RS300s in the Harken RS End of Seasons Regatta at Rutland Sailing Club

Saturday saw six RS300s turn up to Rutland Sailing Club. Everyone stood on the bank thinking it looks a lot windier out on the lake than it feels on the shore and they were not wrong.

The forecast looked liked it was going to be right 20+ knots gusting 35. We headed off to the dam side of the lake to do a trapezoid course with the RS200 and RS Vareos going first start. Everyone lined up to the start sharing it with the RS600s and plenty of room was given whilst everyone appreciated the conditions. The end of the first beat saw Harry McVicar and Peter Mackin lead the fleet around with Sam Davy and Matthew Pedlow a little bit further behind.

RS300s during the Harken End of Seasons Regatta at Rutland - photo © Sam's Dad

The first reach went ahead with no dramas until Sam and Matthew round the 2nd mark and before them was all carnage on the run. With both Harry, Peter, multiple RS Varoes and RS600s already upside down in hope and fear. Sadly Peter Mackin did not recover from his capsize and decided to call it a day. No one made it down the first run without a little bit of swimming. At the final mark it was Harry followed by Matthew and then Steven Harvey. Around we went again for another lap this time Steven went for a big swim on the run and decided the conditions were the better of him and headed in. So Harry, Matthew, Sam and Rob Ford were the four finishers.

Race two: again no-one was too keen to push things at the start and off we headed up the beat. Aas we went we had the feeling that things were getting really windy. Harry and Matthew led with Sam and Rob pretty close behind at the windward mark. The next downwind leg was total chaos. Everyone at some point led and at some point went "oh no, I'm not, I'm swimming" so by the time we got to the final mark it was Harry followed by Rob, then Sam, then Matthew. Up the beat heading for the 2nd lap we watched as Harry, pushing at the front, blew his mast track off and that was his day over.

RS300s during the Harken End of Seasons Regatta at Rutland - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Rob took the lead and was then wiped flat whilst trying to complete a tack and decided his day was done. Sam then led, continuing up the beat looking at Matthew and thinking this is enough now, but as Matthew tacked towards the windward mark Sam thought no I'd best go with him. Matthew led at the windward mark and reach mark to then bear away dead downwind and have many a capsize. Sam thought no to that and went on a big zigzag downwind tacking round every time. By the final mark there was still not a lot of distance in it. Another beat Matthew took a bit more of a lead. Sam capsized on the first reach and was very relieved when the rescue boat came over and informed him they had taken a finish and to head in. Matthew went on to complete the lap and take the finish line.

Sunday was just as WINDY!

A gentleman's agreement was made and everyone decided that they would reef their sails. All apart from one: Josh Wilce who hadn't sailed on the Saturday. A lot of pre rigging was carried out whilst everyone decided which was the best way to go about reefing. It was not unnoticed by the rest of the dinghy park and a few RS600s thought this a good idea.

RS300s during the Harken End of Seasons Regatta at Rutland - photo © Sam's Dad

Again six boats sailed out to the start line in the same area and the same course, but this time the wind had swung more Westerly. There was a postponement while the race committee adjusted the course. This gave everyone the chance to try beating and sailing with the reefed sail. The first race got away with everything still very close at the windward mark but again the first run proved very challenging and even with reefs most people had a capsize. Peter Mackin decided to call it a day. By the time the 2nd lap came around the rest had got use to their new sail settings and a bit more calm order ensued. The race finished with Harry, Matthew, Josh, Sam then Rob.

Race four started with as much the same wind of the weekend but as the race went on it dropped a little and everyone started looking at their reefs thinking hmmm should I. But they just let a lot more control lines off. It was close race with a lot more jostling of positions and resulted in Harry winning from Matthew then Rob, Josh and Sam.

RS300s during the Harken End of Seasons Regatta at Rutland - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

The last race of the weekend started with another drop in the wind. As the last minute of the start count down started a big wind shift meant a big port bias at the pin end of the line. Matthew and Josh were winners whilst those at the committee boat end suffered. Harry, Rob and Sam had it all to do. For the first half of the race the wind stayed calmer until it built up to the strongest of the day. Everyone felt exhausted and was glad to make it round.

The race finished once again with Harry, Josh, Matthew, Rob, Sam. So it's congratulations to Harry our RS300 End of Seasons winner for 2021 who won a Harken voucher with his prize glass. Rooster National Tour caps were awarded to Sam Davy for Endeavour prize and Rob Ford for mid-fleet hero.

Harry McVicar wins the RS300 class in the Harken End of Seasons Regatta at Rutland - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

At prize-giving the Race officer commented was that he was very pleased that as a fleet we had taken steps to be able to sail for the day. It had made their hard work in organising and arranging all the volunteers worthwhile in very challenging conditions. Thank you very much to Rutland Sailing Club for hosting us so well in such strong wind. Thank you to Harken for sponsoring the RS End of Seasons Regatta.

Overall Results:

It was then the prize-giving for the RS300 Rooster National Tour. Five events were raced with three to count. The top five sailors won vouchers generously donated by Rooster. Congratulations to our 2021 RS300 Rooster National Tour winner Matt Pedlow!

RS300 Rooster National Tour Winner Matt Pedlow - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

RS300 Rooster National Tour Results: