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Noble Marine 2022 YY - LEADERBOARD
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RS200
RS200

Volvo Noble Marine RS200 Nationals at Tenby - Overall

by Rob Henderson and Emma Clarke 3 Sep 2017 15:55 BST 26-31 August 2017

The usual gaggle of stalwarts, newbies, jewels of the British youth sailing scene and students descended on the stunning seaside town of Tenby for the 2017 RS200 Championships last week. The beauty of the venue and quality of competition meant that the entry limit of 100 boats was comfortably reached and the week was already looking to be a cracker.

Day 1

Great sunshine in the seaside town of Tenby. Sandcastles built, sunglasses required and many ice-creams consumed.

After a 1 hour postponement, giving those of the the fleet who had started the social with a bang on Sat night the time to recover and those with small people the opportunity to build giant sandcastles, the fleet headed out into a sunny but light wind bay.

Race 1 - Johnny and Sarah McGovern were pathfinder and got the fleet away on the first start, with huge grins and great pace. Early out the gate looked good, with fabulous tide creating a travelator up the race course to the windward mark. Hamish Walker/Emma Clarke rounded in 1st, closely followed by Ben Palmer and Amy Seabright, Ross Thompson and James Scott in the red machine and Chay Taylor and Niamh. Downwind it was all to play for with snakes and ladders all over the place, especially at the leeward mark, where tide made it pretty tricky to get round the gate. Ben and Amy had a storming run to take the lead, with Maria Stanley and Rob Henderson jumping into third, behind Hamish and Emma.

With decreasing breeze and a right shift, the fleet were being pushed to the windward mark making the last beat difficult to gain places but very easy to lose. Ben/Amy 1st, Stanley/Henderson 2nd and Hamish/Emma 3rd.

Race 2 was started in a decreasing breeze, with a forecast for the breeze to go right and the fleet split hard in the decision making. Those who went early looked great for the first five minutes, until the right breeze came in and those who started late felt vindicated as they shot towards the windward mark. Sadly the pathfinder had some issues and the race was later abandoned following a number of protests, some significant bar chat and the rumour mill, with the to be sailed later on in the event.

Day 2

After a well-earned lie in the fleet was scheduled to start at 1300, so after many cups of tea, a rules seminar and some great boat chat led by the Henderson boys, the fleet launched once more into the fabulous Tenby bay. More breeze, still lots of tide and hundreds of jellyfish was going to make for an interesting day.

Race 3 - Maria Stanley and Rob Henderson were like a rocket ship out of the start, started early and a few minutes later with their ballistic speed were able to tack and cross the fleet. They extended their lead for the rest of the race with Rob hiking far too hard upwind, making it look easy! The rest of us mere mortals kept hiking and duly arrived at the windward mark as a rather large group. Many a duck was required for those who came in on the port layline. The fight for 2nd-10th was on! With many place changes both up and downwind, it all came down to the last gybes into the last leeward for 2nd -7th. This saw Ben/Amy in 2nd and Arthur and Mary Henderson screaming in on the plane from the left to 3rd with the rest of us in aggressive soak mode.

Race 4 - Alistair Norris and Helen Summersgill smashed the gate start and we got away without incident. Jonny and Sarah McGovern destroyed the fleet with their upwind pace to lead into the windward mark closely followed by Ben and Amy. After the first run it was clear there were three major battles on. 1st and 2nd was nip and tuck between Ben/Amy and Johnny/Sarah. 3rd-10th was epically close, with yet again snakes and ladders to be had and it all to play for downwind, with every subtle low shift making the difference. The battle for top 20 was all set to be the same, with groups of boats arriving at the windward together, showing what close boat speed the 200 fleet has and one small mistake can send you spiralling back down the results..

Ben and Amy managed to just hold off a rapid Jonny and Sarah, although there were some nervous moments for them when the spinnaker hoisted and the clew and tack were tangled together at the end of the pole. In the closely fought battle for 3rd to 10th, Maria and Rob smashed the right corner, some would say "rang the bell" to take third, just in front of Ed Whitehead and Millie Alcock and Alistair/Helen..

After day 2 it was clear to see that the light wind practice and cocktails of Café Flambé (hence "The Flambé Bullets" consisting of Ben and Amy, Maria and Rob, Hamish and Emma) in the hot sunshine of Lake Como for the RS Eurocup had paid dividends as they locked out the top three on the scoreboard. It is well worth a trip to Carnac next year – for sunshine, excellent racing and of course some cheeky Nationals practice on holiday!

Day 3

After what turned into a big night for some last night (Tom McLean/Tommy Darling/Syd McLean et al) where karaoke followed from Julian's questionably intellectual quiz, the sailors arrived early to the boat park for a three race day.

Race 5 was swiftly started with Caroline Croft/Alex Warren as the pathfinder and after one recall the race was underway in relatively light winds. It paid to bang hard left up the beat to make use of the shift. At the sailors' request the first beat was made longer so those who chose the left were set up nicely for the race. Race 5 was won by Jonny and Sarah McGovern.

3 hours and 3 attempts later, the re-run of Race 2 was FINALLY underway! After plenty of bobbing about, the sailors were eager to get going. Young guns Henry Rastrick and Lucy Ferguson were pathfinders and special mentions must go to the team that managed to get their bowsprit through the A frame of the Gate RIB and Matt Whitfield who was OCS. Once the race was going the wind had filled in nicely and it was breeze on! The race officer set a great course which Jonny McGovern played the best to have a stellar lead, with many sailors over-standing on port and the tide equally catching many out, the windward mark roundings were made interesting but clean sailing was observed by the fleet. A tactical masterclass from the gurus Hamish Walker and Emma Clarke earned them the first of three bullets in a row.

Race 6 was turned around very quickly as it started to get later into the day and sailors were anxious to get ready for the night's big social – Under the Sea fancy dress!! It paid to play the shifts and have good boat speed for this race which was shown by Hamish and Emma who won with it being shortened to two laps by the race officer who clearly took pity on the sailors.

We all know the arguably most important race is the race back to shore/showers/the bar so many sailors seemed to speed in to get their fishy costumes on ready for tonight's social.

Day 4

Race 7 saw Hamish and Emma correctly get to the right to lead from start to finish, while the yellow-bibbed Maria and Rob languished on the left. Other notable performances came from Edd Whitehead and Millie Alcock and Matt Reid and Becca Jones with both teams carrying good form towards the end of the regatta. Also raising some eyebrows was RS200 deity of Matt Mee and Emma Norris, clearly looking to put the McGovern team under some pressure for the Lovers Cup.

Race 8 saw Ben and Amy show the rest of the fleet how to execute a gate start and pick a shift to take the championship lead overnight. Tom and Lucy Hewitson sailed their socks off to help Hayling Island Sc's bid for the club prize in 2nd, while Georgie and Dan Vickers knocked in a brilliant 3rd.

Day 5

With just three points separating the top three, teams were itching to race out the championship on the final day however the weather was not playing ball. After three hours of waiting and five attempted starts in very shifty breeze, the fleet were sent back across the stunning Carmarthen Bay to congratulate their new champions, Ben Palmer and Amy Seabright, and reflect on what was another gem of a championship.

Ben and Amy are deserved and popular champions. Ben has sailed 200s for a few years now and fused this experience with Amy's considerable pedigree on the Olympic pathway to unstoppable effect.

Thanks go to our tireless secretary Sally Campbell and to Tenby SC. The author has attended three championships at Tenby and has been staggered by the manner in which the club tackles the task every time. From the help with trolleying on the beach and the bar, to the boat park logistics to the accuracy of the race team, one cannot help but look forward to returning.

The RS Class Associaton would like to thank our loyal title sponsors Volvo and Noble Marine, RS Sailing for the coming ashore beers and event support by Junior, Forward WIP for the visors, Harken for the generous array of product prizes and much-appreciated 50th anniversary cup cakes, Rooster for the Rooster Wednesday support, prizes and delicious ice creams and Uber for the youth prizes.

Prize Winners:

  • RS200 National Champions - Ben Palmer and Amy Seabright
  • Harken Man of the Match - Rory Odell and Josh Bonsey
  • 1st silver - Andrew Brown and Alex Sutcliffe
  • 1st bronze - Kevin Druce and Izzy Frazer
  • 1st Master - Tom Hewitson and Lucy Hewitson
  • Loving Cup - Jonny and Sarah McGovern
  • 1st Lady helm - Maria Stanley and Rob Henderson
  • 1st Lady Team - Penny Clark and Jo Hewitson
  • 1st Youth Helm Crew and Boat - Oliver Groves and Esther Parkhurst
  • 1st Junior Boat - Henry Rastrick and Lucy Ferguson
  • 1st Junior Helm - Henry Rastrick and Lucy Ferguson
  • 1st Junior Crew - Lucy Hewitson (helmed by Tom Hewitson)
  • 1st Family - Tom and Lucy Hewitson
  • Top Club - Itchenor SC, Maria Stanley and Rob Henderson, Jack Holden and Holly Scott, Arthur and Mary Henderson
  • Buddy Group Winners - Pete Vincent, Abigail Campbell, Chay Taylor, Niamh, Kevin Druce, Izzy Frazer
  • Harken Mid Fleet McLube -Joseph and Ben Bradley
  • Youngest competitors - Abigail Campbell and Ioan Thompson, aged 13

We congratulate our winners and thank:

  • Our loyal title sponsors Volvo and Noble Marine.
  • RS Sailing for the coming ashore beers and Juniors event support, Forward WIP for the visors, Harken for the generous array of product prizes and much-appreciated 50th anniversary cup cakes, Rooster for the Rooster Wednesday support, prizes and delicious ice creams and Uber for the youth can coolers and key rings.
  • Alex Irwin from Sportography for the amazing photos.
  • The awesome team at Tenby Sailing Club who delivered a superb championship - we will be back!

Overall Results:

PosFleetSail NoHelmCrewMain ClubBuddyR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8Pts
1stGold1628Ben PalmerAmy SeabrightHISCHalibut1‑342157‑10117
2ndGold1657Hamish WalkerEmma HiveyRNSAAngelfish31‑66‑911618
3rdGold1642Maria StanleyRob HendersonItchenor SCFlying Fish2213‑75‑47720
4thGold1626Edd WhiteheadMillie AlcockParkstone YCSea Cucumber‑175746‑102428
5thGold1601Jonny McGovernSarah McGovernY FelinheliStarfish114‑2321‑2471035
6thGold1615Matt MeeEmma NorrisRed Wharf Bay SCDolphin10‑1647‑1434937
7thGold1639Jack HoldenHolly ScottItchenor SCCrab‑2314‑2411245541
8thGold1509Alistair NorrisHelen SummersgillRed Wharf Bay SCEel810105‑28128‑2553
9thGold91Penny ClarkJo HewitsonRNSAPorpoise49‑38‑2732112756
10thGold385Matt ReidBecca JonesSpinnaker SCMermaid6131214‑3193‑2657
11thGold1347David JessopSophie MearGrafham Water SCClown Fish137‑3525158‑341381
12thGold772Tom HewitsonLucy HewitsonHISCPlankton‑32‑70181619199283
13thGold1637Ollie GrovesEsther ParkhurstBeaver SCJellyfish21‑302112413‑411485
14thGold629Arthur HendersonMary HendersonItchenor SCBlue Whale12‑483‑641711271888
15thGold1391Tom DarlingCharlie DarlingHISCOctopus15245‑521820‑521294
16thGold1570Robbie KingMarcus TresslerRoyal Thames YCSea Horse24‑3825913‑48131195
17thSilver1536Andrew BrownAlex SutcliffeTynemouth SCLionfish30‑35318‑32156898
18thGold846Jeremy StephensBecca StephensPenzance SCOrca9171722‑582122‑46108
19thGold1600Oliver TurnerRheanna PaveyStarcross YCPrawn‑4683318‑3761728110
20thGold1545Georgie VickersDan VickersParkstone YCPiranha2812‑52‑451139183111
21stGold1552Owain HughesMari ShepherdParkstone YCBarracuda‑65‑4381925301229123
22ndSilver1229Caroline CroftAlex WarrenShoreham SCPrawn296‑8310461821‑51130
23rdSilver1652Stewart BowenJack BowenParkstone YCTurtle‑8028‑392316312016134
24thGold1237Dicken MacleanHannah YoungHISCCoral‑403615(RET [102])10233924147
25thSilver1215Sam ThompsonLeanne HibberdRNSANarwhal39‑5244‑638142620151
26thGold1082Henry RastrickLucy FergusonYorkshire Dales SCManatee‑8111‑543420253231153
27thSilver801Nick MartingdaleRuth KenyonChew Valley Lake SCEel2018193235‑5330‑50154
28thGold1331Tom BallantineMaddy AndersonWessex SCPufferfish35269332232‑43‑37157
29thGold633Ross ThompsonJames ScottFrensham Pond SCHake52227‑59‑59374430165
30thGold1136Nicki BirrellKate AllamParkston YCGreat White Shark‑6420‑731712174959174
31stSilver1023Anthony ParkeClaudia WilsonHISCAngelfish25293621‑4928‑4635174
32ndGold626Will TaylorCaithlin JonesBrighlingsea SCShrimp263214‑464142‑7523178
33rdSilver796Robin RichardsonImogen BellfieldRoyal Windermere YCClown Fish362337‑44‑45412319179
34thSilver985Chay TaylorNiamhBurnham SCAnchovy7391641‑514631‑48180
35thSilver1071Sam WallerIsaac MarshBeaver SCSea Lion‑8244‑514229361615182
36thGold418Fred MainwaringLiz TeagueRed Wharf Bay SCLobster444622303816‑67‑54196
37thSilver1634Cam StewartTom HarrisonHISCGreat White Shark‑59‑78291539435617199
38thSilver1425Rory OdellJosh BonseyHISCPorpoise38‑503435‑54223739205
39thBronze1605Kevin DruceIzzy FrazerBurghfield SCAnchovy‑75156020405219‑83206
40thGold1451Jamie HarrisTaddy HBCYCNarwhal‑60422029335135‑78210
41stSilver1175Matt Lulham‑RobinsonAmy SparksYorkshire Dales SCOrca‑612145‑5436265334215
42ndSilver1235Matt WhitfieldJoanna KalderonItchenor SCPiranha27682638(RET [102])(DNS [102])2532216
43rdSilver998Josh KerrFenella CorlettLargs SCStarfish31(RET [102])42392629‑7249216
44thSilver1511Mike GreenLynne RatcliffeEastbourne Sovereign SCMussel47‑51‑635027401447225
45thGold1178Julian BradleyHelen CafferataWembly SCSea Lion4234149‑6235‑6656226
46thGold1445Pete Ugly VincentAbi CampbellBristol Corinthian SCAnchovy51‑84‑691355612422226
47thBronze806Brenden LynchMatt MorsonPort Edgar YCBarracuda48‑80465624‑653821233
48thSilver17Hatty MorsleyThomas WallworkRedesmere SCPufferfish54‑565040304715‑67236
49thGold1631Martin PentyTom PentyBeaver SCShrimp226440‑682350(DSQ [102])43242
50thSilver1046Joseph BradleyBenjamen BradleyHill Head SCCrab18‑614943483848‑57244
51stSilver1458Gus DixonDan VenablesRHYCManatee37‑7632364744‑7052248
52ndGold1200Keri HarrisTheo HarrisRNSATurtle50‑5756‑7534274540252
53rdSilver1296Matt BromleyFaye CasewellYorkshire Dales SCHaddock14‑7113655254‑7458256
