Volvo Noble Marine RS300 National Championships at Porthpean SC - Day 1
by Paul Watson 13 Sep 2019 16:56 BST
12 September 2019
Day 1 - Volvo Noble Marine RS300 National Championships 2019 © Ken Fobbester
As day one of the Volvo Noble Marine RS300 Nationals dawned the sailors were greeted with a grey and drizzly Porthpean. Looking out onto the water the wind appeared gentle and the sea flat.
Fortunately by the time we started racing the drizzle had subsided and as the boats reached the sailing area we were greeted with some nice waves to play on and a steady F3-4.
Race 1 was hard fought, Steve Bolland eventually taking the win, despite a swim on the first run. Steve Sallis hiking his toenails off to finish second, Paul Watson third.
Race 2 was a little more normal in terms of Steve Bolland and Dave Acres refusing to play with the rest of the fleet to finish 1, 2. The fight for third was won by Harry McVicar whose downwind speed took Rich LeMare by surprise on the final leg.
Race 3 saw Steve and Dave again play a fairly anti social game but this time joined by Paul W who had finally worked out how to sail the first beat. After some close racing it was Dave who took the win from Paul and then Steve.
After the racing the fleet came ashore to enjoy a beer courtesy of the Boatyard at Beer and spent the evening at the sailing club enjoying the bar, some fantastic chilli and a daily prize-giving with prizes supplied by Rooster Sailing and SpeedSix .
Day two looks to be a lighter wind affair so those of smaller frame will be looking to make their mark.
Results after day 1:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 411 | Steve Bolland | Bristol Corinthian YC | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 2nd | 544 | David Acres | Emsworth SC | 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 3rd | 528 | Paul Watson | Bowmoor SC | 3 | 6 | 2 | 11 |
| 4th | 523 | Harry McVicar | Draycote Water SC | 4 | 3 | 7 | 14 |
| 5th | 555 | Richard Le Mare | Castle Cove SC | 8 | 4 | 6 | 18 |
| 6th | 339 | Steve Cockerill | Stokes Bay SC | 6 | 8 | 5 | 19 |
| 7th | 476 | Steve Sallis | Hykeham SC | 2 | 7 | 14 | 23 |
| 8th | 525 | Mark Cooper | Burghfield SC | 14 | 10 | 4 | 28 |
| 9th | 313 | Ben Green | Lymington Town SC | 11 | 9 | 8 | 28 |
| 10th | 500 | Pete Ellis | Stewartby Watersports Club | 7 | 14 | 11 | 32 |
| 11th | 351 | Rob Ford | Tattingstone Valley SC | 10 | 13 | 9 | 32 |
| 12th | 556 | Peter Mackin | Stokes Bay SC | 12 | 5 | 18 | 35 |
| 13th | 373 | Richard Hargreaves | Stewartby Watersports Club | 13 | 11 | 12 | 36 |
| 14th | 393 | Chris Arnell | Christchurch SC | 15 | 12 | 10 | 37 |
| 15th | 490 | Alistair Mclaughlin | Prestwick SC | 9 | 17 | 16 | 42 |
| 16th | 386 | Paul Barker | Melldalloch SC | 16 | 16 | 13 | 45 |
| 17th | 473 | Harry Kennedy | Stokes Bay SC | 19 | 15 | 15 | 49 |
| 18th | 450 | Mark Henman | South Shields SC | 21 | 18 | 17 | 56 |
| 19th | 395 | Ben Heppenstall | Whitefriars SC | 17 | 19 | DNC | 59 |
| 20th | 422 | Alastair Wood | Medway YC | 18 | DNC | DNC | 64 |
| 21st | 532 | Cheryl Wood | Pennine SC | 20 | DNC | DNC | 66 |
| 22nd | 427 | David Coulson | Stewartby Watersports Club | DNF | DNC | DNC | 69 |