RS500 Inland Championship at Grafham Water Sailing Club

RS500 Inland Championships day 2 © Graham Timms

The RS500 fleet were welcomed to Grafham Sailing Club on Saturday 5th October with beautiful sunshine and a sheltered rigging area.

The race officer started promptly in the 12 to 15 knot southerly breeze, with everyone trying to gain in the slight shifts up the first beat. It was the son and father team, Sam and Robin Leather that lead the close fleet at the windward mark. There followed some wild downwind sailing as the breeze increased to include gusts up to 18 knots, with large gains to be made by aiming and staying in the gusts. Big brother Thomas Leather and Maeve Hall showed their downhill speed securing a first, with local boats Peter Curtis and Martyn Denchfield in second and John Reynolds and Fran Howell in third.

RS500 Inland Championships day 2 - photo © Hilary Talbot

Whilst the breeze moderated for the next two races, the intensity of the racing increased. Sam and Robin maintained their first-at-the-windward-mark success in all three races but could not hold the fleet back. Mike Saul and Oli Kent improved throughout the day peaking with a 2nd in the last race, but it was Peter and Martyn securing firsts in races two and three, that put them as overall leaders at the end of the day, with Thomas and Maeve and father, daughter combo Bob and Isla Preston in joint second.

The fleet enjoyed a fantastic curry at the club on Saturday night, sharing notes on tuning and handling to help each other, especially fleet newcomers Catherine and Douglas.

Sunday morning presented the 500s with similar comfortable winds and shifts to tease, though the race officer nearly caught a couple of boats out with his military time-keeping schedule. Bob and Isla won the first race, with Thomas and Maeve hard on their transom in second and John and Fran securing a third again, showing they perform best in the first races of the day. Thomas and Maeve won the second race, with Mike and Oli in hot pursuit, finishing second.

Peter Curtis and Martyn Denchfield - RS500 Inland Championships winners - photo © Hilary Talbot

Battles were had throughout the fleet at front, middle and back, and saw some personal battles with boat speed and handling. There were frequent place changes from back to front and vice versa. Despite winning the final race Bob and Isla settled for third overall as Thomas and Maeve performed more consistently well, taking second. It was class expert Peter, with stand-in crew, Martyn, who had done just enough, sneaking in a second in the last race to be crowned Inland Champions 2024! A great event for the 500 fleet and a warm welcome from the host club.

RS500 Inland Championships - Prize winners - photo © Hilary Talbot

We hope to return to GWSC in June 2025, in the meantime, the finale of the Rooster National Tour 2024, is the RS End Of Seasons at Rutland SC, 2/3 November.

Overall Results:

RS500 Inland Championships - photo © Hilary Talbot