RS400 Open at Notts County Sailing Club
by John Tailby 10 Sep 2025 09:30 BST
6-7 September 2025
I apologise in advance for what will likely be a poor recollection of the weekend - I've made the mistake of leaving report writing until Tuesday evening and we sailed 10 races, so it's all a bit of a blur.
Six home fleet RS400s were joined by three visiting boats for the 2025 Notts County open. After a briefing by Race Officer Jamie Mawson the fleet hit the water and were met with a decent breeze and sunshine.
Race 1 was led start to finish by Hamish Gledhill and Ross Southwell (this won't be the first time you read that sentence in this report). Myself and crew Cillian Dyne climbed to 2nd and held it until the final gate where picking the right end of the leeward gate proved critical and Keith Escritt and Harry Fox snuck up to second on the final leg to the finish.
I can't remember much about race 2 if I'm honest other than it was followed by lunch I think Keith and myself both successfully port tacked the fleet following a pin end flyer. However the scoreline did stand out with Keith and Harry taking the win, followed by Hamish and Ross in second and then Cillian and myself completing the podium. Keith and Carol then refuelled the fleet for a busy afternoon of racing - the race team opted to switch to a sprint format and 4 races.
I can't remember the specifics of the 4 afternoon races other than I was ready for bed by the end of it. What I do know is Hamish and Ross really got into their stride winning all 4 of these shorter action packed races. Jamie and his team did a top job of altering the course to set a square course in thr constantly swinging breeze - no mean feat!
After this the fleet headed ashore for an excellent curry from the Galley team and a beer or 2 before going to bed for a much deserved rest. Racing started bright and early at 10am on Sunday to allow club racing to take place in the afternoon. The format was once again 4 back to back sprint races.
The breeze was once again easterly meaning in tumbled over the hill on the far side of the lake, so lots of snakes and ladders was guaranteed with plenty of gains and losses to be made in the shifty breeze. No 2 beats were the same with both sides of the course paying on different laps, head out the boat sailing and keeping an eye out for breeze was the key to success here (as you can see - I've tactically swerved as much individual detail here as possible and have left you with some vague tactial insight that applies to pretty much any event as I can't remember much...)
The first 3 races were business as usual for Hamish and Ross with 3 more bullets meaning they could afford to not do race 10 and prep for the ling journey home. For the rest of us the racing was tight with Keith and Harry, Cillian and myself and Jonathan Lye and Amelia Latham battling it out for 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
The final race of the event (race 10!?!) saw Keith and Harry lead from start to finish with Jonathan and Amelia 2nd and Cillian and me 3rd. The wind dropped in this race and Ross and Rebecca made an incredible move for some breeze up the right hand side of the course to get within striking distance of the podium, but they couldn't quite get through and had to settle for 4th.
Apologies that my coverage of the racing from positions not around myself has been hazy at best but I was so focused on where I was on the course! (Also the results can tell you more than I can so look at those...)
Overall Hamish and Ross sailed very well and were our worthy winners, Keith and Harry were 2nd and Harry was first under 18! Cillian and myself came 3rd (hence you getting treated to one of my reports...) Cillian was also second under 18. It was great to see so many young sailors getting on well in the 400 fleet - proving that it isn't just a boat for the big lads! A worthy mention also goes to Christina and Steve as this was their first 400 open meeting having only sailed it a hand full of times so stepping up and getting stuck in with the event is certainly worthy of kudos!
Thanks to all of the visitors who joined us, to Jamie and his race team and to Keith and Carol for keeping us all fed and watered over what was a tough weekend!
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 1511 | Hamish Gledhill | Ross Southwell | West Riding SC | 1 | ‑2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | (DNC) | 8 |
| 2 | 8 | Keith Escritt | Harry Fox (under 18) | Yorkshire Dales SC | 2 | 1 | 2 | ‑6 | ‑4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 17 |
| 3 | 950 | John Tailby | Cillian Dyne (under 18) | NCSC | 3 | 3 | ‑4 | ‑5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 22 |
| 4 | 932 | Jonathan Lye | Amelia Latham | NCSC | ‑6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | ‑6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 28 |
| 5 | 1521 | Ross Ryan | Rebecca Ogden | NCSC | 4 | ‑5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | ‑6 | 5 | 4 | 31 |
| 6 | 1029 | John Cunningham | Nicky Cokayne | Carsington SC | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | ‑7 | ‑8 | 5 | 43 |
| 7 | 1122 | Neil Chadborn | Nick Orgles | NCSC | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 54 |
| 8 | 1525 | Martin Hart | Moira Hart | NCSC | ‑8 | 7 | ‑8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 59 |
| 9 | 1355 | Christina Gill (female helm) | Steve Gill | NCSC | ‑9 | 9 | (DNF) | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 69 |