of the available gusts and shifts. David and Sophie kept their masts pointing the right way up in second, followed by Tom and Tristan Ahlheid.

Race 3: Clouds loomed over the previously sunny reservoir for the final race of the day, littering the racecourse with more random gusts and up to 20 degree shifts! It was snakes and ladders both upwind and downwind, with David and Sophie edging out Tom and Tristan, whilst Chris and Nicki Webber took third.

Rope4Boats RS200 Inland Championships and Rooster National Tour at Grafham - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Despite the pessimistic forecasts, a moderate north-westerly 7-13 kt breeze showed up on Day 2 - a welcome break to the sailors' stiff, tired legs from the hard hiking of Day 1.

Race 4: A large right-hand shift during the start sequence caused a few too many boats to jump the gun, causing a general recall. This meant the RO went straight to the black flag! Luckily, the fleet got under way cleanly after that. The larger shifts and softer gusts than day 1 once again provided intense racing! Chris and Nicki Webber took the bullet, with Ben and Lorna in second. Matt Venables and Bethan Matthew took third.

Race 5: Matt and Bethan put themselves on the right side of the shifts and pressure to take the win, Chris and Nicki took second. Jamie Harris and Ellen Main found some speed to finish third.

Race 6: The final race of the weekend proved tricky as ever. A large left shift was followed by a large right shift, providing opportunities for boats on either side to work their way to the front. Chris and Nicki showed their prowess in the fluky wind to take another win! Tom and Tristan followed after a tight battle with Ben and Lorna down the last run, who finished third.

Overall, it was the consistent Lorna and Ben who were crowned 2022 Inland champions. Chris and Nicki's impressive charge on day 2 pushed them into second overall. Rounding out the podium were Tristan and Tom. Prize vouchers were generously provided by Rope4Boats - fresh rigging is always appreciated by boat and sailor!

Huge thanks to all the organisers and our sponsors Rope4Boats and Rooster who made the event so fantastic! Special mention goes to the RO Chris Clarke and those who cleared the mud off the slipway before the event due to the low water level, I'm sure that was a tough job (those hot summers have their consequences)!

Thanks to everyone for coming, see you all at the Harken End of Seasons - entry is open at www.rs200sailing.org/championships/index.asp?eid=2256

Photo Gallery: 8573832.tifmember.com/p/82557bnk/rs200-400-inlands-1st-2nd-october

Rope4Boats RS200 (and RS800) Inland Championships and Rooster National Tour at Grafham - photo © RS Class Association

Overall Results:

Rooster Endeavour Prize: Malcolm & Graydon McLeod
Rooster Mid Fleet Heroes Prize: Fresh Abendstern & Matt Taylor

Rope4Boats RS200 Inland Championships and Rooster National Tour at Grafham - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP