Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2022 at Draycote Water Sailing Club

The Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships, the final round of the 2022 UK RS Tera national circuit, was held at Draycote Water Sailing Club on 15th and 16th October, with one of the biggest race fleets ever assembled for our season finale.

The wind on the first day was not for the faint hearted, with strong gusts and big shifts. Credit to all the 67 sailors who took to the water. Racing was tight in the larger rigged Pro fleet throughout the day. William Stratton-Brown from Frensham built a good lead on the first start but local sailor Imogen Green and Port Dinorwic’s Ben Greenhalgh chipped away throughout the race and slowly overhauled Will with Ben taking a close win, Imogen second and Will third. Imogen and Ben continued the same form throughout the day posting mostly top three results between them.

Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2022 at Draycote - photo © Steve Angell

In the Sport fleet’s first race Thomas Whitehead from Filey built a commanding lead and held it from start to finish. He continued to demonstrate a combination of control in the strong wind and good tactical decision making throughout the day to win all four races although he was chased hard by brother Daniel all day. Sunderland’s Matthew Boatman sailed well, taking second place in race two and third in race three to stay in touch with the leading pair at the end of the day. The chasing peloton were tightly packed and ready to benefit from the change in conditions forecast for the second day.

Tales of surviving the short, sharp squall and hailstorm in the final race of the day were exchanged after sailors came ashore following a long, tiring and very enjoyable day on the water.

Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2022 at Draycote - photo © Mike Casey

The wind on the second day was a real contrast to the first day. The fleet launched into a 10-knot breeze from a similar direction to the previous day. Being in the right place at the right time to stay in the pressure was key.

Ben Greenhalgh started the day as he finished the previous one with a win. The lead three were well spaced by the end of the first race with Tristan Harding (Frensham) taking second and Imogen Green in third. In the Sport fleet Matthew Boatman showed good form in the tricky conditions winning the race, Luke Priestley came second, and Thomas Whitehead was third.

Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2022 at Draycote - photo © Steve Angell

As the wind eased and swung left during the day conditions became more challenging. Tristan Harding took two race wins and another second to secure third spot overall, one point behind Imogen Green. Ben Greenhalgh recovered from a difficult start in the second race of the day, winning the last race and taking the Pro End of Seasons title comfortably.

In the Sport fleet Matthew Boatman revelled in the light conditions with two thirds and a second win of the day to move to third overall. With the top three only separated by 2 points, Thomas Whitehead had done enough with his 4 wins on day 1 to take the End of Seasons title in the Sport fleet from Daniel.

Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2022 at Draycote - photo © Steve Angell

Congratulations to End of Seasons Champions Ben and Thomas who showed great skill in a full range of conditions. At the prize giving, again supported by Class sponsor Rooster, both sailors kindly thanked the Race Officer Richard Pye, the club and all the volunteers who helped make the event happen.

Overall Results:

Sailors in the UK RS Tera Class will continue to work hard over the winter in their Regional Training Squads ready to meet again in 2023.

For all Tera related activity in the UK, check out the UK RS Tera Class Association website at www.rstera.org.uk