Report by : Stacey Bray 

A good fleet of 39 boats contested the Inland Champs at Rutland SC.

Bright sunshine and a moderate breeze greeted competitors for this end of season extravaganza.

Race one got underway with the on form Matt Aston showing his up wind speed and intention of stamping authority on the regatta. The fleet split shortly after the start and boats coming from both sides of the course converged at the windward mark where the wind was much shifter. Coach Mussell led with Aston, Tim Holden, Richard Gimmler & Geoff Bettle all heading the fleet down the reach to the wing. The next windward leg proved to favour the left with Aston and Holden managing to overhaul Mussell sailing up the centre of the beat. This was how it remained to the finish with Aston taking the Gun from Holden, Mussell & Gimmler.

Race 2 and Gary Langdown had discovered that staying in his boat was much quicker than falling out of it, showing a clean pair of heels to his club mate Bettle who was now finding some great boat speed to hold off the challenges of Gimmler, Holden & Aston. Langdown was not to be beaten and used his super downwind speed to win from Bettle, Gimmler, Holden & Aston. 

Race 3 the last race of day one, with a favourably port bias line Holden shot out of the blocks into the left hand corner with Stacey Bray, Mussell, John Browett and Gimmler. Holden blasted to the top mark with Bray & Mussell rounding close behind. The next round saw Langdown sneak up the beat unnoticed to enable a challenge for the second spot with Mussell and Bray. Mussell was unable to hold him off and Langdon steamed to the finish in third behind Holden and Bray. The end of the day saw Holden at the top of the table with Langdown, Aston, Gimmler and Bettle all presenting themselves as serious challengers for the regatta. 

Day 2 a glorious morning with a building breeze.

Race 4 saw Aston again springing to life in the lighter breeze with Allan Orton also finding that these conditions were to his liking. Langdown and Holden had ventured further to right hand side of the course and had to watch as Aston sailed himself to a massive lead that no one was going to be able to compete with. Orton who had sailed a really good race was now having to face Langdown’s downwind onslaught which was proving difficult to defend and Langdown managed to pass him at the wing finishing second with Orton, Rodger White & Bray following them home.

Race 5 and Aston, Langdown and Holden all had a chance of taking the regatta and the now very light shifty breeze was going to provide a nail biting finish. The race started with a very tricky upwind leg with many falling by the wayside in the fickle breeze. The top mark saw Aston taking the lead with Langdown & Holden well down, however this was no time for complacency as in the now rapidly dying wind anything could happen. Aston held his nerve and took the win from Browett with Peter Dives and Richard Buttner unable to be separated taking equal 3^rd with Langdown eventually finishing 6^th and Holden 9^th .

The regatta had been evenly contested with the depth of quality now showing within the fleet. A serious British challenge can be expected at the worlds in Holland next year.