Challengers at the RYA Multiclass Regatta at Rutland Sailing Club

Pursuit race start sees close work by the Challenger fleet at the RYA Multiclass Regatta - Rutland in 2022 © Tony Mayhew

Thirteen Challengers were ready to take part in the RYA Sailability Multiclass Regatta held during the weekend 6-7 August at Rutland Sailing Club with substantial support from Rutland Sailability. Thirteen was clearly an unlucky number as one vehicle sprang a fuel leak and the number of sailors was reduced to twelve.

There was only one visiting boat: Allan Wall (308) from Peterborough Sailability brought a unique Challenger with both an electric mainsheet winch and electric steering.

However, there were two more visiting sailors. Ben Foulsham from Oxford Sailability was sailing the Class Association Challenger 263. Lynn Steward from Wigan and St Helens (WISH) SC, who is very new to Challenger sailing, was very kindly loaned Challenger 257 by Val Millward.

Challengers at the RYA Multiclass Regatta - Rutland in 2022 - photo © Tony Mayhew

The weather forecast was for sun and light winds so it would be ideal for novice sailors in all classes but it was unlikely to be sufficient to allow the Challengers to shine.

After the briefing the fleet was launched into a F2 gusting F3 north westerly breeze. The format for the day was three handicap races round a trapezoidal course. The Challengers shared the first start with the other fast boats and the Hansa class formed the second (slow) start. In total there were 39 boats across eight classes.

Race 1 was not good for the Challengers. While Nick Bett (261), Val Millward (312) and Graham Hall (270) were the first three Challengers they only managed 16th, 18th and 19th respectively.

Challengers at the RYA Multiclass Regatta - Rutland in 2022 - photo © Tony Mayhew

There was a certain amount of confusion around the start of race 2 but what was critical to the results was the race officer's decision to split the fleet by stopping some boats after a single lap. The four Challengers, led by Steve Lee (301), who did two laps came home second to fifth overall, whereas the rest of the Challengers were well down the fleet.

Race 3 saw a close and competitive start in the fast fleet. Again Nick seized the initiative and led the Challengers round the course to achieve second overall. Graham and Val were second and third Challengers respectively. Caz Jerromes (313) had her best race of the event in twelfth overall.

So with three handicap races completed the discard kicked in and overnight Nick was lead Challenger in third with Graham a single point behind. Bill Ridlington (297) was third Challenger and 13th overall.

Challengers at the RYA Multiclass Regatta - Rutland in 2022 - photo © Tony Mayhew

On Sunday the wind was again light and north westerly. The 90 minute, non-discardable, pursuit race was postponed for an hour to allow the wind to fill and stabilise.

Unfortunately Allan Wall's race was over before it began. Just before the start his electric steering began to behave erratically and he decided for everyone's safety it was better if he retired.

The Challengers started 25 minutes into the race and set off to hunt down the Hansas (and the solitary 2.4mR); All the Challengers made a very good start. Lynn was especially pleased with hers as she thought, that for once, she had managed to nail it! Again Nick took the lead but was over taken by Graham on the second beat.

After about 40 minutes the leading Challengers began to pick off the Hansas and in the final minutes Graham had worked himself up to second but the wind faded and an attempt to overtake Paul Phillips in his Hansa Liberty was not to be. Nick came off the water under the impression that he had not managed to pass Pat Crowley (in a Hansa Liberty) but the race officer thought differently and placed him fourth behind Mike Everitt (in a Hansa 303).

Challengers at the RYA Multiclass Regatta - Rutland in 2022 - photo © Tony Mayhew

Ben had by far his best race of the event to come home fourth Challenger and 11th overall. He was just beaten by Bill who was tenth overall. There is over seventy years difference in age between these two sailors which shows that the Challenger suits all ages.

The results were collated with help from the GPS trackers. This is the first time trackers have been used at the Multiclass and hopefully in the future they will remove the need to use tallies.

In the Challenger fleet, thanks to his performance in the pursuit race, Graham had a one point advantage over Nick, so was awarded the Millar Challenger Trophy. Bill put together a remarkable light wind performance over the two days to come third.

The final trophy awarded was the Ken Ellis Trophy given to the overall winner and, as Joff McGill (RYA Sailability Manager) announced, just one point separated the first four places. Second, third and fourth were separated on countback and Nick was the unlucky sailor in fourth place. Third was Rory McKinna in a Hansa 303 and second Paul Phillips. Much to his surprise, Graham was first overall and, for the first time since 2014, a Challenger sailor got to take the Ken Ellis Trophy home.

Thanks are due to RYA Sailability, Rutland Sailing Club but above all to Rutland Sailability who provided the many, many volunteers needed to make the event run smoothly.

Challengers at the RYA Multiclass Regatta - Rutland in 2022 - photo © Tony Mayhew

Challenger Results:

Full Multiclass Results:

Challengers at the RYA Multiclass Regatta - Rutland in 2022 - photo © Tony Mayhew