Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

TridentUK RS400 Northern Tour at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club

by Hamish Gledhill 15 May 2024 17:22 BST 11-12 May 2024
Dave Exley and Nigel Hall - TridentUK RS400 Northern Tour at Yorkshire Dales © Paul Hargreaves Photography

There is a chance, albeit very very slim, that some people decided to stay at home and watch Eurovision rather than come to Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club for the third leg of the TridentUK Northern Tour.

If this applies to anyone, you missed a treat. The forecast was for sunshine, which in itself is a bit of a novelty, but the light winds that were forecast developed into something far more interesting.

The fleet were briefed on Saturday morning in a gentle east/south easterly breeze and after smearing faces in anything that resembled sun screen, the fleet set out for the 11:00 start. After getting away cleanly, crews exercised their legs in the toe straps in what was feeling like a great day.

However, there were shifts, big wind shifts and no one was safe, and gains and losses could be big. Nevertheless, Ollie Groves and Esther Parkhurst (Beaver SC) were unfazed and led from start to finish. Behind, positions changed before Dave Exley and Nigel Hall (Leigh and Lowton SC) took control of second place, with fellow Leigh and Lowton SC sailors Louise McKeand and Sean Ratcliffe finishing third.

The fleet were quickly away for the second race, with pre-conceptions of favoured ways up the beat right out of people's minds. Ollie and Esther took the lead again which they maintained until the finish with Hamish Gledhill and Ross Southwell (West Riding SC) and Keith and Hannah Escritt (Yorkshire Dales SC) joining the battle with Dave and Nige for the placings. Dave and Nige secured second place ahead of Hamish and Ross.

After a trip ashore for lunch, the fleet were back on the water for races 4 and 5.

Whilst it appeared the wind had picked up a notch or two, the shifty conditions were now complimented by holes that increased the blood pressure for all involved. It's believed that perspiration was seen on Ollie and Esther's foreheads as they coped with the stress of the shift and holes, though that may just be a rumour as they were masters of the conditions, wining both races comfortably.

Behind them Dave/Nige and Hamish/Ross exchanged blows with a second and third each, but that was after battling it out with Louise/Sean, Keith/Hannah and Ben and Zac Williamson (Ripon SC).

Ashore the competitors soon forgot the shifts and holes and recalled some of the best sailing this season in terms of sun and breeze. After a few beers and a great takeaway from Rozis Curry House in Grassington, bed was calling. Unfortunately, there wasn't a repeat of the Northern Lights, which those that were there on Friday evening recalled as being spectacular. There was not one mention of Eurovision!

Sunday morning was a bit cooler with a fresher breeze blowing straight down the lake from the east. After a general recall the fleet got away at the second attempt and Ollie and Esther resumed their position at the front of the fleet.

After hopes that the wind would continue to build, at the end of the first lap the wind fans turned off with the fleet closing up. For a short moment the anemometer showed 'nil point' (last attempt to show homage to Eurovision- promise). After a shuffle of positions Ollie and Esther, managed to hold on to their customary position at the front of the fleet ahead of Hamish/Ross and Dave/Nige. The wind built again but shifted resulting in a one side course reducing overtaking opportunities.

The Principal Race Officer made the call to finish that race rather than letting the procession continue with no changes to the first three places.

After moving the racecourse to the middle of the lake, the wind was building nicely with the most consistent winds of the weekend, leaving the last two races to be sailed in sunshine and a decent F3/F4, possibly more.

After the fleet got away cleanly it was Dave and Nige at the front of the fleet, pursued by Keith/Hannah, Hamish/Ross and Louise/Sean. Where were Ollie and Esther? They were doing turns after a start line infringement, but after a few laps they were through the fleet and snapping on the heels of Dave and Nigel, who held on to take the lead. Keith and Hannah took third place.

The final race saw Ollie and Esther back at the front, being pursued by Hamish/Ross and Dave/Nige. The steady winds made for a great sail, but passing opportunities were reduced with the first three finishing in that order.

Ollie and Esther were convincing overall winners, ahead of Dave and Nige, with Hamish and Ross in third. A special mention must go to Junior Sailors Spirit Alderson and Finlay Cochrane from Yorkshire Dales SC who competed all 7 races in their first sail in an RS400.

At the prize-giving, there was a draw for Trident UK Vouchers after which Ollie Groves thanked Yorkshire Dales SC for a great event.

