RS Feva Inland Championships 2012, sponsored by Insurance4dinghies.com, were hosted by Rutland Sailing Club over the weekend. The forecast was windy but with the wind hiding behind the clubhouse the conditions looked perfect and the 57 strong fleet headed out without a care in the world. It may not have been champagne sailing all weekend but it proved to be good quality cava!

The course was laid at the far end of the reservoir with the start line near the dam wall. After an initial recall, the first start got away in 15 knots with two boats black flagged. Leading at the first mark was Tom Darling and Will Dolin closely followed by Matt Whitfield and James Taylor with Chay and Stirling Taylor hot on their heels. As the wind increased to over 20 knots the back of the fleet suffered. Matt and James took the lead only to lose it at the finish when they failed to spot the shorten course allowing Tom and Will to take the win whilst Anna Prescott and Jess Eales took third. With 20 boats retired it took a while to re-group the safety team and relay the start line but when the second start got underway it was with one boat caught black flag.

By now the wind was up to 25 knots with white horses everywhere. In the lead at the windward mark was Edward Haynes and Daniel Wilson with second Anna and Jess, third Tom and Will. An incident with a windsurfer meant Matt and James capsized leaving Anna and Jess to take the win by sailing conservatively as they dropped their kite halfway down the run to two sail to the finish. Picking their way through the debris to finish second was Elliott Wells and Jake Todd with Chay and Stirling third.

The third race started with a heavy port biased line and the wind flicking right just at the gun. Tough racing and only half the fleet were left on the course but again Matt and James leading the fleet with Anna and Jess in second and Elliott and Jake in third. The majority of the fleet took a swim but as gusts hit 30 knots Matt and James held on to win convincingly with a huge gust to finish in a plume of spray. Flying downwind was Elliott and Jake to take second and third Anna and Jess which was enough to give them the overnight lead.

Sunday was forecast to be flat calm but again the fleet arrived to what looked like perfect wind conditions. By the time the fleet got to the start, a huge black cloud heralded torrential rain and a 28-knot gust. After a 10 minute postponement whilst the rainstorm passed the fleet got away in 15 knots.

Matt and James lead at windward mark from Tom and Will with Max and Guy third. Tom capsized on the gybe but held onto third at the leeward gate. Matt and James extended their lead by the windward mark as the wind increased again with Anna and Jess now in second. Matt and James salvaged a near capsize on the final gybe to hold the win from Max and Guy in second with Anna and Jess in third.

The fifth race started with a heavy starboard biased line as the wind dropped to 10 knots then flicked left in a gust as gun went ! But it was the same faces in front at the windward mark. The Matt and James masterclass continued with Tom and Will second then Max and Guy third. As the wind held lighter so the course was shortened giving Matt and James another win Max and Guy second whilst Tom and Will stayed upright for a change to take third.

Another big black cloud arrived for the start of the final race and brought 20 knots with it. Matt and James lead again at the windward mark with Lauren Miles and Esther Fenton-Jones second then Anna and Jess in third. As the white horses again covered the course Matt and James held their nerve to win the race and take the Inland Champs title. second across the line Elliott and Jake with Tom and Will third.

Overall it was Matt and James in first; Anna and Jess in second; Elliott and Jake in third; Max and Guy in fourth; Chay and Stirling in fifth; Tom and Will in sixth.

A big thank you to Insurance4dinghies.com for their sponsorship of the event which allowed for extra prizes to be awarded to the top sailors in various age categories who were not in the top six prizes. Elliott Wells was top 11 year old but the extra prizes went to Daniel Lewis (14th overall) and Piers Nicholls (21st overall). Top 12 year old was Jamie Smith (21st overall) and Harvey Martin (23rd overall). Top 13 year olds were Tom Darling and Will Dolin with prizes going to Huw Nunn (13th overall) and Hannah Bristow (18th overall).

Photo RS Feva Inland Championships 2012 Digital images

RS FEVA INLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS – 23rd & 24th June 2012

Rutland Sailing Club

Results are final as of 13:57 on June 24, 2012

Overall