Noble Marine Enterprise Nationals at Paignton Sailing Club - Day 3

Akshan Jirasinha and Pete Rowley during the Noble Marine Enterprise Nationals at Paignton © Paula Southworth

Charles Morrish wins an Exe Sails jib during the Noble Marine Enterprise Nationals at Paignton © Ian Deeley

Sponsored by Noble Marine, Allen Brothers, Zhik, Selden, Exe Sails & Ullman Sails

Tuesday morning greeted the 108 sailors with blazing hot sun and blue sky. The fleet were sent out afloat in Caribbean conditions and by the time everyone had arrived, a beach day looked like the preferable choice with 1-2 knots constantly changing direction. A lot of bobbing about and cooling off in the water took place before the first race was started at approximately 1.30 pm.

Martin & Abi Honnor were pathfinder and became the first ones of the week to not be in the top pack at the windward mark as the left hand side of the course held the majority of the pressure. A familiar sight at the front of Aj & Paula, Pete & Jack Lawson and Jeremy Stephens rounded first. The fleet were fairly spread out at this point as boats struggled to seek out clear lanes of pressure. Neil Barrett & Sophie Jones in Bronze fleet were having a great race in the top 10.

Race 5 started further inshore racing back up to Torquay in slightly increased pressure as Chimp & Libby led out as pathfinder and a great lift on port heading to the right to see them develop a substantial lead. With the wind bend, the right side of the course became heavily favoured and several title contenders found themselves locked out on the left and facing an uphill battle to pull their way through. Mark Lunn & Steve Blackburn did a particularly good job of this pulling right through into the top pack by the end of the race. It was Paul & Libby who held their lead, looking relatively unchallenged for the majority of the race. It was Ann Jackson & Alan Skeens who put in a big performance to take 2nd, making a significant step towards their National title. Event leaders Ges Brown & Julie Moore took a solid 5th in their yellow bibs and are looking good after race 5 to still be holding on at the front.

Ges & Julie are putting in an amazingly consistent performance in such testing conditions and are looking like favourites in the title race. It's not over yet...

Tonight's prizegiving is at 21:00 and the prize giving tonight will be a mid-week overall sponsored by Exe Sails & Covers, with their own Sam Woolner coming along to give out prizes. A brand new jib will also be on offer, but who to?

Fancy dress sporting legends tonight, so prepare for sore heads tomorrow, whether your visiting Paignton Zoo, mackerel fishing, steam training, further boat preparation and just relaxing in the sun.

Sporting legends fancy dress disco during the Noble Marine Enterprise Nationals at Paignton - photo © Paula Southworth

Wednesday is a lay day.

Results after Day 3: (five races)