RS Aero UK Open and National Championship at Eastbourne Sovereign SC - Day 3
by RS Aero UK Class Association 31 Aug 2020 23:09 NZST
28-31 August 2020
RS Aero UK Open and National Championship - Day 3 © Gary Smith
Day 3 of the 2020 RS Aero UK Nationals saw another breezy day with the wind piping up to 30 knots as the fleet was set to launch. The forecast was for it to moderate with the main question being how soon.
After a long postponement the fleet was rewarded with a moderated breeze and an exciting days racing. Once again we had a challenging northerly straight off the land. Those sailors who successfully found some good bearings upwind and located some of the streaky gusts were able to make healthy gains.
The start certainly provided some difficult decision making with sizable shifts flicking the bias back and forth and a cross tide to consider too. A conclusion was that it if you could not guarantee which wend was best to start at then it was important to try to be on the lift tack as quickly as possible as you exited the start line. After several enthusiast recalled starts the fleets were finally unleashed onto the race course.
In the RS Aero 7s Sam Whaley secured the championship with a 1,3 but the day belonged to Peter Barton who secured his 2nd overall with a 2,1. A titanic battle s unfolding for the Bronze Medal with Tim Hire, Greg Bartlett, Dominic Hall and Noah Rees all horn locked and set for the final showdown.
The RS Aero 5 caught up to the RS Aero 7s schedule with three races and the 10-18kn wind during racing and and flatter water allowed lighter sailors to make there mark. Mike Wood of the RAF and Draycote held his lead with a 7,1,2 whilst Andrew Frost managed to keep within striking distance five points back with a 2,2,9. David Peaty and Leo Wilkinson has now taken the lead in the RS Aero 5s with an impressive 2,2,1 with Andrew Frost. David Peaty and Leo Wilkinson are in the chase a few points back, set to pounce onto the top spots of the podium given any opportunity.
Shore side activity managed to include the customary daily prize-giving and Top Tips from the day's leaders, held outside one fleet at a time to enable social distancing.
Lighter winds and some bright blue skies for the final day' at Eastbourne, the UKs sunniest town according to the Met, will give the championship a full range of wind strengths and sea state, something for everybody!
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