It was a bright autumn day at Papercourt for the RS Aero 2025 Sustainability Open, starting with a brisk northerly on-shore breeze that had many mulling their rig choices. 16 sailors took part, evenly split between home competitors and 8 visitors from 7 different clubs. The fleet saw a good mix of rigs: eight 7s, four 9s, and two each of the 6s and 5s. All four rigs started together, ensuring dynamic starts and fun competitive racing at every level. Fleet results were given using the timed handicap basis.
Experienced Race Officer, Fraser Hayden, set a figure of 8 course with a gate at the leeward end, a reach across the middle, and no need to cross the start line on interim laps. The wind, an average of 7kn gusting to 17kn was considered consistent by local standards but described as “well shifty” by many of the visitors!
The first race was won cleanly by RS Aero 7 National Champion Tim Hire, but race 2 proved much closer, once Hayling Island SC RS200 sailor, Geoff Camm, worked out how to tune his borrowed RS Aero. Geoff clinched the second race by a mere 9 seconds, and a further 5 sailors finished in the next minute. Geoff took race 3 by a slightly bigger margin – 27 secs, with Tim staging a comeback to take Race 4. Gareth Griffiths from Island Barn – the winning RS Aero 9 – came a consistent 2nd except for the 2nd race where he dropped to 3rd. Gareth was locked into a rivalry with his fellow Barn-er, Andrew Barnett. They came 3rd and 4th respectively, both in 9 rigs.
Top Papercourt RS Aero was Chris Angell (7 rig) followed by class captain Mark Carleton (6 rig).
Interest was added by some of the stronger sailors from other Papercourt fleets taking part in borrowed RS Aeros. Andrew Boyce from the Solo fleet and Andrew Hill-Smith from the ILCA fleet both gave solid performances.
Overall, Tim Hire from Royal Lymington Yacht Club took first place with Geoff from Hayling Island SC second. At the prize-giving, Tim seemed particularly entertained by his award of recycled toilet paper from a well-known sustainable brand – possibly more so than by his actual trophy.
Mark Carleton, won the 6 rig trophy, and Jamie Robinson took the 5 rig and the Youth trophy.
Racing was described as fair and friendly by race officer Fraser Hayden. Lots of place changes took place throughout each race, and over the course of the day. Papercourt’s SSSI [Site of Special Scientific Interest] status was at its most stunning – with spectators enjoying the racing from the bank, and the local wildlife joining in for the fun of it too.
Thanks go to Fraser, and the duty team, and especially Thora and the galley team for making the day so enjoyable for everyone with an excellent hot lunch and home backed cakes. Thanks to Rooster for supporting thew awards and the The Green Blue for the RS Aero Class Sustainability Challenge Trophies.
Next up for the UK RS Aeros is the RS Aero UK Womens Champs at Notts County this weekend and our Salcombe Open in the southwest.
Full details of all UK RS Aero events can be found on the RS Aero UK Events List; https://www.rsaerosailing.org/index.asp?p=events&rg=UK%20and%20Ireland
Written by Liz Hill-Smith
Photos by Papercourt SC
