Volvo Noble Marine RS800 Nationals at Castle Cove Sailing Club - Day 3

Day 3 of the event dawned with blue skies and a zephyr of breeze. After a 5 mile sail out of the harbour, sailors were greeted with 12-15 knots from the South East.

Race 7 started with late attendees Phil Walker and John Mather causing chaos on Port on the start line, resulting in their first spins on their first start of the regatta! Pete Barton and Chris Feibusch started at the pin and banged the left hand corner with Matt Humphreys and Amy Cartwright chasing hard. Andy and Allyson Jeffries and Hugh Shone and Hannah Tattersall led out to the right but it soon became apparent that left was going to be the order of the day! Pete and Chris led comfortably only to be caught on the last lap by Matt and Amy, with a fierce gybing battle ensuing near the finish resulting in Matt and Amy T-boning Pete and Chris. Roger and Will pipped Tom Jeffcoate and Sarah Martin to third.

Race 8 started in slightly less breeze, again with the pin end and the left hand side of the course paying. With plenty of team pushing the start line, reigning champions Roger Phillips and Will Crocker found themselves OCS at the gun, with an exciting game of dodgems on their return to duck the line leaving them well back. Hugh Watson and Andy Watkins won the pin and led out to the left, only to overstand the windward mark. Tim Saxton and Fiona Hampshire took advantage to lead the rest of race, with Hugh and Hannah and Matt and Amy in hot pursuit, and this is how it stood until the finish.

By race 9, it was clear that left was the way to go, so again the pin was hotly contested. Roger and Will's starting dramas still weren't over, when Ralph and Sophie Singelton forced 4 starboard boats to take avoiding action, resulting in a broken trapeze line. Redress later in the protest room was a fair outcome for Roger and Will at least! Hugh and Hannah got away to the best start, followed by team Jimmy Green (James Green and James Trewick). Hugh and Hannah led round the windward mark only to trawl the kite, with helm Hugh resurrecting the situation by taking over hoisting duties! Hugh and Andy again rounded in the top 3, but a charging Barton and Feibusch banged the right hand side of the run to pull through to 3rd. A procession ensued for the following 2 laps with Hugh and Hannah taking their first nationals race win. Team Jimmy Green, (with James' 2 day "stomach bug" following 10 pints on Thursday) finally disappearing, were pushed hard to the line by Barton and Feibusch with a gybing duel at the bottom of the last run to cling onto 2nd. Hugh and Andy rounded off a brilliant day to finish 4th.

With one race left to complete in the morning, it will be hotly contested with Tim and Fiona leading from Matt and Amy by 3 points, with Roger and Will a further 3.9 points back after their redress hearing. More importantly, which team will come out on top, or least scathed, when roles are reversed in the all important crews race (subject to Noble Marine's agreement...) following the conclusion of the event tomorrow...?!

Results after Day 3: