RS700 Volvo Noble Marine National Championship - Day 3

RS700 Volvo Noble Marine Nationals day 3 © RS Sailing

The fleet launched in a stiff Easterly breeze only for it to die off to nothing by the time we reached the committee boat. We sat for an hour waiting for the wind to fill in and. We then followed the committee boat back into the harbour just as the wind came.

Once back in the harbour Race Five started in a freshening breeze and it was all clear on the start. Jerry Wales was first to the windward mark followed by Theo Galyer and Matt Carter. Jerry stormed down the course to the RS800 gate leaving the way clear for Theo to take the lead. Theo led until the end followed closely by Matt. Any mistake would be punished. Both held their nerve to the end and Rob Higgins came in third. Jerry had recovered to fourth only be to taken by Liam Willis on the last leg.

RS700 Volvo Noble Marine Nationals day 3 - photo © RS Sailing

The wind freshened even more for Race Six. Roger Taylor crossed the fleet on a port flyer whooping as he did so. Theo and Matt chased each other around the course again with Theo faster upwind and Matt screaming down wind. Jerry chased close behind in third. Theo and Matt stayed in their positions until the end but Liam was chasing Jerry hard and was just about to take Jerry on the final leg. Only 50 yards from the finish line Liam's kite halyard came out the clear dropping the kite and rolling the boat to windward allowing Jerry to save third and Pete Purkiss to sneak into fourth.

For Race Seven the wind moderated slightly. Theo rounded the first beat first with Jerry right up his transom. After the top reach they rounded together when Theo managed to hook his trailing kite sheet around his tiller extension. Jerry sailed underneath and into Theo's wind shadow and when he got through the other side he wasn't ready for the pressure and capsized. Theo had to drop his kite to rectify the sheet situation allowing Pete and Rob to storm off down the first leg in the lead. Pete led until the final lap when he banged right. Rob went left making a huge gain and beating Pete. Theo followed Pete letting Liam in to take third.

RS700 Volvo Noble Marine Nationals day 3 - photo © RS Sailing

Race Eight Pete had a flying start from the linens and tacked across the fleet. He reached the top mark first followed by Theo, Matt and Jerry. Theo passed Pete on the second beat and Jerry got ahead of Matt. Matt then capsized bearing away rounding the top mark on the second lap. Jerry went on to roll up Pete downwind. Theo kept the lead to finish first, Jerry second and Pete third. James Bayliss came from mid fleet obscurity to finish ahead of Rob and Matt in fourth.

All in all an amazing day's racing in great wind and glorious sunshine. We were on the water for over seven hours. What more can you ask?

Results after Day 3: