Results / Harken Sprints Rutland SC - 25/04/2026

Light winds, plenty of patience, and 25 starts later… the Harken Sprints delivered a fantastic day of racing at Rutland!

 

Huge congratulations to our class winners:

 

RS100 – Ian Gregory

RS300 – Harry McVicar

RS400 – Paul Hilliar & Tom Halhead

RS500 – Tim & Heather Wilkins

RS600 – Jamie Mawson

RS Vareo – Chris Abbott

 

Scroll down for your fleet report!

RS100

Impeccable consistency from Ian Gregory!

Four competitors gathered at Rutland Sailing Club on Saturday 25th April for the annual RS Sprints, sponsored by Harken,  part of the Rooster National Tour. The sun shone, but the wind failed to appear. The planned 12.30 start was delayed an hour and then again. With the forecast showing no sign of the wind conditions improving, the decision of the race team led by PRO John Fothergill was to abandon racing for the day.

Sunday morning dawned with a steady 7 kt south easterly. The forecast was for the wind to shift progressively to an easterly and wind strength to slowly drop, so the race team were keen not to hang around and fleet racing duly started on time at 10.30. Ian Gregory (Frensham Pond/Stokes Bay SC) took an early lead in Race 1, which he wasn’t to surrender and was first to claim the windward mark. Tom Fletcher (Hunts SC) pulled clear of Martyn Catlow (Leigh and Lawton SC) to claim second and third respectively. The wind shifted left for the start of Race 2 and so everyone ended up at the port end of the start line but all were able to get away cleanly. The fleet split with Darrell Sleep (Burghfield SC) staying left and everyone else tacking off. Darrell Sleep was able to find a lift and some extra breeze and claimed the windward mark ahead of Ian Gregory. On the downwind leg Ian was able to overhaul Darrell by finding  a better angle while maintaining his speed. Ian Gregory claimed his second bullet with Darrell Sleep claiming second and Tom Fletcher taking third. With the wind strength falling patches of wind could be seen across the race course. Ian Gregory took an early lead in Race 3 while behind Darrell Sleep, Tom Fletcher and Martyn Catlow fought it out for the other places. At the start of the downwind leg, Tom Fletcher gybed off as he had seen a patch of wind on the right hand side of the course, enabling him to overtake Darrell Sleep and reach the leeward mark second behind Ian Gregory. The positions didn’t change again and so Ian Gregory took his third bullet with Tom Fletcher taking second ahead of Darrell Sleep in third. Race 4 saw Ian Gregory pull out an impressive lead in very light and patchy wind conditions allowing him to claim his third windward mark with Darrell Sleep in second and Martyn Catlow in third. On the final downwind leg all three stayed on the left side of the course while Tom Fletcher in fourth immediately gybed off and it paid off allowing him to overtake both Darrell Sleep and Martyn Catlow to claim second behind Ian Gregory claiming his fourth bullet of her day.  Behind, Martyn Catlow claimed third by finding pressure enabling him to go low and inside Darrell Sleep before the finish turning mark.

With the wind pressure dropping to virtually nothing and with no hope for it to return the Race Officer abandoned racing for the day. With an impressive display of speed, Ian Gregory (Frensham Pond/Stokes Bay SC) took all four wins and first overall. With three seconds, Tom Fletcher (Hunts SC) was second overall ahead of Darrell Sleep (Burghfield SC) in third overall, with Martyn Catlow (Leigh and Lawton SC) being awarded the Endeavor prize.

Darrell Sleep

RS400

Clean sweep for Paul Hilliar and Tom Halhead, plus return of the Pink Panther!

The weather forecast for Saturday was spot on. Little wind dying to no wind. The atmosphere in the dinghy park was relaxed as the sun provided warm therapy for all. The PRO called time early for the day which meant a relaxed afternoon-leaving some time for boat bimbling. 

The RS400 technical Rep was seen with a comprehensive tool box open in front of him, but obviously his teeth were more effective. Sam and Chris generated a strong smell of solvents while renewing their pro grip which gathered quite the crowd at one point.

Congratulations to the RS400 quiz team who scored the highest achievement of the day winning the evening entertainment.

Sunday racing started promptly in a light but chilly breeze. The first start saw the majority of the fleet choosing the pin end. The one exception at the committee boat end were last around the first mark. Tom and Paul had a close battle with Sam and Chris / Jon and Nicky Willars each taking advantage of whichever shift or gust came their way

The wind slowly declined with bigger shifts and larger holes appearing over the next three races. Tom and Paul were consistently the best on route choice and using what wind came their way, ended up leading by each finish line. There was close racing throughout the fleet with most boats (including the returning Pink Panther!) taking a turn in the lead, most showing that the penalty for finding a hole in the wind could be substantial.

The fifth race was abandoned leaving the fleet to paddle and rock home generally feeling over-dressed in the increasing temperature. Overall after some great racing Tom and Paul won with all firsts, Sam and Chris salvaged second. Andy Powell received a special prize for overcoming injury and getting back onto the open meeting circuit.

Thanks to the Race Officer and his team for making all the right choices, Laurie and Lizzie for all the RS Class association organising and of course to our sponsors Harken for the prizes.