TridentUK Vouchers were presented to:

£20 John Simms and Matt Butler (YDSC)
£15 Erica and Ian Caswell (YDSC)
£10 Spirit Alderson and Finlay Cochrane (YDS)

More photos by Paul Hargreaves at www.flickr.com/photos/199487595@N02/albums/72177720316920881

Next stop, the TridentUK Northern Champs at Tynemouth, 1/2 June, also part of the Rooster National Tour - online entry open now

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7Pts
1st1526Ollie GrovesEsther ParkhurstBeaver SC‑11111‑215
2nd1430Dave ExleyNige HallLeigh & Lowton SC22‑32‑31310
3rd1511Hamish GledhillRoss SouthwellWest Riding SC‑53232‑4212
4th8Keith EscrittHannah / AliceYorkshire Dales SC‑44‑9443419
5th1191Louise McKeandSean RatcliffeLeigh & Lowton SC3‑54‑555522
6th1427Carl WhiteheadBen WhiteheadYorkshire Dales SC6‑9577‑9631
7th1518Ben WilliamsonZach WilliamsonRipon SC7‑86‑866732
8th1131Erica CaswellIan CaswellYorkshire Dales SC‑878‑987838
9th1345Spirit AldersonFinlay CochraneYorkshire Dales SC & Derwent Res96‑1069‑11939
10th1133Lester MulliganMichael HargravesYorkshire Dales SC‑10‑107101081045
11th532John SimmsMatt ButlerYorkshire Dales SC‑11‑11111111101154
12th868Steve RickwoodDavid CrabbeYorkshire Dales SC(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNC121269

Related Articles

RS400s at Tynemouth
Scottish Tour and Northern Tour The forecast and the locals promised wall-to-wall sunshine and a pristine Force 3-4 for Saturday, with a touch more on Sunday. Little did the fleet know quite what weather they would actually get... Posted on 27 Jun
RS400 Southern Championship at Warsash
The principal race officer's briefing brought mixed reactions For anyone in the 27 boat fleet who had looked at the weather forecast ahead of the RS400 Summer Championship hosted by Warsash Sailing Club, the principal race officer's briefing brought mixed reactions. Posted on 23 Jun
RS400 Trident UK Northern Tour at Carsington
A delightful report in the form of a poem! The first day brought an inconstant breeze— It whispered, vanished, teased the seas. Shifty winds played cat and mouse, each helm alert from stern to house. Posted on 12 Jun
RS400 Eurocup early bird entry closes soon
Enter before 20th June 5pm to save The Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, in association with Mercedes-Benz Belfast, is reminding all RS400 sailors that early bird entry for the RS400 Eurocup and UK & Irish National Championships closes in just ten days! Posted on 10 Jun
RS Sailing Store partners with RS Nationals
Official chandlery partner for the noughty and RS Vareo class Nationals 2025 The RS Class Association is thrilled to announce that RS Sailing Store will be the official chandlery partner for the noughty and RS Vareo class National Championships 2025. Posted on 5 Jun
Sailing Chandlery RS400 Southern Tour at Parkstone
10-20 knot South Westerly breezes and sunshine greeted the sailors A super forecast of a 10-20 knot South Westerly breezes and sunshine greeted the sailors for the combined RS400 Southern Tour sponsored by Sailing Chandlery and the South West Ugly Tour RS200 Open Meeting. Posted on 4 Jun
RS400s at Harken RS Sprints Regatta
Starting with very light shifty winds and a lot of eager racers The 2025 Rutland Harken RS Sprints kicked off with very light shifty winds and a lot of eager racers. All the races were very competitive with not much distance between the boats. Posted on 29 May
Poole Week Revitalised For 2025
New race teams and new courses for the summer's big event How do you make a great sailing week even better, without losing the elements that have always made it a great sailing week? Posted on 24 May
RS Northern Championships at Strangford Lough
Tight racing across the RS Aero, RS200 and RS400 classes The RS Northern Championships came to Strangford Lough Yacht Club in County Down, producing some tight racing across the RS Aero, RS200 and RS400 classes. Posted on 19 May
15% Off New Sails with Early Bird Entry
For RS sailors who going to any UK National Championships RS Sailing Store is proud to support the UK RS Class Associations and their events in 2025. RS Sailors gearing up for their 2025 UK season can take advantage of an exclusive offer to help them hit the start line with fresh sails. Posted on 17 May