Noble Marine RS800 National Championship at Castle Cove Sailing Club - Day 1

Noble Marine RS800 National Championships 2021 © Richard Bowers

After three weeks of sunshine and light fluky Easterly winds, Weymouth turned on the breeze for day one of the eagerly awaited Noble Marine RS800 Nationals. Possibly a bit more breeze than most of the 38 teams were expecting and possibly a tad more than most had practiced in over the past year... a solid force 5 from SSW with gusts of 24 knots whirling around Portland.

The class is really happy to be back at Castle Cove Sailing Club for their championship and has received the club's renowned warm and friendly welcome, including great bacon baps before racing and tasty come-ashore pasties afterwards. With so little racing this year, this is the first time many of the sailors have had a chance to catch up with friends and it's great to see lots of new faces joining the fleet too.

The race team, led by "Portland" Bill Barker, set a good-sized course right across the harbour. In a break with tradition, the RS800s started ahead of the RS700s to do the outer loop course, bringing a new set of challenges ("er... what do we do on a reach?"). Many sailors had sensibly got the day's capsize practice in before the first start.

Amazingly the fleet started cleanly at the first attempt, partly thanks to a nice square line and sensible use of the U-flag, partly perhaps due a little rustiness amongst the sailors. Reigning national champions Tom Morris and Guy Fillmore made a fast conservative start mid-line, next to last year's runner up Rob Gullan sailing with the current European champion crew Tom Partington. Tom and Guy tacked first to go right, a smart move which put them in a good lead by the windward mark. As predicted, the long top reach under Portland was very gusty and lully, putting several of the leading pack in for an early swim including newcomers Morgan Peach and Will Ward, who up to that point were showing great speed. Tom and Guy held their lead to the finish, chased hard by Rob and Tom, with Luke and Emma McEwen clawing through to third on the final beat ahead of Hugh Shone and Fiona Hampshire. James Penty and Eddie Grayson sailed a solid race to claim fifth despite various bits of the boat falling off on the way round.

Noble Marine RS800 National Championships 2021 - photo © Richard Bowers

The second and final race of the day had a third lap for good measure, great for the fleet who by now were revelling in the conditions. This time it was Rob and Tom who had the edge on the first beat, rounding ahead of Tom and Guy and keeping their cool to take the race win. Many more places changed in the chasing pack; Phil Walker and John Mather sailed a blinding run after spotting a big veering gust to pull up to third at the leeward gate, where they very generously stopped for a little dip in the refreshing waters of Portland Harbour, letting Hugh and Fiona through to another fourth behind Luke and Emma. Tom Bucktrout and Dom Burke pulled up through the fleet to a well-deserved fifth place.

Tomorrow promises even more excitement with a little more breeze forecast, three races and the possibility of a trip into Weymouth Bay.

Results after Day 1:

Noble Marine RS800 National Championships 2021 - photo © Richard Bowers