Jon Heissig

RS500 Report:

We all agreed that it was kind of the weather gods to allow us all to enjoy day 1 by soaking up the rays with a couple (or more) cold beers in hand, chatting as we usually do. Well that’s the write up for day 1 covered!

Day 2 started with a steady…ish 9kt south easterly breeze which was looking promising for a full schedule of 6 sprint races.

Race 1 saw Tim and Heather Wilkins (920) take a pretty comfortable victory. Nigel and Aaron Davis (1750) securing a 2nd ahead of Mike Saul and Ollie Kent (1689) after a ‘snakes and ladders’ type exchange on a very patchy race course, a theme which only continued in a constantly slackening breeze.

Tim and Heather continued their winning ways in race 2, though Mike and Ollie did a good job of keeping the boat moving well between the pockets of pressure to take 2nd in this one. The reservoir valve tower provided a tactical challenge for crews on the final beat, choosing between sailing to the preferred left side earlier through the wind shadow, or stay inside longer and keep to windward in clearer air.

Race 3 provided more of the same tight racing between all three boats, even catching some of the 400’s in the ‘car park’ at the top of the second beat. Another tactical battle to join up pockets of pressure on the course ensued which Tim and Heather managed best, taking their 3rd bullet of the day. Nigel and Aaron secured 2nd ahead of Mike and Ollie.

Race 4 saw a nail biting (for someone I’m sure), super tight finish where all three crews were separated by no more than 4 boat lengths at the line. The downwind leg to the final mark provided the greatest adrenaline hit of the day where the age old, ‘speed vs distance’ conundrum was playing out. Mike and Ollie worked themselves inside and to windward of Tim and Heather, both crews doing everything they could to soak as deep as possible to avoid costly extra gybes. Nigel and Aaron were further out but in better pressure with a speed advantage over the other boats. As the boats compressed into the mark it was Mike and Ollie that rounded first, securing their first win of the day. Tim and Heather squeezed out second having held off Nigel and Aaron slightly to windward.

Thank you to John Fothergill and his team at Rutland Sailing Club who provided good race management in tricky conditions. A great start to what promises to be an exciting year for the RS500 class, see you all at Dabchicks for our next event!

If you are interested in getting into the class please email [email protected]

By Aaron Davis

RS600 Report:

Written by Marcus Parkes

After the first day was cancelled due to a lack of wind, a keen group of RS600 sailors hit the water for 6 scheduled races in a marginal trapezing breeze. In the first race of the day the fleet decided that the pin end was favoured with the majority of the fleet starting there. Will Russell and Jamie Mawson managed the best starts in race one and they were followed up the first beat closely by Matt Potter and Marcus Pakes. The fleet closed up on the downwind as bands of pressure came down the lake which resulted in the fleet splitting tacks as they went up the 2^nd beat. Will and Marcus chose to take to the left hand side which then lifted allowing Will to take the lead from Jamie. This also allowed Marcus to overtake Matt on the reach. These positions remained the same but the fleet closed up with Ian Jubb making up a lot of ground and putting Matt and Marcus under pressure. Race one’s podium was Will, Jamie then Marcus.

Heading into race two the breeze was just about holding, Will had a brilliant start off the pin with Marcus close behind. In the first downwind the fleet was very tight with lots of gybes being completed while people tried to get clear air. The breeze was beginning to drop as the fleet headed upwind again with the far left side of the leg being favoured, which allowed Jubby and Matt to make up places. This resulted in Will being 1^st, Jubby 2^nd and Jamie 3^rd.

The breeze had begun to build again as we entered race 3. Again the pin end was favoured and Jamie and Will got away the cleanest. Coming onto the downwind Matt found some good pressure and managed to take the lead which he extended on the second upwind. On the downwind Matt, Will and Jamie found themselves in a lull down the left side and also in the dirty air of other fleets coming upwind. Marcus had found some great pressure down the right side of the leg but couldn’t close the gap enough to the top 3. This resulted in Matt getting his first race win of the event! He was followed by Will, Jamie then Marcus and Jubby.

Going into race 4 the wind had really begun to drop. Will, Jubby and Matt were all trying to fight Jamie for the pin but became victim to a last minute wind shift and stalled allowing Jamie to get away cleanly followed by Marcus and William Lloyd. Jamie held his lead for the rest of the race but had to hold off a last minute challenge from Marcus on the second downwind. They were followed by Matt then Will.

Going into race 5 the wind had dropped to a level where it had become extremely difficult to get trapezing. Marcus managed to win the pin end but was covered by Jamie resulting in him having to tack off. Jubby had also had a good start and showed some great downwind speed to take the lead going on to the second upwind leg. The wind by this point had really dropped and everyone had headed over to the left hand side. Marcus managed to make the most of the little wind to overtake Jubby just before a huge wind shift affected the leg. As the fleet began the reach the wind shifted so it first became a beat, then a dead run! Jamie, Will and Jubby all stuck very close to Marcus’  transom until the final gybe mark for the finish. Marcus chose to gybe early and go for the pin of the finish whereas Jamie went to the finish boat opting to gybe late. Jamie just managed to drift ahead of Marcus enough to get the race win and the overall race win.

It was a great event even if it was limited by the wind and a huge thanks has to go to Rutland Sailing Club for putting on a great event despite the challenging conditions. Also thanks to Harken and Rooster for all their support.