Shearwater TT at Rutland Sailing Club
by Sarah Stuart 31 May 2022 02:14 NZST
Podium after the Shearwater TT at Rutland © Sarah Stuart
All arrived on Friday night at Rutland Sailing Club. It was a beautiful evening and a lovely
green field campsite full of sailors from lots of different classes with beers in hand, what
more could you ask for!
Saturday morning, we awoke to the sounds of birds and more importantly a good offshore
breeze, force 3 gusting 4. Lots of rigging and the usual tweaking and twiddling was in full
force before long, over at the club.
After a thorough briefing, we were off to start the three races back-to-back on the reservoir. With four different starts the Cat Classes were off! It was a fairly short
course with lots of transitions which meant a lot of place changes so really good racing to be
had.
Everyone came ashore with no major incidents, just some good racing. (I wasn't racing this
weekend, so have no idea who came where but very happy sailors when they got back in!!)
Everyone congregated back at the campsite for a well-earned BBQ. Mike and Jon joined us,
the new owners of Ally Cat so it was good to welcome them to the fleet. It was beautiful
evening so a few beers were drunk, burgers eaten and a good chat about the day's racing
and a fairly early night for everyone ready for the next day.
Sunday arrived with more sunny skies and similar wind conditions, but a little bit more gusty
which added to the racing excitement.
Ally Cat launched their spinnaker today, after a little help rigging, they got the hang of it and
completed all of the races. (Not quite sure what happened when coming back in, but I know,
even as a crew, that the boat upside down in the water isn't the most efficient way to sail!)
It was Dion and Maise's Allens first Shearwater outing this year and they did brilliantly.
The beach crew were influenced a little by William. They were found having a lovely
afternoon, sitting in the sun, drinking beer well before the boats came in, so trolleys were left
to the sailors!
All in all, a lovely weekend with the Shearwater family. Thank you, Rutland Sailing Club. Next TT is Newhaven & Seaford Sailing Club in June.
Overall results:
1st: New Flame - Jamie and Phillip Gibbons
2nd: Crowns - Nigel and Reuben Stuart
3rd: Jessabelle - Mark Norman and Hayley Britton