RS100s at the Harken RS Sprints, Rutland Sailing Club

The usual RS100 report writers were squabbling over who would write the best report, so in the interests of fleet harmony, rather than journalistic endeavour, I am now the author. I would like to add that due to a selective memory, some of the below may not be entirely accurate.

Saturday's forecast was not very promising: 5 to 9 knots from the SW. After a casual time rigging and chatting there was the usual rush to get on the water. I should have paid more attention to my rigging, rather listening to Clive Eplett's stories of Segwaying around Uluru and RS100 sailing in Australia, because on launching I found the mainsheet wrapped round the boom and the spinnaker sheet under the toestraps. After fixing these schoolboy errors and relaunching and planing to the start, in around 11 knots, I now felt underdressed. Anyway the fleet were away on time and had six, 20 to 25 minute, races back to back in 3.5 hours.

Highlights and Lowlights in the style of David Smart

Race 1:
Mark Harrison led at the first mark in front of Clive Eplett, but was passed by both Clive and Matt Johnson. Matt then made the "schoolboy" error, appropriate considering his age, of missing out the final mark, thus converting his second to a fifth, and promoting Mark, Smartie (David Smart), and Darrell Sleep, in that order behind Clive.

Race 2:
As I finished 4th all I can remember is the finishing order as in the results.

Race 3:
Again a selective memory will stop too much embarrassment, but I do remember Matt charging off to lead followed Smartie picking up a lucky shift to finish second. I managed to gift third to Clive on the last run.

RS100s during the Harken RS Sprints at Rutland - photo © Malcolm McGregor

Race 4:
Clive and Matt finished 1st and 2nd, but the real fun was happening behind with lots of place changing with the next four boats, led by Martin Wilson and Mostyn (bionic hip) Evans finishing all overlapped in a bundle.

Race 5:
The highlight was on the last run with Mark setting up a nice overtake on Smartie, by trapping him against the shore, and so taking second. As an aside Matt won with Clive in 4th, followed by Tom Fletcher.

Race 6:
All I can remember is finishing in 4th to be faced with a beat that seemed far too long to get home. In front of me the order was Clive, David and Matt, leaving Clive three points ahead of Matt. Smartie was four points behind in third. Some distance behind was Mark in 4th.

During a get-together at the Wheatsheaf we all received unsolicited advice from Clive on how to improve our results.

Sunday's forecast was for very little wind, and Mostyn decided to quit and start his long journey home. In fact the fleet sailed to the West of the club house to the start in an 8 knot South-Westerly breeze and got away on time.

Race 7:
After taking on board the above advice Mark, leading at the first mark, gave Clive every opportunity to overtake, but as gentlemen both took it in turns to lead. Clive, feeling generous, allowed Mark to take his first win. After taking an unsuccessful flier, Smartie finished 5th behind Matt and Martin.

RS100s during the Harken RS Sprints at Rutland - photo © Malcolm McGregor

In the next race Clive decided he had had enough of being a gent, so won yet another race, leaving the rest trailing in his wake.

Race 9:
With the wind moving to the right the committee boat was the favoured end. This led to some ungentlemanly behaviour with Mark persuading Smartie not to barge in at the boat end. With Mark leading at the windward mark and the wind moving right more the tactical options for the rest were reduced. Clive, incensed that he was again looking at Mark's transom, capsized and looked for this apparent lack of speed. This resulted in him finishing 4th.

RS100s during the Harken RS Sprints at Rutland - photo © RS Class Association

Race 11:
The start was delayed while the course was moved. A race followed and all I can recall is the result, Matt finishing ahead of Clive.

12th and final race:
Matt led all the way round, with Clive overtaking Tom Fletcher to finish in second, and the rest someway behind.

So after a frenetic couple of days' racing, in more wind than expected, the ever-consistent Clive won from Matt, with Mark in third, winning the rights to write this, from Smartie, who I now suspect of sandbagging the last couple of races.

Thanks to Rutland SC for running another successful event, to Harken for sponsoring the event, to Rooster for sponsoring our National Tour, and to RS Class Association secretary Clare for attempting to keep all the fleets in order.

Overall Results: