Results / RS300 & RS600 Inland Championships, RS400 Northern Tour Open Carsington SC - 15/06/2024

Congratulations to Matt Jenkins our 2024 RS300 Inland Champion!

Photos thanks to Megan Kelly and Rob Keen.  Trophy photo by John Cunningham

RS300 Inland Championship at Carsington SC, Rooster National Tour Event Number Three

Excited wasn't the word when I looked at the forecast a week in advanced of my first event of 2024.  Light winds and inland don't normally make for an event that I'd either choose to attend or enjoy while I was there.

Fortunately, forecasts change.

Day Zero.  On the Friday class chair Peter Mackin had very kindly arranged a development day for the fleet.  An opportunity for those who either need help or practice to come along and get some tuition from the sailors at the pointy end of the fleet.  Five sailors took advantage of this and I've no doubt that all of them came away with either an area to work on or an insight into why what they were doing wasn't working.  As one of those five I can confirm I certainly did.  Thank you Peter!

Day One.  A leisurely start with the first race not due until 1255hrs.  Launching onto a glassy flat Carsington water we drifted roughly towards the starting area, while I demonstrated a master class in air rowing passing even some of the lightweights.

Race one started after a short delay; the wind having filled in from multiple different places over the course of an hour.  But good news, we had a direction, hiking weather and an enthusiastic fleet of 19 boats battling it out to see who was likely to muck up their chances first.

The good news was it appeared it was my turn to gradually drop places and put myself out of the running for the top step in race one. 

The race was won and led mostly throughout by Coach Mackin, followed by Harry McVicar, Matt Jenkins and Richard le Mare.  The rest of us were so close together anyone could have been anywhere.

Race 2.1 - We started, Richard sailed away from everyone, looked like he had it in the bag and then bang! Or should I say flash/rumble.  Thunder stopped playing and we were sent in.

Race 2.2 - After a short wait, we were released on to the water again.  Harry won this one.  He tells me someone else was leading for a bit but due to his brilliance he simply sailed past like they weren't there.  I'm also told a certain Sam Davy pulled off a port flyer crossing the whole fleet off the line.  I was missing from the action due to getting the offspring home for bed, but one of the stories above might be believable. 

Day Two.  Four race dues today as the thunder disrupted Saturday's proceedings.

Race 3 - More wind, a port bias line and a man in a black hulled boat who needed to get some kind of vengeance to his stolen race win from the day before.  I led for a couple of laps before Richard got a lucky shift and then disappeared.  Peter was close behind fighting off a quick Matt Banbrook.

Race 4 - The port bias continued.  I bailed out with 25 seconds to go, gybed onto port early and went right. Matt Banbrook left it even later and then went further right up the first beat.  This proved to be the winning tactic and he was never challenged for the race win.

Race 5 - This time it was Matt Jenkins (yes, the one who used to turn up years ago) who got it right, although I think this time it might have been left, leading from start to finish.  Peter, Will Powell, Harry and I had a close tussle up until the last lap, where I found some pace to just about make Matt Jenkins sweat in the dash for the line.

Before the final race, Coach Peter kindly updated a few of us on the scores.  It was all to play for between Matt Jenkins and Harry for the trophy, and only a couple of points between Peter, Matt Banbrook and me for third.  This left me with something of a dilemma.  Did I want to come third and get lumbered with the race report?!

Race 6.1 - The port bias continued; I was early but down the line with a decent amount of the fleet sitting on top of me.

Race 6.2 - After a short break and a general recall we were off again.  A better start and clean air got me to the top mark just behind an in-form Matt Jenkins, closely followed by Peter and Harry not far back.  The wind had shifted further left and it seemed that the run had now turned into a deep broad reach.  By the bottom mark I'd snuck into the lead and with a decent breeze was left to sail around in clean air.  Closer behind Matt Jenkins, Peter and Harry had a tight race finishing in that order.

With that the racing was done and in six races we had six different race winners.  The most consistent at the front end was Matt Jenkins, our 2024 Inland Champion!  Thank you to Carsington for hosting a smashing Inlands.  Thanks to Rooster our RS300 National Tour sponsor.  Next up is Beaver SC 20-21 July.

Report by Paul Watson