RS Aero East Coast Championship 2022

by Bow Caddy Media 16 Jan 16:07 AEDT
14-16 January 2022

There was a mixed bag of conditions for Day 2 of the RS Aero East Coast Championship being held at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club this weekend on Sydney’s Pittwater.

The event was to have been the RS Aero National Championship, but as the regatta drew near it was clear that the Victorian fleet would wisely not be taking the risk of coming to Sydney, given the spread of Omicron across Australia.

Storm-like skies for Race 1 on the race course north of Scotland Island kept the prevailing nor’easter at bay and required careful calls up the course in the patchy 3-5 knot conditions. The clouds gradually rolled away and the nor’easter came in by mid-afternoon at 10 plus knots, adding some welcome life to Races 2 and 3. The three rig types – 5m2, 7m2 and 9m2 – shared the same starts but were scored independently.

After a total of seven races completed on Friday and Saturday, Simon Reffold’s Camp Freddy (RPAYC) was leading the 9m2 rig division, Richard Tew’s Hong Kong Mouse (BSC) was leading the 7m2 division, just one point ahead of Garry Ratcliffe’s Rat Race (GRSC). Ingrid Vinot’s Sul Sea (CYC) was holding first place in the 5m2 division.

The final day of racing today (Sunday) looks set to round out a spread of conditions with a 15 knot southerly currently blowing under sunny skies.