54thSilver1299Kelvin MatthewsKirsty MatthewsHISCBlue Whale52374358‑6333‑6133256
55thSilver1621Ewan WilsonJamie RastrickWormit Boating ClubOctopus16316847‑80‑725442258
56thBronze953Harry BowermanWill Birch‑TomlinsonHISCLobster4558482821‑73‑6464264
57thSilver1378Andy KilburnFiona MulcahyNotts County SCHaddock5619‑6551604933‑69268
58thGold1658John HarveySally HarveyThornbury SCLionfish69‑9011‑8144593665284
59thSilver911Rory RoseMichael O'DonovanAberdeen & Stonehaven YCHake‑6740572653(RET [102])5853287
60thBronze1654Mike WarwickerKate FitzsimmonsBough Beech SCSea Lion33‑912866435869‑80297
61stSilver1573Henrik AsplundGeorgina KingGuernsey YCCoral49556137‑664550‑76297
62ndSilver584Tim FreemanHannah LiptrotWarsash SCLobster342778‑835062‑8560311
63rdBronze1009Simom ShillakerDan ShillakerHill Head SCShrimp41‑864762687429‑85321
64thSilver1452Alistair HodgsonJoanna WorrallRYABarracuda‑83‑81712442816841327
65thBronze993Alex McCormackMillie GibbonsScaling Dam SCPrawn‑775430‑7665714075335
66thSilver1110Roscoe MartinKent MartinOgston SCFlying Fish43‑8367‑7473346366346
67thSilver915Victoria UptonWill WardExe SCDolphin‑78‑82745356665938346
68thBronze1253Ed GibbonsLiam GardnerBrightlingsea SCManatee66‑77556177(DNS [102])7136366
69thSilver880Duncan JamiesonJess HammettHISCSea Cucumber7425(DSQ [102])‑7867755771369
70thBronze1510Chris EamesRachel TilleyBallyholme YCPorpoise‑766770577656‑8044370
71stBronze864Ben ShorrockLainey TerkelsenFrensham Pond SCHalibut1988584864(RET [102])94(DNC [102])371
72ndSilver1247Willow BlandLucie OffordWaldringfield SCHalibut865984‑97‑88602855372
73rdBronze909Jack VincentLizzie FullerBough Beech SCAngelfish53‑8962736155‑8372376
74thGold961Andrew ClewerSarah CollingwoodPoole YCMussel68536631(RET [102])(DNC [102])7782377
75thBronze1376Katie‑May MonroSamuel JamesRoyal Findhorn YCEel‑926272676964(DSQ [102])63397
76thSilver609Peter RoseIoan ThompsonTenby SCPlankton574776‑84825779‑88398
77thSilver581Matthew RhodesWill RhodesNorthampton SCJellyfish63338571(DSQ [102])(DNC [102])7374399
78thBronze1145Nicholas SmithMax RossBristol Corinthain YCSea Cucumber‑8766‑756074686570403
79thBronze352James MorsonRoss MalloyPort Edgar YCPiranha‑9175‑797970794262407
80thBronze1092Ethan DawsonEllie ClarkBassenthwaite SCPufferfish73795970‑85‑826268411
81stBronze1284Tony WilkinsonKelly AaronParkston YCCrab7949‑8969577682‑84412
82ndBronze1390Syd McleanTom McleanHISCOctopus71656487(RET [102])(DNC [102])8145413
83rdSilver1397Paul FreyMax CareyParkstone YCSea Horse‑88727782‑83705173425
84thBronze489Jas StubbsSteve StubbsTenby SCMermaid55‑96‑918091786061425
85thBronze805Harry OdlingLarissa ConnabeerPlymouth UniversityJellyfish8545‑90777967‑9577430
86thBronze1098Andrew CorlettCallum ForsythLargs SCNarwhal848582557163‑89‑91440
87thBronze1167Bernard ClarkEdward RussellRipon SCHaddock627486‑89818655‑94444
88thBronze984Dan DiscombeSophie CoggerBough Beech SCGreat White Shark‑994187868969‑9186458
89thBronze519Sue BrannamMike ProvenBurghfield SCCoral‑9660‑949072808789478
90thBronze1076Ollie HawkinsIsabel AbbattUllswater YCFlying Fish72‑948091857776‑95481
91stBronze1342Sarah GreenDavid GreenLlandegfedd SCTurtle‑90738188‑92857879484
92ndBronze593Martin ClaphamRupert ClaphamThornbury SCStarfish‑8969‑888578838487486
93rdBronze964Lewis BowenAlice PowellNorthampton SCLionfish5887(DSQ [102])92758492‑93488
94thBronze756Chris SaundersPippa HardmanMumbles YCDolphin70(DNC [102])5372(DNC [102])DNC [102]DNC [102]DNC [102]501
95thBronze547James WrightDaniel WrightDurleigh SCSea Horse97639293(RET [102])(DNC [102])8896529
96thBronze1398Paul GriffithsJulia GriffithsSaundersfoot SCHake93‑95959487(DNS [102])8681536
97thBronze959Tommie CluleyAnna BlagdenCarsington SCOrca‑959293‑9586879092540
98thBronze866Heather SwordLucy RawboneLoch Tummel SCClown Fish‑9893(DSQ [102])9690889390550
99thBronze439Julia LewisEd LewisWembly SCMussel94(RET [102])9698(DNC [102])DNC [102]9697583
100thBronze429David FenechAlison WilliamsWilsonian SCBlue Whale(DNC [102])(DNC [102])DNC [102]DNC [102]DNC [102]DNC [102]DNC [102]DNC [102]612
100thBronze358Jonathan BaddeleyStefan WardHISCPlankton(DNC [102])(DNC [102])DNC [102]DNC [102]DNC [102]DNC [102]DNC [102]DNC [102]612

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