RS Vareos in the Harken RS End of Seasons Regatta at Rutland Sailing Club

RS Vareo class podium in the Harken RS End of Seasons Regatta at Rutland © George Smith

The Harken RS End of Seasons Regatta at Rutland Sailing Club on 5-6 November was the final event of the 2022 RS Vareo Rooster National Tour. Four RS Vareos were entered but Alan Bassett, suffering from the after effects of his Covid jab, sadly pulled out at the last minute.

The RS Vareos were first start on the outer trapezoid course, basically a windward leeward course but with a reach after the first mark and again to the finish.

Thankfully the early forecasts for Saturday eased and we left the beach in a decent breeze expecting pressure to build during the afternoon. The starts were a quick 3,2,1, go and we were followed by the RS200s four minutes later and then the RS300s and RS600s. With the RS400s, RS500s and RS800s on an adjacent but overlapped course there was plenty of traffic on the water.

The RS Vareos got away to a good, close start with Luke Fisher getting to the first mark in the lead followed by Chris Abbott then Paul North. A good downwind leg with kites up saw Luke pull out a decent lead with Paul and Chris close at the mark. On the upwind leg Paul picked the wrong black mark and realising his mistake saw that Chris was now 100 yards ahead and uncatchable. At the finish Luke, Chris, Paul.

The wind was up a notch for race two. Again a good start from all three saw a close beat to begin with, but Luke, always able to keep the boat flat in almost any conditions pulled out an early lead from Paul and Chris struggling through the rising chop. Chris was able to pull away from Paul upwind but sailing wider and faster downwind Paul was able to get back close until a capsize on lap two dropped him too far back and a second one on lap three sealed the deal. At the finish Luke, Chris, Paul.

Race three saw Paul sail the correct course, and stay upright, to give Chris a good race with them trading 2nd and 3rd several times before a great final upwind leg from Chris leg Paul too much to do. With an outside chance of a pipping Chris to the line, Paul left the kite up for the final reach but a big gust took him downwind and that was that. At the finish Luke, Chris, Paul (again).

It was a long sail back from the far end of Rutland Water against a breeze now steadily in the upper teens with gusts well in the 20s. Once back a beer tasted very good, washed down with the inevitable (and gratefully appreciated) delicious cake from my wife Moira. The new catering outfit at RSC put on a great meal which was well attended by the regatta competitors and it was soon time for an early night.

Sunday's forecast was for lighter winds but in the end they didn't arrive until too late to clear the fog that had settled over the lake. With boats packed the prize-giving for the event and the various tours were rattled through by an impressively organised Clare Sargent in record time.

Thanks to all at Rutland SC for putting on such a well organised event. Thank you to Harken for generously sponsoring the event and thank you to Rooster for sponsoring the RS Vareo Rooster National Tour 2022.

See you in Spring for the season opening RS Sprints 22-23 April 2023.

Overall Results: