RS Aero UK Winter Series 2015-2016 : Mid-way report

by RS Aero UK Class Association 28 Jan 2016 11:18 GMT 28 January 2016

Paul Robson at the Oxford Blue © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Competition hotting up at the halfway stage

The RS Aeros are now 5 events into their 9 event UK Winter Series and competition is steadily building for this year's title.

The Series spans from Yorkshire to Devon and is part made up of some of the ever popular GJW SailJuice Winter Series. Later in the series there are more events outside SailJuice including two in the Southwest, the Starcross Steamer and the Roadford Rocket. At the Starcross Steamer recently the RS Aeros were one of the largest classes on the start line with 10 boats racing. At this weekend's Steve Nicholson Trophy at Northampton the RS Aeros have the largest (combined) class with 15 entered in advance!

The series is so far scored as the best two results to count. Matt Thursfield (Chelmarsh) has been overtaken for the overall lead by Peter Barton (Lymington) after he finishing both first RS Aero and first overall at Starcross. Whilst little can be taken in terms of performance evidence with the fickle wind and increasing tide, that result certainly verifies the RS Aero 9's potential in the lighter wind ranges.

Richard Watsham in light winds at the Starcross Steamer - photo © Richard Fryer

Top Youth and Lady so far is Caitlin Atkin (Alton Water) in her RS Aero 5 whilst Gareth Griffiths (Island Barn) is set to pounce on the Maters title with a 1st place in the bag from the Bloody Mary.

Best traveller so far is Andrew Snell (Salisbury) who has competed in every event. He is steadily putting together a strong series, as is Richard Watsham (Starcross). Both will be rewarded when the third counter is required later in the series as they each hold a deuce of 2nds.

The largest turnout so far in this series for the RS Aeros is the Winter Championships that formed was part of the Oxford Blue, with 22 RS Aeros on the water. That event and/or the series finale, the RS Aero Spring Championships at Grafham on 19/20th March, must be counted. This will serve to keep the series all to play for with racers able to shave points off any results from Oxford at Grafham.

Karl Thorne enjoying reaching in his '7' at the Oxford Blue - photo © Tim Olin

Both the RS Aero events calendar and updated reports and results can be found on the Class website at www.rsaerosailing.org

Results after 5 Events:

Pos	Helm	Club	Sail No	Brass Monkey	Grafham Grand Prix	Oxford Blue Winter Champs	Bloody Mary	Starcross Steamer	Pts
1	Peter BARTON	Lymington Town SC	1175	100	100	1	100	1	2
2	Matt THURSFIELD	Chelmarsh SC	1208	100	1	3	13	100	4
3	Will TAYLOR	PlymUni/Brightlingsea	1164	100	3	4	100	100	7
4	Andrew SNELL	Army SA	1689	2	2	7	3	4	9
5	Richard WATSHAM	Starcross YC	1298	100	100	8	2	2	10
7	Nev HERBERT	Royal Lymington YC	1370	100	100	6	100	8	14
6	Caitlin ATKIN	Alton Water SC	1568	100	4	10	4	100	14
8	Karl THORNE	Royal Lymington YC	1302	100	100	14	5	7	19
9	Andy HILL	Hayling Island SC	1792	100	100	20	6	100	26
10	Nick EALES	Lymington Town SC	1211	100	100	17	13	100	30
11	Martin HEWITT	Nottingham SC	1076	4	100	28	100	100	32
12	Gareth GRIFFITHS	Island Barn Res SC	1023	100	100	100	1	100	101
13	Martin BARRETT	Ripon SC	1062	1	100	100	100	100	101
14	Ben PATON	Lymington Town SC	137	100	100	2	100	100	102
15	Steve Bailey	Starcross YC	1264	100	100	100	100	3	103
16	Steve NORBURY	Warsash SC	1232	100	100	5	100	100	105
18	Dan Bridger	Salcombe YC	1752	100	100	100	100	5	105
17	Jonathan RICKELS	Grafham Water SC	1141	100	5	100	100	100	105
19	Richard Willows	Roadford Lake SC	5	100	100	100	100	6	106
19	Pierre KIEFFER	YC Luxembourg LUX	999	100	100	100	7	100	107
20	Liam WILLIS	Lymington Town SC	10	100	100	9	100	100	109
21	Peter TOWNEND	Chelmarsh SC	1428	100	100	11	100	100	111
22	Chris James	Exe SC	1132	100	100	100	100	11	111
23	Mark Pollard	Starcross YC	1397	100	100	100	100	11	111
24	Rory PATON	Royal Lymington YC	999	100	100	12	100	100	112
25	Paul ROBSON	Reading SC	1079	100	100	13	100	100	113
27	Arnaud BOUCHEZ	CN Wimereux FRA	1219	100	100	100	13	100	113
28	Andre FREDRICH	YC Luxembourg LUX	10	100	100	100	13	100	113
29	Yves STEFFEN	YC Luxembourg LUX	1340	100	100	100	13	100	113
30	David CHERRILL	Broadwater SC	1002	100	100	15	100	100	115
31	ArchieHAINSWORTH	Alton Water SC	1173	100	100	16	100	100	116
32	Lucy GREENWOOD	New Hall School	1685	100	100	18	100	100	118
33	Emily DAVIS	Great Moor SC	1301	100	100	19	100	100	119
34	Julie WILLIS	Lymington Town SC	1210	100	100	21	100	100	121
35	Ash ROBATHAN	Oxford SC	1103	100	100	22	100	100	122
36	Nigel ROLFE	Burghfield SC	1551	100	100	28	100	100	128
37	Mark LEWIS	Oxford SC	1001	100	100	28	100	100	128
38	Lee WILDE	Chelmarsh SC	1093	100	100	28	100	100	128
39	Pam DICKINSON	South Cerney SC	1590	100	100	28	100	100	128