Rooster RS Tera Start of Season Championships at Burton Sailing Club

The UK RS Tera National circuit kicked off in style at the Start of Seasons Championship at Burton Sailing Club on the 14th-15th May. A volunteer army from the host club looked after sailors and families all weekend with the Sea Cadets lending a hand to help unload boats.

The unpromising forecast lived up to expectations on Saturday with the odd zephyr of wind never being enough to have a decent race. After a morning of volleyball and shore games for the main fleet and a drift around for the regatta fleet, sailors took to their boats for some water-based, self-made entertainment.

The Race Officer used the U flag from the off to ensure the scheduled five races could be sailed before the time limit. The Pro fleet led off with the start line which was conveniently positioned by the clubhouse some great spectating. The first race was won by Jac Bailey from Port Dinorwic, with Macsen Barber (Dale YC) second and Ben Anderson from Gurnard third. The Sport fleet was close and competitive with the leading group making the most of the shifty conditions to pull out a good lead. The race long tussle at the front resulted in a win for William Stratton-Brown from Frensham Pond, second for Thomas Whitehead from Filey and third for Ben Greenhalgh (Port Dinorwic).

Rooster RS Tera Start of Season Championships - photo © John Edwards

A quick turn-around into the second race saw Jac Bailey and Oliver Stratton-Brown (Frensham Pond) pull out a sizeable gap from the rest of the Pro fleet. Oliver rounded the last leeward mark on the inside to give him a boat-length advantage starting the last reach. In plaining conditions Jac Bailey powered under Oliver's to take the win by half a boat length. Max Rawlinson from Roa Island came in third. The same three sailors battled in the Sport fleet with Ben Greenhalgh taking the win, Thomas Whitehead second and Will Stratton-Brown third leading to a three-way tie on 4 points overall at the front of the Sport fleet.

The wind continued to freshen for the third race with some great plaining reaches. There were some spiky gusts one of which caused havoc in the Pro fleet on one of the downwind legs. Some good saves by the leaders downwind and at bottom gate gybes resulted in familiar names at the top of the leader board. Gurnard's Ben Anderson used his strong wind skills to take the win with second for Mascen Barber and third for Oliver Stratton-Brown. In the Sport fleet William Stratton-Brown dominated, steadily building a sizeable lead by the end of what became a windy race. Luke Rowlands from Rutland came in second and Mark Soars, another Frensham Pond sailor took third.

The course set by the Race Officer used all available space on the lake and gear changing mode was critical with power hiking at the bottom of the course and light wind finesse near the windward mark under the shelter of the bank. Jac Bailey resumed his place at the top of the Pro fleet with another win, Nina Marsh from Neyland Yacht Club was second and Macsen Barber third. A big, persistent right shift caught out some of the Sport fleet but not Thomas Whitehead who took the win, Luke Rowlands who continued his consistent form with another second to go with his two fourths and Fredrick Wood from Leigh & Lowton was third.

Rooster RS Tera Start of Season Championships - photo © John Edwards

After a pause in proceedings to reset the course to accommodate what became a 45degree change in wind direction the fifth race got under way. Although the start line had moved away from the spectator area those who ventured to the headland were able to watch the action with the windward mark only a few metres away. The wind had dropped but the front of the Pro fleet again had Macsen Barber at the front very closely followed by Jac Bailey with a well-deserved third from Frensham Pond's Andrew Soars. The pond sailors seized their opportunity in the Sport fleet with Frensham Pond taking the top three positions with Wiliam Streatton-Brown first, Mark Soars second and Zoe Lomas-Clarke third.

A dominant performance from Jac Bailey to count a 1,1,1,2 saw him crowned the 2022 Start of Seasons RS Tera Pro Champion with Macsen Barber second and the quietly consistent Ben Anderson third. The question is, can anyone break the dominance of the reigning National Champion Jac Bailey in 2022?

Will Stratton-Brown's score line was just as impressive counting 1,3,1,1 to take the RS Tera Sport trophy from Thomas Whitehead in second. The battle between William and Thomas is going to be one to watch all season. Both winners thanked the army of volunteers from Burton Sailing Club for arranging a fantastic weekend. The team prize was awarded to Frensham Pond SC.

A huge thank you must go to our class sponsor Rooster, for once again providing a fully-laden prize table for the Championships.

Alongside the main fleet racing, 24 of our newest sailors were taking part in the Start of Season Train &Race Regatta Fleet. The format, which was introduced last year, provides a weekend of sail training and race coaching to those new to the Tera under the experienced eye of UKRSTCA Coach, Dylan Collingbourne. Aided by Niamh Davies and Andy Gordon, the fleet were put though a range of training exercises on Saturday and Sunday morning, before completing the weekend with multiple short coached races. Judging by the smiles as the children came off the water, the weekend was a success and all 24 sailors were winners!

UKRSTCA Class Development Manager, Marcus Collingbourne commented, "With the RYA scheduling the Eric Twiname Championships on our original booked weekend for our Start of Seasons, we had to find an alternative venue quickly and once again Burton SC came up trumps. Phil Coleman and his dedicated team of immensely hard-working volunteers put on a Championships that both they and we, as an Association, can be proud of.

"From the massive catering operation, run as an all-inclusive meal deal, to great on the water staffing, free on-site camping and a welcome smile from all those concerned, even providing a top-notch PRO late in the day, Burton SC outdid themselves. The club is truly a hidden gem of a sailing venue!"

Next stop for the UK fleet is Dale Yacht Club for the Rooster UK RS Tera National Championships 2022 on 3-5 June. For all Tera related activity in the UK, check out the UK RS Tera Class Association website at www.rstera.org.uk

PRO fleet podium at the Rooster RS Tera Start of Season Championships - photo © John Edwards

Pro Fleet Results:

Frensham Pond SC win the team trophy at the Rooster RS Tera Start of Season Championships - photo © John Edwards

Sport Fleet Results:

Sport fleet podium at the Rooster RS Tera Start of Season Championships - photo © John Edwards