Magic Marine RS Tera Nationals at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club

Pro fleet downwind during the Magic Marine RS Tera nationals © Peter Newton / www.peternewton.zenfolio.com

Freddy Wood during the Magic Marine RS Tera nationals © Peter Newton / www.peternewton.zenfolio.com

A record 103 entries for the Magic Marine RS Tera Nationals at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Most of the competitors in the Championship fleet took part in the two practice races on Friday afternoon, which gave the race team lead by Stuart Childerley a chance to assess course length and layout and the competitors to learn just how changeable wind strength and direction at Derwent Reservoir can be.

The Regatta Fleet which is a new development in the class lead by Peter Lulham-Robinson spent the afternoon going through the basics and getting to know one another.

The weather forecast in the week leading up to the championship had looked very light, and so it proved for the first two Saturday races, the third race was sailed in a good 12 knot breeze which then died off to leave only three of the planned four races completed.

Plenty of shifts and tactical challenges during the day saw three different race winners in the PRO fleet, Lucy Greenwood of Alton Water Sports Centre took race one, Henry Rastrick of Ripon SC race two and Bethan Matthew of Aldeburgh Yacht Club race three.

Overnight the top three were Henry Jameson of Hayling Island Sailing Club, Henry Rastrick and Alex Butler of Hayling Island Sailing Club In the SPORT fleet, line honours went to Matthew Taylor of Alton Water Sports Centre, then Harrison Pye of Draycote Water Sailing Club, and in the third race Roscoe Martin of Ogston Sailing Club.

Overnight the top three were Freddy Wood and Ethan Miles of Hayling Island Sailing Club with Roscoe Martin third.

The Regatta Fleet managed to complete the first of their races with Alice Davis of Great Moor Sailing Club taking line honours followed home by Matthew Evans also of Great Moor and Agnes Bracey-Davis of Hayling Island Sailing Club.

After dinner three young ladies, Phoebe Jones, Caitlin Morley and their leader Kathryne Byne set up a nail bar to raise money for the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation, after some gentle persuasion and as the evening went on there were not only competitors, but mums, dads, grandparents, coaches, the Commodore, safety crews, unsuspecting members painted and they raised £140, brilliant job!

Sunday was always going to be the most challenging day for the race team with a forecast of little or no wind, despite this they battled through and despite having to cope with forty degree shifts and variable wind strengths, somehow they managed to get five races for the PRO's and four races for the SPORT's completed.

In the PRO's Jack Lewis had a very productive day, gaining first place in races 4, 6 and 8, the other race winners Henry Rastrick and Birthday Boy Ben Poe of Sutton Bingham Sailing Club.

After eight races and five different race winners from the 36 boat fleet, the top three were Henry Rastrick, Henry Jameson and Jack Lewis.

In the SPORT's Freddy Wood had a steady day with a win in race 4, after an abandonment due to the breeze shutting down on the inner loop of the course, James Oakley of the Royal Hospital School took the re-started race 5, Tom Storey of Ripon Sailing club took race 6, Oliver Kent also of Ripon race 7.

After seven races and seven different race winners from the 55 boat fleet, the top three were Freddy, James and Roscoe.

The Regatta Fleet spent the day concentrating on boat handling and starting, and sailed another 2 races, with winners Eilish Graham of Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club and Phoebe Jones of Draycote Water Sailing Club.

Regatta Fleet during the Magic Marine RS Tera nationals - photo © Peter Newton / www.peternewton.zenfolio.com

Day three, Bank Holiday Monday, was forecast to be the breeziest day of the event, 15 to 20 knots, this did not materialise, and instead the sailors were greeted with overcast conditions and a building breeze, topping out at around 10 knots.

In the PRO Fleet, Alex Butler took race 9, this meant that there were still three sailors who could take the title, Henry, Henry and Jack, at the first windward mark, Henry J was ahead of Henry R, with Jack close behind, an unfortunate capsize on the run put paid to Henry R's hopes, at the next windward mark, positions meant that Henry and Jack would tie on points.

Jack found some new breeze on the right hand side of the run, passing Henry just before the last leeward gate, finishing ahead to take the PRO National title.

With 3 races to complete in the SPORTS it was Freddy who was quickest out of the start to sail away to a good win in race 8, race 9 saw James take line honours, with Freddy finishing strongly in third to give him the SPORT National title with a race to spare.

The last race saw Ben Batchelor of the Isle of Man Yacht Club take the win, this left the overall top three as Freddy, James and Ben.

The Regatta fleet completed their series with Eilish taking race 4, Alice race 5 and Matthew race 6.

Top three overall positions, for this 12 boat fleet Alice, Eilish, and Matthew Other winners were Ed Coady of Derwent reservoir Sailing Club securing the Selden under 10's trophy and Hayling Island Sailing Club the team prize.

The RS Tera Class Association would like to thank Stuart Childerley, Peter Lulham-Robinson and their race teams, Brett Cockayne who managed the safety team, Nicky Leach for her organising of the event and all other volunteers, and the members and staff at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club for delivering a truly memorable event.

Without event sponsors Magic Marine, GJW Direct and Selden, we would not be fortunate enough to be able to hold such great events, thank you for your continued and ongoing support.

Next stop for the RS Tera fleet is the RS Classes End of Seasons at Datchet Water, come and join the fun, further details will be published on the Class website www.rstera.org

Overall Results:

PRO Fleet

SPORT Fleet

Regatta Fleet