Noble Marine Comet Trio National Championship at Exe Sailing Club
by Tracie Padro 8 Aug 2021 06:45 BST
31 July - 1 August 2021
The Comet Trio National Championships (proud to be sponsored by Noble Marine Insurance) was held at the lovely Exe Sailing Club on 31st July - 1st August.
Several new boats were making their debut nationals including Steve's new white boat looking very pacey with a new MK1 North sails and Guy's new boat with MK2 sails, both showed amazing speed with race wins throughout the event. Scarlett Lady also made a grand return with new owners and also new to the fleet Chris/Ben Biglin.
MK1 report
Saturday races were closely fought throughout fleet, with 3 different race winners including Richard Sallis/Carol Williams, Chris/Ben Biglin and Steve Ashford/Martin Yeomans. Closely followed by Symon/Lou Doliczny, Sue Morris/Debbie Woodcock, Jamie Gregor/Tim Farmer all with top 3 results, it was shaping up to be a close fought championships.
Sunday started in a light shifty easterly. Steve was seen up early studying the wind shifts and tidal patterns but a battle on the start line meant that both Steve and Richard were both OCS allowing Chris/Ben to get another 1st place. Anne/Mike Way had their best result finishing 2nd and Sam/Chris Mayne with a 3rd.
It came down to the final race to decide the MK1 championships and in a more steady 7 knots breeze, Richard/Carol won with Chris/Ben second Steve/Martin 3rd. These turned out to be the final overall results with 4th to Simon/Lou Doliczny and 5th to Jamie Grigor/Tim Farmer.
it was a good turnout with several visitors from Durleigh Whitefriars Cotswold and Hawley Lakes joining the local Exe boats.
MK2 report
Saturday racing was a tight affair with 4 different race winners - Ade/Tracie Padro, Bob/Colette Horlock, Guy Farrat and Graham Skyes, and Andrew/Caroline McAusland. It was all to play for on Sunday with only 1 point separating the top 3 boats.
Sunday saw a delay whilst the wind settled however the AP flag came down and we were able to launch in a light breeze.
With favourable pond like conditions, it was Ade/Tracie who led in first place around the last mark with a final run to the finish however the wind became lighter/shifty and the lead boats were becalmed for a few minutes while the wind filled back in. 1st to spot the new breeze were Guy/Graham who took full advantage and finished in 1st place, the battle for 2nd was between Andrew/Caroline and Ade/Tracie and Bob/Collette who had to settle for 4th following A port/starboard incident. This enabled Ade/Tracie could sneak through to 3rd place.
With one race remaining, Ade/Tracie, Andrew/Caroline and Guy/Graham were on equal points, this was going to be the closest finish of the championships. Ade/Tracie reached the mark first first and then spent the rest of the race in close coverage of Andrew/Caroline. Bob/Colette split from the top 2 in search of new wind shifts, however Ade/Tracie managed to hold of the fleet to win the event overall on count-back. Andrew/Caroline finishing 2nd, Guy/Graham in 3rd place, 4th went to Bob/Colette and 5th to Simon Gregory/Veronique Hart.
Huge thanks to Exe Sailing Club for putting on a terrific three days including sailing, BBQ, Trio dinner, cream teas and for all the help / support needed to run a successful championship.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| COMET TRIO (MK I) Fleet |
|---|
| 1st | 511 | Richard Sallis | Carole Williams | Cotswold Sailing Club | 1 | 1 | ‑2 | 2 | ‑10 | 1 | 5 |
| 2nd | 476 | Chris Biglin | Ben Biglin | Shustoke | ‑4 | 3 | 1 | ‑6 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 3rd | 510 | Steve Ashford | Martin Yeomans | Whitefriars | 2 | 2 | ‑4 | 1 | ‑7 | 3 | 8 |
| 4th | 364 | Symon Doliczny | Lou Doliczny | ESC | ‑5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | ‑9 | 16 |
| 5th | 435 | Jamie Grigor | Tim Farmer | Whitefriars SC | ‑7 | 4 | 5 | 3 | ‑9 | 5 | 17 |
| 6th | 348 | Sam Mayne | Chris Mayne | Hawley Lake | 6 | ‑9 | ‑7 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 21 |
| 7th | 472 | Sue Morris | Debbie Woodcock | ESC | 3 | 7 | ‑9 | ‑8 | 5 | 8 | 23 |
| 8th | 443 | Keith Lawson | Hazel Lawson | ESC | ‑10 | 6 | ‑8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 27 |
| 9th | 486 | Anne Way | Mike Way | ESC | 8 | (RET) | (DNC) | DNC | 2 | 4 | 28 |
| 10th | 373 | John Andrews | Tom Andrews | Whitefriars | ‑13 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 6 | ‑10 | 29 |
| 11th | 365 | Ono Olmedo | Robert Vince | ESC | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | ‑11 | (RET) | 39 |
| 12th | 471 | Dave Lee | Izaac Lee | | ‑12 | 11 | ‑12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 45 |
| 13th | 444 | Paul Furler | Peter Denford | | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 46 |
| COMET TRIO (MK II) Fleet |
|---|
| 1st | 505 | Adrian Padro | Tracie Padro | Shustoke | 1 | ‑4 | ‑3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| 2nd | 501 | Andrew McAusland | Caroline McA | ESC | ‑2 | 2 | ‑4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 3rd | 509 | Guy Farrant | Graham Sykes | ESC | ‑5 | ‑3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| 4th | 503 | Bob Horlock | Colette Horlock | ESC | 3 | 1 | 2 | ‑4 | ‑4 | 4 | 10 |
| 5th | 394 | Simon Gregory | Veronique M Hart | ESC | 4 | (RET) | ‑7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 19 |
| 6th | 368 | Mike Hart | Jenny Hart | ESC | 6 | 5 | 6 | ‑7 | ‑9 | 7 | 24 |
| 7th | 502 | Nick Webber | Richard Stradling | ESC | ‑8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ‑8 | 24 |
| 8th | 428 | Ian McKay | Paddy Bettesworth | ESC | 7 | 7 | ‑8 | ‑8 | 6 | 6 | 26 |
| 9th | 457 | Saul Tyler | Deborah/Alana Tyler | ESC | 9 | 8 | 9 | RET | (DNC) | (DNC) | 36 |
| 10th | 485 | Peter Labdon | Richard Young | ESC | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 8 | 9 | 43 |
| 11th | 429 | Michael Upton | Ian Upton | ESC | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 52 |
| 11th | 393 | Alex Horlock | Jessica Dunn | ESC | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 52 |
