Noble Marine RS400 National Championship 2024 at Royal Torbay Yacht Club - Day 1
by Tom Halhead 19 Aug 22:13 BST
19-23 August 2024
The calm before the storm seems the best way to describe the weekend; with Royal Torbay Yacht Club proving excellent hosts as competitors arrived in various states of preparedness.
Most were catching up in the sun over a couple of beers, with a few heading out for some practice and a great coaching session run by Sam Knight and Chris Bownes on Sunday. There was an undercurrent of nervous tension though, with a forecast for the week of a couple of jetstreams having a punch up followed by a Michael Fish-esque "hurricane" due to arrive Thursday or Friday... we shall see...
Sure enough, things were looking pretty fresh on Monday as the fleet launched into 18-20 knots with the forecast promising much more later on; Paul Smalley and Anna Kerslake lead the fleet out of the harbour in their new ship - and promptly continued this by leading round the first windward mark. It was all action behind, with Edd Whitehead and Ben Whaley having blown their kicker up in the first few seconds, managed to lash it up whilst heading out the corner and play their get of jail card to benefit from the same left shift that had catapulted Paul and Anna into the lead.
The breeze started to build on Lap 2 with a very short steep chop that made boat handling on the downwinds challenging - Sam Knight and Chris Bownes had flown upwind to challenge for the lead but the immortal line from their coaching session "we never safety gybe but here's how you do it if you need to" returned to haunt them as they hit the tide. At the front Edd and Ben had built a good lead by the end of the third lap to win from a hard charging Ollie Groves and Esther Parkhurst, and Chris Eames and Rachel Tilley.
Leading the silver fleet are Andy and Allyson Jefferies, one place ahead of Neil Bevington and Alan Skeens.
The race team rightly decided that that was enough fun and games for the day without unduly worrying event sponsors Noble Marine, sending the fleet in for a very hospitable prize-giving (thanks to Marlow Ropes and Rooster for the spot prizes) and Commodore's Reception with the plan for three races tomorrow.
Results after Day 1:
Pos | Sail No | Division | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | Pts |
1st | 1541 | Gold | Edd Whitehead | Ben Whaley | Parkstone YC | 1 | 1 |
2nd | 1526 | Gold | Ollie Groves | Esther Parkhurst | Beaver SC | 2 | 2 |
3rd | 1528 | Gold | Christopher Eames | Rachel Tilley | QMSC | 3 | 3 |
4th | 1555 | Gold | Jon Gorringe | Toby Lewis | Parkstone YC | 4 | 4 |
5th | 1460 | Gold | Dave Exley | Alistair Coates | Leigh & Lowton SC | 5 | 5 |
6th | 1463 | Gold | Stewart Robertson | Sarah Robertson | Royal Forth YC | 6 | 6 |
7th | 1504 | Gold | Sam Knight | Chris Bownes | Lyme Regis SC | 7 | 7 |
8th | 1538 | Gold | Ian Martin | Chris Martin | Burghfield SC | 8 | 8 |
9th | 1535 | Gold | Tom Halhead | Paul Hilliar | Llandegfedd SC | 9 | 9 |
10th | 1553 | Gold | Howard Farbrother | Jack Munnelly | Lymington Town SC | 10 | 10 |
11th | 1511 | Gold | Hamish Gledhill | Ross Southwell | West Riding SC | 11 | 11 |
12th | 1414 | Gold | Sam Watson | Darren Roach | Nantwich SC | 12 | 12 |
13th | 1550 | Gold | Jack Holden | Rob Henderson | Chichester YC | 13 | 13 |
14th | 1500 | Gold | Nick Craig | Adam Craig | Burghfield SC/Frensham | 14 | 14 |
15th | 1479 | Gold | Chris Webber | Nicki Webber | Pevensey Bay SC | 15 | 15 |
16th | 1480 | Silver | Andy Jeffries | Allyson Jeffries | Eastbourne Sovereign SC | 16 | 16 |
17th | 1377 | Silver | Neil Bevington | Alan Skeens | Lee on Solent SC | 17 | 17 |
18th | 1469 | Gold | Martin Powell | Arun Powell | Parkstone YC | 18 | 18 |
19th | 1502 | Gold | Jon Heissig | Nicky Griffin | Llangorse SC | 19 | 19 |
20th | 1239 | Silver | Paul Cullen | Matt Sargent | Weirwood SC | 20 | 20 |
21st | 1 | Silver | Ross Ryan | Amy Hinsliff-Smith | Notts County SC | 21 | 21 |
22nd | 1557 | Gold | Paul Smalley | Anna Kerslake | Chew Valley Lake SC | 22 | 22 |
23rd | 1461 | Silver | Charlie Exley | Caroline Exley | Leigh & Lowton SC | 23 | 23 |
24th | 1324 | Silver | Richard Watney | Grant Shoebridge | HISC | 24 | 24 |
25th | 690 | Silver | Jeremy Stephens | Thomas Kliskey | Penzance SC | 25 | 25 |
26th | 506 | Silver | Alex Zamaria | Alice Harper | Saltash SC | 26 | 26 |
27th | 695 | Silver | Jake Willars | Nicola Willars | Notts County SC | 27 | 27 |
28th | 517 | Silver | Max Burrows | Amy Burrows | Rutland SC | 28 | 28 |
29th | 411 | Gold | Figs Cain | Barney Dearsly | Starcross YC | 37.0 DNC | 37 |
29th | 1210 | Silver | Niall Houston | George Zavos | HISC | 37.0 DNC | 37 |
29th | 1220 | Silver | John Cooper | Matthew Wright | Burghfield SC/Thorney Island SC | 37.0 DNF | 37 |
29th | 1287 | Silver | James Bowman | Andrew Gladstone | Starcross YC | 37.0 DNF | 37 |
29th | 1328 | Silver | Steve Peat | Jonathan Carr | Starcross YC | 37.0 DNF | 37 |
29th | 1376 | Silver | Tim Le Couilliard | James Le Couilliard | King George SC | 37.0 DNC | 37 |
29th | 1455 | Silver | Garry Knott | John Tailby | Notts County SC | 37.0 DNC | 37 |
29th | 1487 | Silver | Andrew Bray | Sarah Bevington | Lee on Solent SC | 37.0 DNS | 37 |