Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships 2024 at Draycote Water Sailing Club

Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships at Draycote Water © Ollie Briggs

Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships at Draycote Water © Ollie Briggs

The End Of Season Championships is the grand finale of the 2024 UK RS Tera racing calendar. The 2024 edition was hosted by Draycote Water Sailing Club over the weekend of 26/27th October. Saturday was a beautiful day, but unfortunately not for sailing.

The fleet of 70+ boats launched after lunch in the hope that the zephyrs would build enough for racing. Both fleets started a race in around 3 knots and inched their way slowly towards the windward mark. However, the Race Officer made the popular decision to abandon the racing for the day and the sailors pumped their way back to the shore. The 11 strong Train and Race Regatta fleet enjoyed a great session judging by the excitement on the water and the smiles when they came ashore.

When sailors arrived at the club on Sunday morning after an extra hour in bed, conditions looked more promising than they did on Saturday, with at least 2-3 knots observed through the steam of the morning cup of tea and bacon sandwich. With more breeze than forecast the fleet left the beach on time and headed to the starting area. Both fleets got away first time with the pin being favoured for bias and pressure. In the Pro fleet Aiden Hadaway (Warsash SC/Netley SC) stretched away and built a big lead by the windward mark. He was chased by Cass Day (Gurnard SC) who closed the gap completely by the last leeward mark. Aiden held on for the win, Cass in second and Jasper Jenkinson (Gurnard SC) third. In the Sport fleet Rafe Bradley (Gurnard SC) led the fleet round the course. The breeze died away as the sailors approached the last run and the Race Officer had to abandon and wait for the wind to build again.

As predicted, the wind started building again at midday and the fleet were off, again under black flag. Linking up the areas of pressure and taking the shifts without sailing into a hole was a tricky balance. Cass led the Pro fleet from start to finish with Edward Knowles (Royal Lymington YC) in second and Molly Wilson (Filey SC) third. In the Sport fleet Rafe led again, this time to the finish. Second and third were always close but neither could catch the leader with Alexis Skinner (Frensham Pond SC) coming in second and Joseph Hulse (Felpham SC) in third.

There were still big gains still to be made upwind if you got to the correct side. A hole persisted in the middle of the course all day making a change of sides very difficult to pull off. Finding the pressure as well as staying in a wind lane downwind were key factors needed to get a good result. By the third race for the Pros (second for the Sport) there was just enough wind for everyone. Cass took the opportunity to take another win in the Pro fleet. Olivia MacAlister (Royal Lymington YC) fought her way into second and Harry Bennell (Port Dinorwic SC) came third. In the Sport fleet Lily Chisnell (Royal Lymington YC) led all the way round followed by Aggie Priestley (Ullswater YC) and Thomas Hill (Royal Lymington YC).

Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships at Draycote Water - photo © Dylan Collingbourne

For the fourth race the pin was again favoured. The shifty breeze meant getting a good start was challenging but a clean start and upwind options were critical to a good result. The race was again won by Cass who had been making good strategic choices all day. Jude Beatty (Rutland SC) was very close to Cass round the first windward mark and across the reach. Jude took second with another third place for Jasper. In the sport fleet it was a close race throughout with all the lead contenders already carrying reasonable discards, Aggie, Rafe and Thomas finished in that order. The next race would bring critical in deciding the championship for the Sports.

In the final Pro race there were rumours circulating around the spectators that some sailors were seen hiking! The RO bravely reverted to the Blue Peter for both starts. 4 were caught over the line in the Pro fleet and four returned. Unfortunately not the same four that were OCS! The left side of the beat was paying and the ever-consistent Cass took yet another win. Second and third were swapped from the previous race which left a countback tie with 16 points between Jude and Jasper with Jasper taking second based on his position in the last race. Cass won the event, counting a very impressive 4 firsts. In the Sport fleet Rafe took another win to make it a Gurnard clean sweep for the event. Harry Wilson (Filey SC) was second and Hannah Yates (Gurnard SC) third in the final race so it was Aggie and Thomas who completed the podium places overall. Congratulations to our new End of Season Champions, Cass Day in the Pro and Rafe Bradley in the Sport, both from Gurnard Sailing Club.

Regatta Fleet during the Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships at Draycote Water - photo © Marcus Collingbourne

The 11 young Train and Race Regatta fleet sailors probably had the best weekend, with UKRSTCA coaches Dylan Collingbourne and Jack Bew putting our less experienced sailors through their paces both days on the water.

Huge thanks to Draycote Water Sailing Club for hosting another great event. The race team were able to get 5 races in for the Pro fleet and 4 for the Sports on Sunday. It's not often that an event race team is made up of ex-Tera parents including parents of two ex-World Champions!

Huge thanks to our Class sponsor Rooster for again supplying a generous prize table as they have done for all our National events, we really can't thank you enough - you guys rock!

Podium Winners in the Rooster RS Tera End of Season Championships at Draycote Water - photo © Steve Angell

UKRSTCA Class Development Manager Marcus Collingbourne commented "It is always a slightly sad time at this event as we say goodbye to sailors and families moving on from the fleet, some who have been involved in our Class for 5-8 years. Thanks for all the good times and it has been a privilege to be involved in the sailors development, and we look forward with interest to follow their progression as they move into their new fleets."

Next up for the UK RS Tera fleet is a busy winter's training programme as we build up to next season's event programme.

For all RS Tera related activity in the UK, check out the UK RS Tera Class Association website at www.rstera.org.uk

So, this is your RS Tera Class reporter signing off for the last time and handing over to the next generation of event reporters.

Overall Results: