Volvo Noble Marine RS700 Nationals at Hayling Island - Overall

Overall it had been a great event. Once the dust has settled nobody really cares or remembers who gets to etch their name on the winner's trophy. What people remember (or at least the sixteen brave folk that ventured out on the final day will) is that today we had about as much fun as is possible in a wetsuit. It's those memories that will remain etched on our souls and from such shared memories friendships are forged – who would have guessed.

So, with the wind already at 20+ knots and a forecast for the wind to build the option of sailing the final day in the bay had already been ruled out. On offer was a couple of short races in the harbour after the RS400s and RS800s had had their turn. With the tide already fast running out that was never really an option. Sensibly the RS400s and RS800s saw the obvious flaw in the harbour option and called it a day. Not so for a few of the RS700 fleet with nothing better to do, like a 6-hour drive home.

Volvo Noble Marine RS700 Nationals at Hayling Island final day - photo © Alex Irwin / www.sportography.tv

Depending on who ventured out the final places were still up for grabs. Adam Golding in provisional third had a mathematical possibility of moving up to second meaning Robbie Bell had to go and Robbie had a realistic chance of tying (and winning on count back) with Jerry Wales sitting in first, so he had to go. In the end 16 RS700s decided what the hell and launched into the 20 – 30 knot breeze and what was left of the available water in Chichester harbour.

The South-Westerly breeze (I mean gale) meant a start mid-channel up to a windward mark under the club across to a spreader mark just close enough to the Winner bank to require an immediate gybe and single sail reach back into the harbour. Really - you want us bear away in mid-channel, in max tide, the wind gusting 20+ knots around the club house and then immediately gybe to avoid the Winner bank with a few passing cruisers thrown in – I mean really!

Volvo Noble Marine RS700 Nationals at Hayling Island final day - photo © Alex Irwin / www.sportography.tv

For those of us who managed to survive that hurdle the next issue was if and when to raise the spinnaker. Leave it too late and you were playing chicken with the shallows on the Thorney side and an early gybe back on to starboard (do we have to gybe again?) meant getting up close and personal with the Winner bank again. For those who dared and got it right the reward was a wild ride back to the leeward mark (or somewhere close to it) for all of about 30 seconds (I exaggerate for effect you understand, but not by much). So by now you are getting the picture the racing was more akin to World Rally Cross than your normal Grand Prix racing. I really have no idea who was where apart from Robbie Bell led for "most" of the first race. The results show that the first to emerge from the fustercluck of scattered boat boats at the final leeward mark was Richard Wadsworth, finally a result worthy of his legendary status. For who came where after him best look at the overall results, but for Robbie Bell it was game over. A badly injured ankle and a tow home was the way his regatta ended but he had done enough to secure second place overall.

Day 3 of the Volvo Noble Marine RS700 Nationals at Hayling Island - photo © Alex Irwin / www.sportography.tv

For the second race there was even less water in the harbour. How the hell are you supposed to know where water ends and sand banks start unless they have become dry land? The way the locals find out is to carry on until you hit them – taxi for Swanny.

Much like the first race I don't really know at what point people were sailing or walking. Jerry Wales finished first to end his regatta as it began and secure the overall victory. Looking at the results Richard Wadsworth followed up his first in the previous race with a second and in third was Ian Swann having walked most of the way (just joking he walked all of the way), enough to secure him third place overall.

Day 3 of the Volvo Noble Marine RS700 Nationals at Hayling Island - photo © Alex Irwin / www.sportography.tv

A great job by all concerned, so thanks to Hayling Island sailing club, to RS, to the Class Association and to our great sponsors – Volvo, Noble Marine, RS Sailing, Harken and HISC Chandlery.

More Sportography.tv photos from the event can be found here.

Prizes:

• Top club: HISC
• Best video and best speed: Richard Wadsworth
• Apprentice Trophy: John McKenna
• Fidelis Trophy: Neil Ashby
• Master: Andy Brown
• 1st Silver: Theo Galyer

Prize winners in the Volvo Noble Marine RS700 Nationals at Hayling Island (l-r) 1st Silver Theo Galyer, Master Andy Brown, Top Club HISC, 3rd Ian Swann, National and European Champion Jerry Wales, 2nd Robbie Bell, 5th Richard Wadsworth, 4th Adam Golding - photo © Alex Irwin / www.sportography.tv

Overall Results:

Volvo Noble Marine RS700 Nationals at Hayling Island - photo © Alex Irwin / www.sportography.tv