Noble Marine Allen RS100 Nationals at Royal Torbay Yacht Club - Overall

Could Huw Powell retain his title, or would a new champ be crowned? That was the question on everybody's lips and after three days of solid hiking breezes and a few wet gybes, Powell was in a good position. However, Nigel Wakefield was hot on his heels and only two points back, but with better discards.

Powell had been praying to the wind Gods, but they hadn't heard. The wind was a more sedate 6 to 8 knots blowing over the land from the holiday hotspot of Paignton. The fleet started cleanly with a number tacking off towards the Paignton shore, where they thought they spotted more pressure, but it proved an illusion, with those playing the shifts gaining the most.

Noble Marine Allen RS100 Nationals Day 4 - photo © Tania Hutchings / 50 North Photography

There were some new faces at the front of the field. Leading up the beat by some margin, was the light wind wizard Ian Gregory, revelling in the conditions. He was followed by Barr and then Smart, with Wakefield then Powell a couple of places back. The downwind saw Eplett, and Bridgen slide through with Wakefield finding some pressure to join the leaders. On the second lap, Wakefield played the sifts perfectly to take the gun followed by Barr, Eplett then Gregory followed by Bridgen before Powell squeezed over in sixth.

That meant that for the final race Powell would have to win, with Wakefield fourth or worse for him to retain his title.

Noble Marine Allen RS100 Nationals Day 4 - photo © Tania Hutchings / 50 North Photography

While the fleet got away safely under a P flag, Powell found himself uncharacteristically trying to extricate himself from the third row. Eplett was now flying, sniffing out the pressure and shifts and leading from start to finish. He was closely followed by Wakefield, who had spotted Powell buried in the pack and sailed his own race to second and overall glory. Gregory was third with Smart fourth and Jolliffe fifth, with Powell almost pleased to come in ninth after that start!

Wakefield had sailed a superbly consistent series to be crowned the Noble Marine Allen 2023 RS100 National Champion. In second place and first Master was Huw Powell with James Ross having done enough in the windy races to secure third place. Nils Jolliffe had recovered from an unusually poor Day 1 to finish fourth, with Bart Bridgen taking fifth.

Noble Marine Allen RS100 Nationals - photo © Liz Harrison

Completing 11 races in 4 days is no mean feat and so the fleet thanked the Royal Torbay Yacht Club for hosting a memorable championship with great sailing led superbly by the PRO Bob Penfold and his on-water team, with excellent support from the shore team and those in the warmth of the club.

A special thanks was given to the sponsors Noble Marine and Allen for their generous support of prizes.

The fleet move on to the Inlands at Chew Valley Lake SC on 11/12 November.

Noble Marine Allen RS100 Nationals - photo © Liz Harrison

Overall Results: