RS Aero Open at Itchenor Sailing Club

A 20-boat RS Aero fleet joined the first Itchenor Sailing Club RS Aero Open on Saturday 18th October. Seven clubs were represented with many RS Aeros sailing from other Chichester Harbour clubs to join the racing. The RS Aero Classes competed on corrected time handicap and racing was in the Itchenor channel, in winds averaging 12 knots, but gusting up to 20 knots.

A start line was set near Baker mark and the southerly wind direction called for a beat across the channel. A right-handed triangle was set, with a tight first reach and broad second. The gusts and shifts turned the 2nd reach into a surprisingly tactical leg.

Itchenor SC RS Aero Open - photo © Itchenor SC

The first of four races started at high tide and Paddy Gamble was quickly out of the blocks in his RS Aero 7 to lead at the 1st mark, having favoured the right of the beat, followed by Tracey Covell (6), Ollie Holden (6) and Jamie Robinson (5). Spike Daniels was making good progress on the 2nd reach while Jamie’s challenge was halted by a capsize. Paddy held the lead on the water but the 6s appeared to be holding the corrected time lead. Approaching the last leeward mark, Spike, having just having ridden a huge gust to overhaul Ollie, capsized and subsequently finished 5th on corrected; Ollie taking 1st and Iona Willows (5) taking 2nd place, Paddy 3rd and Torquil Morrison (6) in 4th.

Itchenor SC RS Aero Open - photo © Itchenor SC

Race 2 contrasted with Race 1 in that the left paid and Jamie Robinson, having gone the hardest left held a narrow lead at mark 1, followed by Spike, Ollie and Iona and those 4 made up the final 4 places, but with Ollie overhauling all on corrected, to take the win and Jamie sliding to 4th.

By race 3 the ebb, flowing directly across the course had gained momentum, but the quality of the racing was maintained with just a re-evaluation of start line tactics and laylines being required by the sailors. Making those adjustments particularly well was James Bayliss (7) from the home club, who led Paddy around the first mark, followed by Spike. Those 3 were able separate away with Paddy hanging on to the win on corrected time ahead of Spike. Meanwhile Ollie was locked in combat with clubmate Tracey Covell, and eventually came through for a share of 4th & 5th with Steve Jackson (5); Torquil taking advantage to finish just ahead of Tracey in 6th. Quietly going about her business was Iona who finished 3rd.

Itchenor SC RS Aero Open - photo © Itchenor SC

Race 4, with a slight adjustment of the course to deeper water, was lead from the first mark to the finish by Spike, who needed to keep pushing because of the corrected time threat of Steve Jackson in his 5, who did take 2nd place; meanwhile the tussle between Ollie and Tracey continued, with those two coming home in 3rd and 4th, enough for Ollie to win overall on countback from Spike.

Thanks to Itchenor Sailing Club for hosting the RS Aero Class with their first RS Aero open and we look forward to returning.

Overall Results:

Next up for the RS Aero UK Class is the RS Aero UK Inlands this weekend at Oxford, which includea the UK Youth and UK Masters Championships. For 7 weekends through November and December Hayling Island SC invites sailor to join their Saturday & Sunday racing, 14 races, 1 per day. Full details of all RS Aero events in the UK can be found on the RS Aero UK Events List.

Itchenor SC RS Aero Open - photo © Itchenor SC