RS400 Northern Tour at Carsington 15^th and 16^th May 2021

Sponsored by Rope4Boats

It’s been 18 months since RS400s gathered for a Northern Tour (Sponsored by Rope4Boats) event.  Back then Corona was regarded as bottled Mexican Lager, a super spreader was the clubs biggest and brightest inflatable buoy to be rounded after the windward mark, and self-isolating was loitering in the boat park, too afraid to enter the bar in case you meet the big guy you got overly excited with at the leeward mark.

Whilst the world feels a different place, there was a re-assuring familiar feel as the 27 RS400s gathered for the first Northern Tour event of the year at Carsington SC on the 15/16 May.  It was great to see new members to the fleet as well as familiar (not old) faces, along with the ever-present tour sponsor Rope4Boats who have kindly agreed to sponsor the circuit again.

The forecast was for light and potentially fickle winds, but that didn’t matter.  We’re sailing again!  As it was the wind performed at the top end of what was expected allowing three races to be held on Saturday.

The wind strength may have caught the OOD out for the first race as it was wrapped up in double quick time, with John Heissig and Nicky Griffin (Llangorse SC) taking the win ahead of Ben Williamson and Charlie Ticehurst (Welton SC).

Race 2 got underway with the OOD setting much longer legs.  With the fleet spread out over a wider course the osculating wind meant there were opportunities for big gains, as well as big losses if you were out on the wrong side, watching the fleet sail over you hoping your time would come soon. This time Sam Knight and Chris Bownes (Bartley SC) took the win ahead of Mike Sims and Mark Lunn (Carsington SC).

After a couple of last-minute postponements to accommodate the ever-shifting wind, race 3 was away, and in true RS400 fashion, the close racing saw yet another two boats at the front of the fleet with Chris Pickles and Matt Sharman (Bassenthwaite SC) taking the win ahead of Dave Exley and Alistair Coates (Leigh and Lowton SC).  Three races and each time two different boats at the front – good tight stuff.

Overnight as expected the scores were close with Pickles/Sharman one point ahead of Exley/Coates.  The racing was quickly forgotten as food was served under cover on the terrace, and brains were engaged as John Cunningham delivered his entertaining quiz.  It may have been the effects of the refreshments courtesy of event sponsor, The Shiny Brewery, but as the evening wore on the questions became increasingly challenging.

As day 2 dawned the wind was now at the bottom end of what could have been hoped for, but race 4 was away shortly after 10.00.  This time it was Ollie Groves and Sam Waller (Beaver SC) fresh into an RS400 from an RS200 who took the win ahead of Exley/Coates and Pickles/Sharman. 

As the wind dropped at the end of the race it felt like that maybe it for the day with several boats in overall contention.  On cue the breeze picked up for the start of race 5 to allow the crews to stretch their legs properly for the first time of the weekend.  As fast as it came, the wind went to the allow the lightest conditions of the weekend as the fleet drifted around the glassy reservoir.  Exley/Coates, powered by the previous nights Shiny Brewery refreshments took the win, ahead of Sims and Lunn.  As the wind now had given up completely the fleet were directed to shore giving Exley/Coates the overall win ahead of Pickles/ Sharman and Sims/ Lunn.

During the prizegiving there was a draw for Rope4Boats vouchers that we awarded to Nick Eves and Fred Lord, and then Rope4Boats Hats were awarded to Nicky Griffin, Tim Creswell and Joe Scurragh.

After the prize giving Dave Exley thanked Carsington Sailing Club for running a great event and hoped to see the fleet back out on the water in a few weeks at Tynemouth.

Hamish Gledhill