Stephen Jones claims RS300 Season Opener Victory

Rooster National Tour at Bowmoor Sailing Club – Puddle Pirates on the Turquoise Seas

The RS300 fleet descended on Bowmoor Sailing Club on 7^th and 8^th March for a weekend of balmy, mildly moist adventuring on waters so turquoise they looked like someone had spilled a bucket of tropical holiday brochure into the lake. With a steady, gentle breeze blowing consistently across both days, the stage was set for tight racing and questionable decision‑making.

Saturday kicked off with Stephen Jones (Whitefriars SC) and Tom Moore (Stokes Bay SC) immediately locking into a duel worthy of legend, trading wins and refusing to give an inch. The breeze—light, shifty, and identical on both days—rewarded patience, cunning, and the occasional tactical gamble. Mark Newton (West Lake YC) strung together enough solid results to sit in 3rd overall, while the mid‑fleet pack swapped places like caffeinated ducklings in a crosswind.

Once the sails were down, the Puddle Pirates turned their attention to the important business of eating. Saturday evening saw the fleet gathered around a heroic delivery of Indian takeaway—so vast that the delivery driver looked like he’d just completed an ultra‑marathon. Fuelled by curry and misplaced confidence, the bar session was “intense” but in the end the sailors ran out of stamina long before they ran out of beer.

Sunday continued with William Powell (Stokes Bay SC) and Richard Hanby (Beaver SC) keeping up the pressure on the leaders with local hero, Matt Banbrook, flying the Bowmoor SC flag proudly. The racing remained tight throughout the weekend, with the fleet compressing and expanding like an accordion every time the wind flicked ten degrees left or right. In the end, Stephen and Tom finished tied on points, with Stephen taking the win on count-back.

At the prize-giving, spot prizes were awarded to Georges Coles (HISC) for Newcomer, George Bender (Bartley SC) for Mid Fleet and Mark Newton for “Must Learn to Sail Better (Again)” after starting every single race on port—despite it being wildly disadvantageous—and for the additional crime of finishing 3rd overall and therefore being sentenced to write this report. Justice in the RS300 fleet is swift and merciless!

Huge thanks to Bowmoor Sailing Club and their team of volunteers for hosting a brilliant weekend, managing to get 6 races in, feeding us magnificently and tolerating our questionable humour. Thank you also to the National Tour sponsors, Rooster, for donating the prizes.

Warm water, great racing, and a fleet of Puddle Pirates doing what we do best. See you at the next puddle.

Report by Mark Newton