Musto Skiffs at the Rutland Challenge for the John Merricks Tiger Trophy

Rutland Challenge for the John Merricks Tiger Trophy © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Rutland Challenge for the John Merricks Tiger Trophy © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Three Mustos ventured up to Rutland to join local Richard Stenhouse with the hope there would be a window to get some races in between Storm Henry and Storm Imogen for the final event of the GJW Direct SailJuice Series.

The fleet of 70 or so boats were presented with a squally offshore breeze gusting into the high 20s. As we pulled up our mains watching the early launchers plane down wind there was a loud "snap!" as a B14 mast gave way as the kite filled 100m off the shore. This was enough to convince Stuart Harris of his decision to stay ashore whilst Paul Molesworth, Ben Schooling and Sten nervously launched.

Stuart was to have the last laugh though as after 30 minutes of trying to hold anchor the race committee gave up and postponed ashore hoping to get out later in the afternoon. The blast down to the start line was epic with 17.5kts clocked on the GPS without kite – I was too scared to pull it up! The slog back to the slipway was less fun with the rain stinging the face and the mainsail motoring like a Chinook.

A few optimists including Sten remained in their wetsuits hoping the wind would ease off while the rest of us including Paul Manning and Tim Chapman settled into the rugby in the clubhouse. With no signs of abating the race officer cancelled racing for the day and scheduled three fleet races for the Sunday in favour of the pursuit race.

Sunday dawned sunny and with more west in the wind looked marginally more inviting on the race course, I even put the kite up the run down to the start but regretted it soon after capsizing on the drop!

Stenhouse showed his intentions in race 1 to lead round the windward mark ahead of the chasing pack of Fireballs and 505s. Paul and I rounded further back in the fleet and I took my first swim of the race as the kicker pinged off on the top reach causing the boat to violently roll into windward.

Sten extended his lead until the 2nd lap where a nasty capsize allowed Paul to slip through. Paul held on for a lap but then got carried away and hoisted on the final lap with unsurprising results gifting the lead and win to Sten. I meanwhile had a rapid pitch-pole on the top reach which ejected my rudder blade clean out of the stock landing a good 10ft away!

Race 2 the wind had eased slightly but the gusts were still as ferocious. Sten put in a more solid performance and finished further up the fleet and Paul and I had a good battle and both stayed upright.

By the finish I has a narrow lead on the water but finished 3rd on points overall. It was clear it wasn't a day for skiffs with Fireballs ahead on the water so Paul and I headed in with only Sten staying out for the 3rd race. He was rewarded for his efforts with a 32kt rain squall that had most of the remaining fleet swimming!

Congrats to the young 420 team who followed in John Merricks' footsteps to take the overall win from the Fireball.

Watch the video.

The fleet are back up to Rutland on 2-3rd April for the first event of the season – I look forward to seeing you all there.