RS300 Rooster National Tour at Beaver Sailing Club
by Tom Moore 24 Jun 15:51 BST
21-22 June 2025
RS300 Rooster National Tour at Beaver Sailing Club © Sam Davy
Beaver SC greeted ten RS300 sailors with glorious sunshine, a moderate breeze and a comfortable midday start time for race one. As usual, Pete Mackin saw this as a challenge...
A wake-up call from his pup meant that he had to deal with a major epoodemic before hitting the road! He managed a new record, pulling up outside the club with exactly 3 minutes to the start gun. Pre-warned of his tardiness, the fleet went into action and 10 minutes later he was changed and on the water - just in time for the delayed start.
Race 1 got under way cleanly with Tom winning the committee boat end and getting in front at the windward mark to lead the race. The rest of the fleet climbed over each other like ferrets, fighting for every inch at each mark rounding. After a closely fought race, Rich took second and Luke secured third place.
In Race 2, both Rich and Tom got away with the fleet doggedly following. More close racing with every shift, mark rounding and tack resulting in place changes. In the end Rich's boatspeed took the win with Tom in second and Luke claiming another third place.
The fleet headed to shore for a home cooked spag bol' lunch during which the wind decided to take a siesta, returning two hours later. After more flapping than a flock of geese, the fleet managed to hoist sails and migrate back to the sailing area ready for races 3 and 4.
A course change for race 3 had the fleet short-tacking up the shoreline to take advantage of a wind bend. The 'P' course meant rounding clockwise and the resultant shouts of starboard, room, and more than a little profanity, were louder than a pair of fornicating foxes! Predictably, Rich's ducks were once again in a row to take his second bullet of the day. Sam's starting tactics had him grinning like a Cheshire cat all around the race course, to take second and he was closely followed by Luke with Matt and the rest of the fleet breathing down their necks.
Race 4 saw Rob lead the fleet around the first lap with the fleet hot on his transom. Sadly, it wasn't to last as the pack, slippery as eels, gradually wormed their way through. Rich took another win, followed by Luke and Neal.
The fleet retired to shore to BBQ and carb load in readiness for Sunday. There were a few bear-like snores heard from the car park, and the panda eyes the next day, a result of too little sleep and too much beer! Fortunately, a bacon / sausage roll, and the solid 20+ knot wind quickly blew the cobwebs away.
Race 5 got under way as the breeze gained strength. This time Rich managed to get clean away from the fleet leaving Pete and Luke to battle it out. Special mention goes to Rob who managed to pitchpole so aggressively that he landed in the next county, and Cheryl who hooting like an owl, flew down the second reach, scattering the boats working their way back upwind, like a herd of startled deer.
Race 6 got under way with the wind strength exceeding 25 knots. After a clean start, Luke led up the beat and screamed off down the run like a stabbed rat. Sadly, his lead was short lived when clammed up, binning it at gybe mark during a monster 35+ knot gust, before retiring with his tail between his legs. A series of nuclear gusts claimed more victims, however Pete found his form, comfortably taking the bullet. Neil sailed a great race, gybing in the breeze as elegantly as a swan, taking second, with racing snake Tom claiming third.
Congratulations to Rich for his win! The fleet were pleased to assist in dredging the Beaver dam, leaving droplets of mud down all the major road networks like breadcrumbs in a red riding hood storybook. Thank you to Beaver SC for the warm welcome and putting on a cracking weekend of racing. Like migratory salmon, we'll be finding our way back next year and look forward to it.
Next up for the RS300s is the free Development Day with Richard Hanby at Whitefriars on 11th July, ahead of the Inlands on 12th and 13th July
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | R HANBY | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| 2 | L SOUTH | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | RTD | 13 |
| 3 | T MOORE | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 18 |
| 4 | N FIBSON | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 20 |
| 5 | R BAKER | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 25 |
| 6 | S DAVY | 7 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 26 |
| 7 | P MAKIN | 8 | 8 | 8 | DNS | 3 | 1 | 28 |
| 8 | A BURTON | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | RTD | 39 |
| 9 | M JENKINS | 5 | 4 | 5 | OCS | DNC | DNC | 40 |
| 10 | C WOOD | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | RTD | RTD | 51 |