RS400 Trident UK Northern Tour at the Filey Regatta 2024

RS400 Trident UK Northern Tour at the Filey Regatta © Dave Clark

Eleven boats braved the "summer" conditions of a strong 18-22 knot north westerly breeze and lumpy seas for the Filey Regatta.

The windward/leeward course was set towards the south of the bay meaning the right hand side of the course wasn't protected by the Brigg, for both wind and waves.

Day 1

The race team quickly organised post-briefing and the fleet launched on time for the scheduled first start. The line was setup for a committee boat (starboard bias) so the fleet lined up with tide under them for a congested start.

Phil Murray & Neil Schofield started closest to the port end, along with Chris Pickles & Matt Sharman. Hamish Gledhill & Ross Southwell won the committee boat end and the headed off upwind.

With the strong breeze and a relatively slow tidal current, it was a game of picking the shifts and navigating the choppy waves to see who could edge the first beat, due to this, majority of the fleet rounded the windward mark in close proximity.

Gledhill & Southwell in first, followed by Pickles & Sharman, Ben Williamson & Jon Willars dared for a gap tacking in from port to round just ahead of Jacob Ainsworth & Kayleigh Roberts, then Alex Oyston & Catherine Hide.

The first five boats headed away on starboard adjacent to the shoreline while Murray & Schofield made the decision to gybe immediately on the spreader and opt for the big waves out of the bay, proving a fruitful decision when the fleet rejoined at the leeward gate, as they'd jumped into third.

Pickles & Sharman showing their downwind speed had managed to catch Gledhill & Southwell and retain that position through all five (yes five!!!) laps to take the first race.

Some controversy with one teams' interpretation of the SIs saw Williamson & Willars turn back having rounded the leeward mark for a fourth time in the hopes of an "early finish" looked like an unfortunate DNF, however a kind race team allowed for redress once back on shore.

Pickles & Sharman winners, Gledhill & Southwell second, Murray & Schofield third.

Another clean start in race 2 with the race officer instructing a three-lap race prior to start this time saw yet more close racing between all the fleet. This time, with a building breeze, Ainsworth and Roberts proved why they were sailing under full power, as they took the lead early up the first beat and retained it through to the end.

The fleet behind swapped positions up and downwind, but couldn't catch the leaders.

Ainsworth & Roberts first, Pickles & Sharman second, Murray & Schofield third.

Quick turnarounds were a feature of the day as the breeze remained constant both in strength and direction as race 3 got under way.

With the fleet gaining a good understanding of where was fast both upwind and downwind, yet more close battling was had. However, a trend was beginning to form. Pickles & Sharman were a constant near to, or at the front. Unlike the previous close battles, they managed to put a bit of distance between themselves and everyone else.

After 3 laps, "Team Tynemouth" were best of the rest, with Murray & Schofield second, Ainsworth & Roberts third, Oyston & Hide in fourth.

The fleet were sent back to shore, all with a lot less energy than they left it with. Food, drinks and live music were laid on at the club and despite the rain, sailors met to debrief with a beer on the day's events.

Day 2

Another day of glorious summer weather... a bit less rain, but more wind and even bigger seas!

Again, the wind blew from the North-West, which made viewing from the shoreline deceiving and a few crews were seen to be adjusting shrouds in the rolling sea once course side - helms with their eyes firmly closed while doing so.

Some of the wiser sailors had opted for a day on land, given the strong winds, meaning only seven boats launched amidst the high, breaking waves.

As was the theme of day 1, the race office team were well prepared upon sailors' arrival to the course area, and the first (fourth overall) start sequence was quickly under way.

A tidal current against the line meant that most were slightly late, although with the strong breeze this didn't make much difference when they regrouped at the windward mark. There was a trade-off between bigger winds on the right side of the course, but much bigger rolling seas, or head towards the shore for slightly flatter waters.

Ainsworth & Roberts were in form again as they rounded the mark first. However, over the three laps, positions chopped and changed and they couldn't hold on. Pickles & Sharman again finding themselves at the front come the end of the third lap. Murray & Schofield remained consistent with their early gybes to start the downwind to go for the surfers back towards the leeward gate which saw them climb back up into second, and that was that.

Pickles first, Murray second and Ainsworth third.

Race 5 was much the same story. The fleet started together towards the starboard end, with some boats tacking off early to separate, only to come together a bit later in the leg.

As the sea continued to build the left (shore) side became more and more favourable for those who couldn't keep the boat constantly flat. This saw Murray & Schofield round the mark first, followed by Gary Knott & Chloe Willars who came in on a lovely port lay line lift to sneak inside of Oyston & Hide.

The wind died slightly as the rain (again) began to fall, which saw one of the first downwind legs of the weekend, where planing wasn't a constant.

Some good surfing saw Oyston & Hide climb to second, chasing down the leaders. Another two laps saw Murray & Schofield extend their lead, with positions changing between the rest.

Oyston & Hide rounded the final windward mark in second, followed by Pickles & Sharman. The wind had returned, and a large gust allowed the gap between second and third expand, relieving pressure on Oyston for the final few gybes to the finish.

Murray first, Oyston second & Pickles third. That saw Pickles and Sharman with a very consistent regatta, safe to head for an early shower as they'd wrapped up the win with a race to spare.

Final race (sixth overall) saw an even smaller fleet, again Murray & Schofield rounded the windward first followed closely by Williamson & Willars.

The battle continued with Williamson getting ahead up the final beat, as the two boats split off for their final downwind. Williamson gybing out to sea meant Murray opted for the shoreline first, but it wasn't to be enough to overtake the leaders, so as positions were at the final windward it ended.

Williamson first, Murray second and Oyston third.

Overall, a fantastic job by the race office team to get six races completed in some testing conditions, and albeit knackered, a content fleet chatted about the fantastic two days sailing they'd just experienced, while packing up their boats to get off the beach amidst the rush of cars and campers.

Trident UK - Northern Sponsors - awarded vouchers to:

• £20 Alex Oyston & Catherine Hide
• £15 Keith Escritt
• £10 Gary Knott

Overall Results: