RS100 Rooster National Tour 2023 - Congratulations to Clive Eplett

by David Smart 8 Dec 2023 18:33 GMT

There were 6 events (3 to count) used to determine the Rooster National Tour winner for 2023:

1) The Sprints at Rutland. Always a great way to kick off the season with Clive Eplett leading the fleet home from a hard chasing Matt Johnson and Mark Harrison third.

2) POSH. A long-time fixture on the RS100 calendar, with Matt Johnson showing that the Sprints were just a warm up for him. Ian Gregory was in hot pursuit with Mark Harrison showing his normal consistency to take third. [I should withdraw that statement. Mark is never consistent!]

3) Weir Wood. Clive Eplett won this by the thinnest of margins, taking it on countback from Mark Harrison [Maybe proving that he can be consistent], with local boy Matt Johnson taking the final podium spot.

4) Hayling Island RS Summer Regatta. Netley started to appear, with Nils Joliffe showing great form to take the regatta convincingly with the ever-present Clive Eplett second while Andy Jones proved that the Chew Valley boats could also perform well at times.

5) RS100 Nationals at Royal Torbay. This was a breezy affair, favouring those with either greater ballast, greater fitness, or just greater ability. Nigel Wakefield (Netley) won this one, with Huw Powell (sometimes Netley) loving the conditions in second and James Ross (Netley) third. Yes, it was a bit of a Netley show of strength.

6) RS100 Inlands at Chew Valley Lake. This was a lighter wind affair, but was again won by Nigel Wakefield [winning events in heavy and light wind implies he may be the one with greater ability]. Very close behind was Ian Gregory with Clive Eplett showing great form throughout the season to come third.

The overall results were:

6th: David Smart (Chew Valley Lake SC) - Always the bridesmaid being just off the podium at numerous events. Maybe next year?

5th: Mark Harrison (Gurnard SC) - Some good early season results propelled him along, but his love of arriving at the windward mark on port may need some rethinking for next year?

4th: Ian Gregory (Frensham Pond SC) - Lightening fast when it's light, when it can be maddening to follow him - he will be fully hiking while you're still perching in the boat.

3rd: Matt Johnson (Weir Wood SC) - The winter training clearly paid off for Matt with great early season results.

2nd: Nigel Wakefield (Netley SC) - Winning the Nationals and the Inlands was highly impressive, but he just missed out on the National Tour to show the rest that there is hope.

1st: Clive Eplett (Frensham Pond SC) - The deserved RS100 Rooster National Tour Champion with an impressively consistent set of results in varying conditions. However, it might be because the rest of the fleet see that yellow spinnaker of his being hoisted and gybe off to avoid it!

We also presented a 'Top Supporter' prize this year. That went to the ever-present Frank Jones (Chew Valley Lake SC), dad to Andy and Steve Jones. While protocol will not let me divulge his age, he should be in a Great Grand Masterly Legends category. He attended nearly every event, although some wonder if he should be on the water showing his sons how it's done. He certainly tells them which way they should have gone up the beat!

Finally the Season should be rounded off with an enormous thank you to our title sponsor Rooster Sailing. They supported all our events and we really appreciate the prizes and the continued sponsorship.

We are already looking forward to the first event of 2024, the RS Sprints at Rutland SC over the weekend of 20/21 April.

In the meantime, enjoy a Very Merry Christmas (not forgetting the letter to Santa for a few presents from Rooster) and a Verry Happy New Year.

Series Results: (boats attending at least 2 events)

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	Sprints	POSH	Weir Wood	Summers	Nationals	Inlands	Pts
1st	509	Clive Eplett	Frensham Pond Sailing Club	1		1	2	‑14	‑3	4
2nd	268	Nigel Wakefield	Netley Sailing Club				4	1	1	6
3rd	239	Matt Johnson	Weir Wood Sailing club	2	1	3	‑8	‑8		6
4th	259	Ian Gregory	Frensham Pond Sailing Club		2	4	‑13	‑13	2	8
5th	379	Mark Harrison	Gurnard Sailing Club	3	3	2	‑10	‑12	‑12	8
6th	523	David Smart	Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club	4	4		‑5	‑6	4	12
7th	508	Huw Powell	Red Wharf Bay / Netley Sailing Club		6			2	7	15
8th	268	Bart Brigden	Netley Sailing Club		5	5	‑9	5	‑16	15
9th	172	Andy Jones	Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club		7		3	‑9	6	16
10th	130	Steve Jones	Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club		‑8		6	7	8	21
11th	526	Mostyn Evans	Mounts Bay Sailing Club	8	11			16	‑17	35
12th	370	Nils Joliffe	Netley Sailing Club				1	4		44
13th	363	James Ross	Netley Sailing Club				7	3		49
14th	421	Jeremy Troughton	Netley Sailing Club				12	10		61
15th	366	Tom Hurst	Downs Sailing Club			9	14			62
16th	208	Darryl Sleep	Staunton Harold Sailing Club	7					18	64
17th	238	Gavin Thompson	Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club					17	13	69
18th	174	Daniel Webber	Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club					20	20	79