RS Vareo End of Season Regatta at Rutland Sailing Club

RS Vareo End of Seasons Regatta © Peter Fothergill

Saturday 2 Nov saw the start of the combined RS fleets End of seasons Regatta at Rutland Water. High winds were forecast for lunchtime day one and sure enough just as the RS Vareo fleet started to launch the gales arrived.

Fortunately for some of us the postponement siren went just before our feet left terra firma but Mike Drencher and Cheryl Wood in their eagerness had already blasted out into the angry waters. They fought to make it back to shore with the rest of the RS fleets' encouragement and racing was abandoned for the day. So everyone retired to the bar somewhat earlier than expected.

By way of contrast day two dawned with very light winds. Race one got under way with Nick Crickmore taking an early lead with the rest of the fleet close behind. Luke Fisher managed to ride a huge lift up the right-hand side of the second beat and managed to hold his lead to the end, followed by Nick, Cheryl, Mike and Alan Bassatt.

In race two Alan had a great start and led for the first lap but was unlucky to get caught by Nick and Luke to finish third with Mike in fourth. By the end of a hard-fought race three which Nick dominated, it was down to final race to decide the overall results. The first two boats were never far apart in the final race with Luke just managing to hold off Nick to the finish but just behind them, Alan and Mike rounded the final mark together with only a 40m tight kite leg to the line, with Alan just managing to prevail.

Overall, we had some great close racing, well organised by Rutland Sailing Club with the help of Clare and the RS race team. A huge thank you to the RS Vareo Groupies for once again providing us with beer and cakes. We also had our annual Rooster National Tour prizegiving. As ever in the RS Vareo fleet, everyone gets a prize, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors Volvo, Rooster and RS Sailing. Unfortunately Alan missed out on the big one by a gnat's whisker and Cheryl couldn't stop to collect her special prizes but there was plenty of glass wear, travel mugs and hats for all.

Overall Results:

Prizegiving - RS Vareo End of Seasons Regatta - photo © Peter Fothergill

See the RS Vareo 2019 Rooster National Tour results here

We'd like to say a massive thanks to our friends at Volvo for their support of the event! Volvo has a long-standing relationship with sailors via their continued support of British Sailing.

Volvo's partnership with RS Sailing means RS Vareo Class Association members can benefit from a generous discount on Volvo's product range, as well as servicing, finance and accessories.

Find out more at rssailing.com/volvo-rs-affinity-scheme

On Saturday afternoon, over a selection of quality local ales, before proceeding to the fleet Christmas dinner and pig tossing competition, the fleet confirmed the main events for 2020:

9-10 May POSH Regatta at Paignton SC (much enjoyed Nationals venue last year)
12-14 June Milton Keynes SC Inlands - including training and practice sessions
Mid July 3 day National Championships at Itchenor Sailing Club
7-8 Nov RS End of Season Regatta at Rutland SC
We have also already received invitations from our continental RS Vareo friends to their main events:
12-13 Sept Czech Skiff open - Nove Mlyny Lake
19-20 Sept Czech Nationals - Brno
3-4 Oct Open Dutch Skiff Trophy - La Bruinisse, the Netherlands.

Fancy trying an RS Vareo? The fleet now have loan boats available at all the UK and European events and at our winter training venue Oulton Broad SC. Contact Nick Crickmore via the RS Vareo Class Association web page.