RS Aero UK Inland Championships at Draycote Water Sailing Club

RS Aero UK Inlands at Draycote Water © Nigel Dexter

RS Aero UK Inlands at Draycote Water © Nigel Dexter

50 RS Aeros enjoyed a sunny but chilly weekend at Draycote to race their UK Inland Championships. A medium breeze blowing across the lake provided opportunities for everyone with the large and plentiful gusts and shifts being much more important than small differences in boat speed.

In the RS Aero 5s several key contenders made their series hard from the start by scoring a UFD in Race 1. Sammy Isaacs- Johnson (Maidenhead) capitalised on this and went on to win 3 races and take the series in a close finish by just 1 point from Jonathan Bailey (Hunts), also with 3 firsts and 1st Youth. Zak Mitchell (Paignton) took 3rd overall, just ahead of Sam Blaker (Thorpe Bay) in 4th.

Joe Scurrah (Carsington) won the RS Aero 7s winning three races in a hard-fought contest in the 28 boat fleet. 2nd overall was Craig Williamson (Staunton Harold) with Andrew Frost (Sutton Bingham) in 3rd and Chris Hatton (Bowmoor) in 4th. Top youth was Mark Ripley (Paignton) in 6th.

The RS Aero 9s enjoyed the medium breezes and flat water, with just enough wind in the gusts to get planning downwind. UK National Champion Ben Flower (Paington) took the series comfortably with four 1sts from Peter Barton (Lymington) in 2nd and Chris Larr (Draycote) in 3rd.

Class Juror David Battye was on the water all weekend helping keep our racing fair and fun whilst also helping educate the UK fleet as to the limits of RRS42. Race Officer Matt Rowley did an excellent job of trying to align the course with the flicking breeze. Many thanks to Draycote Water SC for being excellent hosts again and to Rooster for assisting with the wonderful array of prizes.

RS Aero UK Inlands at Draycote Water - photo © Nigel Dexter

Next up for the UK RS Aeros is the Bowmoor Bubble and 2023 UK Youth Championships at Burghfield late November. For those looking to keep their form up and enjoy some tight racing through the winter there is the SailJuice Winter Series.

RS Aero UK Events List.

Overall Results: