RS Tera Start of Season Championships
Seventy Six Boats from around the UK took part in the start of season championship which was held at Northampton sailing club, with seven sailors from the Island taking part.
The first race on Saturday was a shifty and overcast affair of around 10 Knots, with the race team, setting a great course in the Southerly breeze. First away were the PRO fleet with twenty-five boats taking part with Erin Murphy ,Ffinlo Wright, Matthew Perry and James Arnold who was making his first appearance in a National event.
The Sport fleet included Manx Sport Aid recipient Ben Batchelor along with brothers Patrick and Alec Cope. Ben chased the leader all the way finishing 3rd. A quick break for lunch and then back out for another two races back to back with increased breeze and some strong gusts in beautiful sunshine, a perfect sailing afternoon.
In the PRO fleet after three races Erin had a score of 13,16,18. Ffinlo had 15,21,and an excellent sixth place. Matthew was carrying 21,11,20, and James 22,24,26.
In the SPORT fleet Ben had scored a 3,7,3. with Patrick carrying 16,22,9. Alec had scored 19,51,22.
Sunday dawned with a slightly decreased breeze but from the North East, blowing straight over the trees on the Eastern shore, a slightly different challenge for the race team, it was very shifty, and a very different challenge for the sailors, dealing with shift, gusts, bend and holes.
In the Sport fleet, Ben took his first ever race win in a National competition , with Patrick getting a very good eight place, and Alec scoring a well earned 11th place. For the Pro fleet Ffinlo highest place was a sixth, Erin best result was a 10th with Matthew it was 11th place and James was 22nd.
Overall results after six race the Pro fleet Erin came 17th with Ffinlo 18th,Matthew 21st and James 24th.
In the Sport fleet Ben came 4th overall with Patrick 15th and Alec 22nd
The Manx Youth Sailing Squad would like to thank their sponsors the IOM Steam Packet and Equiom for all their help, along with Seventh Wave and the Isle Of Man Yacht Club.