RS300 Rooster National Tour at Whitefriars Sailing Club

300s mark rounding - Whitefriars RS300 Open Meeting at Whitefriars Sailing Club © Ben Heppenstall

It's said that a sailor's reputation is built not on the races won, but on the rules respected. If this is the case, the reputation of the RS300 fleet took hell of a battering on Saturday along with some gelcoat!

Whitefriars was always going to be a tough venue, especially with the awkward (& lack of) wind direction and the highly competitive fleet that gathered on the lawn.

The format was for two races back-to-back; hydration break ashore and then back to it for two more. With race officer taking us through the course at the briefing, it was generally agreed that we needed a guide boat to show us around the various turning points. This became even more vital as by the time we got to the start area the course had changed with the ever-shifting wind. We got away cleanly with the fleet splitting left and right.

Having failed to get off the line, I'd fallen into my usual position behind Dave, and to my surprise popped out second at the windward(ish) mark. From my perspective Race One was fairly tame, avoiding the pack and getting a lucky lift as Dave tacked into a header to pull out a big lead. I even had time to see Ben swimming after a toe-strap malfunction! It's never over though at Whitefriars as Dave and Tom went past hiking whilst I wallowed.

Tom held Dave out on the final mark rounding tacking first for line, when Dave made an uncharacteristic mistake, dropping his mainsheet handing Tom the win.

300s downwind - Whitefriars RS300 Open Meeting at Whitefriars Sailing Club - photo © Ben Heppenstall

Race two and luckily it was the same course, and my dreadful starts continued coupled with incredible luck. Race two and the NASCAR spirit came to the fleet. I won't name the sailor who seemed to forget Port and Starboard, but one Orange boat was spotted bullying in at the second windward(ish) mark - "If you ain't rubbin', you ain't racin'" definitely came to mind.

On the final reach the wind disappeared. Having gone high, Harry and Tom almost snuck through, but Harry kindly reminded me which mark to point at and I drifted off to take the win.

After a short break ashore, we headed out to tackle "The Cut". The cut is a very narrow corridor to a second puddle with a single buoy. A recipe for disaster! With seconds to go before the start, the wind shifted hard forcing a race to the pin. Dave was way over, a few of us (me included) couldn't make it and had to gybe around and Local Lad Stephen hit the pin.

I can only really recall doing one of the beats in one tack getting me back into the fleet and the same orange boat pushing its bow in where it didn't belong on a mark rounding, followed by a swimming lesson as penance.

300s ashore - Whitefriars RS300 Open Meeting at Whitefriars Sailing Club - photo © Luke South

The fourth race was NASCAR time! This time, no orange boats involved! With the wind coming and going we approached mark 5, a good 6 boat lengths out with Harry on the outside, Dave, Luke, Sam and Stephen all in a row. With a few others on or nearby. Harry started it, luffing Dave who in turn luffed up, whilst the inside boats ambitiously called room where there was none to be had, the ensuing rubbing left Dave out the back and a lot of raised voices, and apparently not a single rule broken!

We returned ashore for Ice Creams and Beer and whilst a majority of the fleet stayed for a fantastic Chilli, with Port and Cheese for afters, some departed for other duties. Come the morning it was clear the wind had given up. However, we hung around (less than enthusiastically) until 11am when we decided to call it day.

Whitefriars as always put on a fantastic event and a huge thank you to Ben and his team for making us all so welcome! Thank you also to Rooster the National Tour Sponsors.

Overall Results: