2015 RS300 Racing Calendar
by Steve Bolland 23 Feb 2015 10:59 GMT
23 February 2015
RS300s at Prestwick © Vicky Woods
For 2015 it's back to basics with a return to some smaller clubs following the mostly large-club affair in 2014. There's a couple of large, multi-class RS events thrown in as well and no fewer than 7 new venues and another couple we haven't visited for several years. Hope you like.
For further details, to talk to the builder, to view a brand new boat and to meet some of the sailors, visit us on stand B72 at the RYA Dinghy Show.
Magic Marine Winter Championship – 14/15 March
Hykeham SC – 180 acres - Lincolnshire
www.hykehamsailing.co.uk
As ever the season kicks off with the Winter Championship in mid March. This year we're off to Hykeham SC in Lincolnshire, the first of the new venues, to join the growing fleet there. Hykeham is based just to the south of Lincoln and currently boasts a fleet of 5 300s. Wikipedia says that Lincolnshire is 'unusual in the composition of its population' and you can see why when you see the people who sail there. Still, they're all NFL*. It also says that Sunday 'is still largely a day of rest'. We'll see about that.
2014 winner – Matt Jenkins
Sprint Championship – 11/12 April
Rutland SC – 3,000 acres – Leicestershire
www.rutlandsc.co.uk
Second event of the Magic Marine Grand Prix circuit. What can I say about Rutland SC and the Sprint Champs? We had a massive turnout of 24 for the Sprints in 2014, the highest of any event other than the Nationals, and it's easy to see why – the sailing club is good, the format is good, the racing is good and the company is good. Try not to miss out on this – it sharpens up your starting and boathandling skills in close-quarter racing. There's normally 6 x 15 minute races on the Saturday to sort out the flights for Sunday and then a further 8 races before driving home. Walking on Monday optional.
2014 winner – Phil Bishop
Slaloms – 9 May
Bristol Corinthian YC – 260 acres - Somerset
www.bristolcorinthian.org.uk
If the Sprint races are a bit long for you, come May the floods should have receded in Somerset so there's no excuse not to drive south to the Slaloms. This should hone your boathandling skills further. Here's the plan – two parallel 150 metre courses set either side of a committee boat. One boat on each course, head-to-head. Do one windward/leeward with 10 tacks and 10 gybes. Swap courses and sail again. Boat with the lowest elapsed time wins. Each race should last a minute or two! Then the next two boats are on. Round robin series finishing off with semi -finals and final. Big cheese for the winner! And no looking at windguru and deciding whether or not to enter neither – we're turning off rule 42 for this one. Slalom racing is Saturday only, but everyone's welcome to come out for a curry in the evening, stay over and join in with club racing on the Sunday, or we'll put some training on. Bring your GoPros.
Eurocup – 23-26 May
YC de Carnac – Brittany
www.yccarnac.com
Pour les vacances de Whitsun nous sommes off to Carnac avec nos magnificent coques! Les Francais ne connaȋtront pas what's hit them. Carnac est une ville très jolie sur le Brittany coast près de Trinité-sur-Mer et est très laid back. Il y a plusiers de bars et restaurants there. Mon favourite est Le Square Pub où on can buvez de toutes heures! Nous launchons sur l'harbour si il est extrêmement sauf. Il y a une planche terrifique si vous déciderons to bring votre famille avec vous. Aussi il y a des stones megalithiques qui sont les plus fameuses du monde apparently. Tout en tout it should be un terrifique weekend. Getting there est très facile aussi. Prenez le ferry de Poole, Portmouth ou Plymouth et drivez the rest. C'est un morceau de gateau n'est ce pas?
Southerns – 20/21 June
Parkstone YC – Dorset
www.parkstoneyachtclub.com
Last event before the Nationals and therefore your last chance to get some competitive sea practice in before Dovey. Parkstone is situated in Poole Harbour but we'll be racing out in the bay if the weather plays ball. Some of the best sailing water in the UK. Big event with the other RS fleets.
2014 winner – Steve Bolland
Volvo Noble Marine National Championship – 9-12 July
Dovey YC – Gwynnedd
www.doveyyachtclub.org.uk
This is the big one. A repeat of last year's successful championship at Prestwick but with easier launching, and different accents, look you. You can't beat Aberdovey for beauty so the visiting 300 sailors will even things up somewhat. 10 races over 4 days + evening entertainment every night. Racing out in Cardigan Bay if conditions permit with the option of sailing in the Dovey estuary if inclement. Accommodation within walking distance of the club is booking up fast.
2014 winner – Steve Bolland
Midlands – 12/13 September
Attenborough SC – 65 acres – Nottinghamshire
www.attenboroughsc.org.uk
Bartley SC – 120 acres - Birmingham
www.bartleysailingclub.com
Look how good we are to you. After the Nationals we're giving you the whole of August off to go on family holidays to get enough brownie points in for the autumn. We're starting this off with a Midlands double-header in September. Saturday we're at Attenborough in Nottingham. Never sailed there but suspect it will appeal to those of an Aldenham disposition. Beer, food and sleep over at Attenborough before heading down to Bartley to the south of Birmingham for Sunday racing. I did my first ever RS300 open at Bartley in 2002 where some old bloke port-tacked us all in the last race (#Bazzaporttackflyers).
Gul Inland Championship – 17/18 October
Alton Water SC – 400 acres - Suffolk
www.altonwater.co.uk
For the first time in living memory we're not going to Grafham for the Inlands. Instead we've eschewed the other RS fleets and picked somewhere more picturesque. East is where it's at and you can't get any more east than Alton without the water getting salty and spreken Nederlands. We should pick up a few local boats known to frequent the darker corners of Suffolk and Essex as additional entrants. Another new venue for us; who will be the orient express in 2015?
2014 winner – Matt Jenkins
End of Seasons – 7/8 November
Datchet Water SC – 475 acres – Berkshire
www.dwsc.co.uk
The traditional end to the season with the multi-RS fleet event at Datchet. Big, open piece of water to stretch your legs on before hibernating (or setting yourself up for the big winter events).
2014 winner – Tim Keen
* Normal for Lincoln