2007 Nationals 13-14 October 2007 - Report 

19 Rooster 8.1s looked out over Southampton Water on Saturday morning with maximum winds forecast of 6 knots from the South East. Not ideal winds for most boats – but the Rooster 8.1s were relishing their first National Championships taking place at Weston Sailing Club in their rig that loves light winds!

The first start was clean, it was amazing looking around at 19 boats with their huge rigs powering off in the 4 knot winds. Almost hiking, Ian Morgan (the Rooster 8.1 sail designer) lead at the first mark having taken the more ideal current on the left side of the course, closely followed by his girlfriend and local Weston sailor Kerry Tucker who was fully hiked, but she is a Laser Radial Sailor! Steve Cockerill and Greg Carey probably took the less ideal route in the current and were both close behind, Downwind in an 8.1 is always quick, and with waves from passing shipping many were able to get onto the plane on the first reach, in just 4 knots! Greg later capsized on his first roll gybe, letting Simon Barrington through at the finish. Greg later said that he was not used to the size, weight and power of the rig; this was his first experience of the 8.1, he recovered to finish 4th. Steve Cockerill had the edge downwind to take the lead, but was pressed hard by Ian Morgan on the last beat to take the gun. Steve Cockerill went around the fleet giving rig set up tips.

Race 2 was again dominated by the lightweights to mark one, Ian Morgan again led with Kerry Tucker close in second and Greg Cary in 3rd having a better race after receiving some helpful hints with his rig set up. The wind headed on the reach leg favoring those who had gone high resulting in Larry Lawrence and Simon Barrington passing Steve Cockerill approaching the gybe mark. Larry continued wide past the mark to find his own wind on the next now broad second reach by opting not to gybe and sailing well to leeward of the rum line. Greg Cary managed to round 1st with Larry close in second, Ian 3rd and Steve 4th . With the wind now dropping and a new fresh breeze coming from the eastern shore again Steve Cockerill opted for the left side virtually on his own and took advantage of the 30 degree shift and more pressure to jump to first at the top mark and finish his second race win. Greg Carey hung onto his advantage over Ian Morgan finishing 2nd and Larry Lawrence held off Simon Barrington which was helped by Simon’s capsize on another over excited roll gybe that ended up in the drink.

Race 3 - With winds of perhaps 12 knots before the start Kerry Tucker said it was more like a force 6, many sailors were rediscovering what they understood to be ‘lots of kicker’ and found that the rig was really very manageable. Larry Lawrence later said – that when you pull hard on the control line – its really not as bad as I first thought. Despite moderating to 10 knots – it was still windy enough for the heavyweights to dominate at the first mark. James Hewitt and Gavin Sharp were scrapping it out and found their smiles as they approached the first mark close behind Greg Carey and took off on a fun plane to mark 2. There was certainly some place changing still available downwind as the wind continued to moderate; Kerry Tucker was reported to say that she arrived at mark one in last, then sail past half the fleet on the two first off wind legs. Steve Cockerill took full advantage of some more passing shipping waves and found himself in second place behind a very powered up Greg Carey. Ian Morgan sailed a tidy race to finish 3rd and Gavin Sharp 4th.

Many sailors came ashore with the feeling of a testing plane home in 12 knots of wind, big smiles on their faces. With an AGM, a Chinese meal, then England vs France in the Rugby World Cup on the flat screen TV which ended up with a famous win – what more can you ask from the first day of a Championship. 

Day two of the Rooster 8.1 National Championships

Again light winds greeted the competitors. Discussions took place and the sailors agreed that we should wait for 14:00 to see if the winds could make some racing. Almost on cue the wind filled in a good 9 knots and racing began.

Race 4 - Once again it was local knowledge that won the first beat, with Ian Morgan rounding the first mark clear of Greg Carey closely followed by Simon Barrington and Kerry Tucker. Bt the end of the first triangle, Greg, Ian and Steve were in the frame. The racing was close throughout the race, with Ian taking line honors having spotted the biased end of the line with Steve finishing 2nd just inches from Greg with Larry Lawrence once again finishing closely in 4th – commenting afterwards that he had mastered the rig with the controls upwind, just now needed to work harder downwind to beat the best.

Race 5 - With the winds increasing to 11 knots Greg Carey was coming into his own taking a lead into the first mark, closely followed by Steve Cockerill just rounding inside Simon Barrington. Ian Morgan had for the first time found himself on the wrong side of the first shift rounding in the pack was able to pull himself up to a comfortable 3rd at the finish. Steve was close to taking Greg on the last triangle – but took a 360 penalty after hitting the top mark which meant that he spent the off wind re catching up the 10 boat lengths he had lost spinning finishing behind Greg.

Race 6 – Mathematics on the water is always fun. Greg and Steve could both still win. If Greg won the last race he would equal Steve’s points and wind on more firsts. Steve could however try to hold Greg up or even win the race to win with a comfortable margin. The Race Officer was keen to get a short race in and the sailors were aware it might only be a couple of laps. Steve started close to Greg and they rounded the top mark overlapped. Greg getting the advantage on the first reach. With current taking the sailors high on the second leg it might have seemed faster to sail lower and trying to sink down to the right. Steve opted to heat the reach up, going for height and speed, hoping that Greg would come and defend his air. Greg tried to sail a good line but was finally temped to defend giving Steve the chance to really sit on his wind from close and risking others the chance to take them both to leeward. Steve managed to get overlapped with Greg, so Greg sunk off by the lee to sail back to the optimum line. Steve took the waves better and rounded inside in the lead. The next beat they definitely used the Aussie phrase WORK – for the beat. Both hiking to the max in 10 knots. Steve sailed Greg to the port tack layline before tacking. On the way to the top mark – Greg had an overlap on Steve. Steve then luffed Greg to head to wind – they both waited almost stationary before Steve bore away to remove the overlap at the mark. Steve rounding first. The next leg Greg opted for a slightly risky course in the less favorable current, but picked up some good pressure. Steve was still slightly faster and drew ahead a few boat lengths. Greg lost a little ground after responding to a possible downwind finish that he thought was about to happen as he sailed rather quickly back to the rhum line. Steve then had a comfortable short beat to the finish with Ian Morgan again finishing seconds behind them both at the finish.

Overall there had been some remarkably close racing. The rig, although designed for the heavier weights had been sailed incredibly well by many very lightweights – Kerry Tucker is well under 70kg and she was regularly in the top 7, having sailed very smartly. The winds had not been favorable on the heavyweights, many are looking forward to next years windy Championships with relish. Winning the Championships had not been part of the script for Steve Cockerill, although perhaps the Class as a whole are the winner rather than the sailor who conceived the new Rooster 8.1. 19 at its first National Championships is a real coupe representing 8 sailing clubs from as far away as Cardiff and Derbyshire. Many are looking forward to events next season, a new class website and more sailors across the county to add to the 139 so far.

One of the sailors who had hired a rig for the event said "it's five times better than a Laser". All the class need now are these sailors taking their renewed enthusiasm back to their clubs and the class should go from strength to strength. Next years Nationals will again have a free training day ran by Steve Cockerill and closer competitive racing in the Rooster 8.1 Class. Rigs will always be available to hire, once you have tried one, you might not be able to put it down!