Results / RS Multi-fleet Coaching Weekend Queen Mary SC - 19/03/2011

The GUL RS300 Inland Championship was held at Rutland Sailing Club over the weekend of the 15th and 16th October, attracting 20 boats and produced some of the closest racing seen in the RS300 fleet for many years. Both days were bright and sunny after the early fog had lifted, with the wind mostly at force 3 but may have just touched 4 on Sunday. Race 1 got off first time from a port biased line, with Matt Sharman leading the closely bunched fleet at the top mark. Ian Baillie was right on his transom but it was John Carron who passed both to take a lead he held to the finish from Sharman, reigning Inland Champion Gary Fryer and Paul Thompson. The first six boats finished within a minute of the leading boat, a pattern that was to continue throughout the weekend. Fryer hit the front of the fleet in race 2, showing that he was going to fight hard to hold onto his title. He used his university team racing skills to advantage to hold off the pack of Sharman, Baillie and Carron, who finished in that order behind him. It looked like Baillie was going to get his win in race 3 after building a comfortable lead over the first 2 laps. But a calm patch on the run resulted in him being overtaken, with Fryer winning again, Carron second ahead of Greg Barton and Baillie. There was an hours delay before racing started on Sunday but it was worth the wait and the wind strength was up and starting to give some fast reaches to enjoy. Carron executed a port tack flyer to start race 4 and led the fleet for the first lap. Baillie took over up the second beat, but Sharman, then Carron passed him down the run, finishing in that order with Thompson fourth. Race 5 and Baillie finally held onto his lead in the strongest wind of the day, with a comfortable win from Barton, Carron and Sharman, who had taken advantage of Fryer�s last mark capsize. Carron, Sharman and Fryer were all still in it going into the final race. Sharman took the early lead with Carron and Fryer on his tail. But Carron was ahead by the end of lap 2 and although Sharman kept him under pressure he held onto his lead. Baillie just stayed ahead Fryer by less than a boat length for third. With the arithmetic still being worked out, it was not until the sailors were all ashore that Carron was confirmed as the new Inland Champion. Many thanks to Rutland Sailing club and their race team for laying on an excellent event for us.