4000 National Championship at Rock Sailing & Waterski Club

4000 Nationals at Rock - the top three © Oliver Di Bartolo

4000 Nationals at Rock - Capsize Trophy © Oliver Di Bartolo

Rock Sailing & Waterski Club was pleased to welcome back the 4000 fleet for their National Championship, joined by the ISO and D-one fleets, and generously supported by the local St Enodoc Hotel.

Racing kicked off on the Friday, with a wind varying between 6 and 10 knots and shifting direction in a manner that challenged both the sailors and the race committee - who did an admirable job responding and getting three races completed. Steve Tylecote and Alex Litt started as they meant to go on taking first in all three, demonstrating both great boat speed and tactical thinking that always had them on the right side of the shifts. Matt Reynolds and Oliver Di Bartolo, last year's champions, finished the day in second on the same points as Neil Heffernan and Jo Morrison in third.

Friday evening off the water at the St Enodoc Hotel was a far more civilized event than the normal 4000 social and huge credit to the hotel team for delivering excellent food to almost 40 hungry diners.

Saturday dawned with lighter winds, but breaking waves over Doom Bar initially prevented the fleet from safely leaving the estuary. Two hours ebb of the tide later and some of Cornwall's finest pasties consumed, the waves had reduced and racing was on in the challenging combination of light winds and large swell. A combination which had a few people looking rather green and possibly regretting the pasties.

New pairing of Richard de Fleury and Ethan Deeley turned on the rockets, making some smart moves to greater pressure near the cliffs under Stepper Point and notching up a 1st, 4th and 2nd in the day's racing - taking them up to third overall.

Saturday's social in the club was perhaps a more typical 4000 affair but no less enjoyable and with plenty of Doom Bar of a different type. That said, with an eye on an early start and the bigger winds forecast for Sunday, most of the crews were admirably restrained.

Sunday brought much more wind (and rain), challenging teams in a different way to the previous two days' sailing. Tim & Harry Litt shone in the stronger winds, recording 2nd in both races and presenting an ever-present challenge to Steve & Alex, who at one stage were almost undone by a lobster pot. That said, crustaceans aside, they continued their fine track record.

John Reynolds & Fran Howell decided to relive their experience of 17 years ago at Rock, in the heated start of the first race of the day, although at least this time they left the committee boat's windows intact and earning themselves the capsize trophy. Both Matt & Ollie and Neil & Jo gave away top three race positions binning a gybe in challenging conditions; whilst Alex Cramp and Simon Knatchbull got rather too close to the windward mark, and their attempt to take it with them downhill didn't end well.

Overall, anyone who has sailed from Rock will know it is an iconic venue, with big tides and beautiful geography and certainly it didn't disappoint. Congratulations to new National Champions Steve and Alex and recognition to all who competed, including Liam & Anya sailing the class loan boat. Thanks again to RWSC and Mark Domaille for organizing a brilliant event.

The 4000 fleet will be out again in Plymouth joining in with the Final Fling at RWYC on the 15th & 16th October, get in touch with the class if you want to join in or borrow our loan boat.

Overall Results: