Noble Marine RS200 National Championships at Exe Sailing Club - Preview
by Pete Vincent 18 Aug 2012 14:39 BST
19-23 August 2012
90 RS200's are gathering at the home of the RS200, Exe SC, for the eagerly anticipated Noble Marine RS200 Nationals, now also supported by Volvo. The RS200 was designed in Exmouth, the plug was made just round the corner from the club and the test sailing of the prototype all took place at Exe SC. Added to this the designer Sir Phil Morrison is also PRO for the week so it is a real home coming!
In the dinghy park there is much talk about who is going to win.
- Multi RS champion and winner of 3 RS200 Nationals Roger and Jane Gilbert are out of "retirement" to come back to the scene of their first Nationals win. Never been knowingly beaten at a major RS200 event Roger and Jane are the team to beat but can they live with the young guns?
- Second at last year's RS Games Ben Saxton is definitely aiming to go one better this year with super crew Toby Lewis on board; Tobytastic indeed.
- The form team on the RS200 circuit all year has been Matt Mee and Emma Norris with electric downwind speed; they are many people's favourites.
Last year's Inland National Champion Mark Heather and Ed Cowell also have a strong chance of winning, along with other sailors from the top ten at last year's RS Games Hamish Walker (fresh from the Falklands)/Emma Clarke and Dicken Maclean/Hannah Young.
Added into this mix are the returning former RS200 National Champions who have been mucking around in other silly boats. 2010 Champions Dave and Jane Hivey are claiming they are not taking it seriously – Dave not taking racing seriously!! Also the prodigal son has returned; Lee Sydenham 2004 RS200 National Champion, born & bred in Exmouth and part of the Exe SC Cadet golden era is racing with Severine Rees-Jones.
So with 10 races scheduled over the next 5 days, starting on Sunday, the 2012 RS200 Noble Marine Nationals is wide open.