International Moth Nationals at New Quay Yacht Club
by Simon Payne 18 Jul 2005 11:26 BST
14-17 July 2005
Simon Payne clinched the International Moth National and British Open Championship in a series dominated by light and variable winds. New Quay Yacht Club in beautiful Cardigan bay played host to the biggest entry list in years reflecting the deep interest and enthusiasm there is for this cutting edge class. With the 14 foiler moths needing around 8 knots to fly this turned out to be a tortoise and hair championship between the foilers and the low riders. In the end three of each shared the top six places.
On day one the sea breeze was in and the foilers flew! Adam May won with his new Mistress design straight out of the box. After a slow start Simon Payne and Jason Belben pushed May hard around the trapezoid course but keeping cool under pressure he kept his nose in front until the finish.
Race two and the waves were significant. Simon Payne in his Fastacraft Prowler was off and won by several minutes. May was second despite some teething troubles and Sam Pascoe confirmed his status as the leading foil school graduate by taking third in his Full Force Mistress design. Jason Belben is getting to grips with his foils and the leading low riders are Liz Pudney and Alan Watson
Day two rolled the dice for the low riders. The day started promisingly with a lively force 3 to 4. Simon Payne took that one with Adam May second. At that point there were only two people to have won the race with May on 1,2,2 and Payne on 2,1,1.
But nature loves the underdog and today she was queen of the low riders! The breeze died and races 4 and 5 were sailed in super light winds. Liz Pudney in her Hungry Tiger design sailed brilliantly to take two firsts with Russ Wheeler and Ben F. Price taking a second each. Former National Champion Ian Fosdyke was first foiler in 4th place.
Day three and again light and variable winds. Liz Pudney banged in another first in race 6 as the wheels started to come off the foiler challenge. Ben F. Price sailed into a comfortable second as Payne managed to hold off Rob Cambell for third.
Race 7 and Russ wheeler sailed out of his skin to clinch his first National Championship race win. Slipping past Payne on the long run he rounded the last mark and a loose cover kept Payne and a rapidly approaching Liz Pudney under control.
Race 8 turned out to be the final race of the event. Ominously May and Payne just got foiling on the first beat as the sea beeze played with the hopes of the competitors. But again on the long run Liz Pudney kept clear air and rounded the leeward mark first!
Payne was second round and as Liz nailed her shifts to move clear of the pack Payne put his bow down and slowly lifted out of the water… At the windward mark they were locked together but Payne flew down the reach to establish a gap which was just too big for Liz to close on the run. Rob Campbell sailed into third to complete the top three
The final day and the wind did what it had always threatened to do and disappeared. Wisely the PRO called the event to a close meaning Simon Payne retained the National Championship with Liz Pudney a brilliant second and Adam May third in his brand new boat.
Overall Results:
1st Simon Payne GBR 4059, 13pts
2nd Liz Pudney GBR 4040, 21pts
3rd Adam May GBR 4063, 29pts
4th Russ Wheeler GBR 4046, 30pts
5th Jason Belben GBR 4069, 36pts
7th Ben F. Price GBR4022, 41pts
8th Ian Fosdyke GBR4050, 41pts
9th Sam Pascoe GBR4062, 62pts
10th Alex Adams GBR 4061, 64pts