Glorious sunshine, perfect breeze and fantastic racing was the story of the day at 2023 Sailing Chandlery RS200 Northern Tour as the series returned to Staunton Harold SC.

There was drama before the fleet hit the water as Northern Rep Ben Teague found himself a crew short at 7:00pm the evening before the event. After a frantic last minute search, 420 sailor and fellow British Keelboat Academy member Heather Quinn stepped and saved the day having never sailed an RS200 before.

The fleet launched into champagne sailing conditions with blue skies and 10 knots of breeze blowing straight down the reservoir. The PRO had set a windward/leeward course and race 1 got underway with a clean start. and Annabelle Page led the fleet round the first mark, and then every other mark are the sailed away to take a comfortable win. Behind them, the competition was hotting up as boats changed places on every leg. Chris and Evie Pickles managed to fender off those behind to take 2^nd place with Nigel and Di Pepperdine finishing 3^rd.

Race 2 got underway and those who chose the left hand side of the beat made the biggest gains with The Russell and Annabelle rounding first again with Ben and Heather, and Ben Dearden and Esme Barraclough close behind. After a couple of bad decisions, the two Ben’s successfully sailed their way back down the fleet whilst Chris and Evie stormed through to challenge for the lead. A close port/startboard incident between the Page and Pickles boat meant the fleet came in for lunch with a possible protest looming. However, Russell and Annabelle instead decided to retire meaning Chris and Evie took the win followed by Martin and Barbera Smith in 2^nd and Nigel and Di in 3^rd.

After a spot of lunch, the fleet hit the water but with a noticeable change – Ben had jumped in the front of the boat whilst Heather took the helm. The afternoon saw a slight increase in the breeze which worked in Chris and Evie’s favour as they took two wins to finish 1^st overall. Behind them, Russell and Annabelle put pressure on them but unfortunately could not catch them and took two 2^nd places to finished 2^nd overall. Nigel and Di rounded off a successful day with two more 3^rd places to finish 3^rd overall.

Thanks go to Nigel Pepperdine, the SHSC RS200 Fleet Captain, for his efforts organising the event and to the race team for putting on some great racing in fantastic conditions. A great day was had by all and we hope to bring to the Sailing Chandlery Northern Tour back to Staunton Harold SC in 2024!

We are now halfway through the 2023 Sailing Chandlery Northern Tour which has so far seen 23 entries from 7 different clubs. Leigh and Lowton’s Martin and Barbera Smith are currently in 1^st overall with Yorkshire Dales’s Ben Dearden and Alice Carter/Esme Baraclough in 2^nd and Leigh and Lowtons’s Chris and Evie Pickles in 3^rd.

Next up, the tour is heading the beautiful Lake District for the Lord Birkett Trophy at Ullswater YC. This event is one of the biggest on the dinghy sailing calendar and is not to be missed! 13 RS200s have entered so far and the event promises to be a fantastic one!

https://www.ullswaterycbirkett.org/