Noble Marine RS800 National Championship 2024 at Hayling Island Sailing Club - Day 1
by Hugh Shone 13 Sep 2024 13:18 BST
12-15 September 2024
2024 Noble Marine RS800 National Championship, day 1 © Digital Sailing
Day one of the RS800 Noble Marine Nationals could be described as atmospheric. Big puffy clouds pushed out to sea bringing bursts of brilliant sunshine and occasional deluges of rain.
The sea at times looked moody and foreboding and the next minute it was calm and serene. Bizzarely, the cold Northerly wind meant that water temperature was more pleasant than air. It was strange seeing sailors dipping their hands in to warm up.
Due to lighter winds forecasted later in the week, the race team opted to run a third race. Despite the unexpected cold I think this was probably a wise decision given the fantastic racing conditions. The Northerly breeze meant for some interesting swings and pressure channels as teams changed modes up the race course to deal with the shifting pressure.
Race one saw Rob Gullan and Tom Partington take a good lead at mark one. The chasing pack included Tom Morris and Tommy Darling, Tinned Gratin and Arthur Henderson, David Conlon and Ed Gibbons, and Monique Vennis-Ozanne and Hugh Shone. As the boats punched downwind and shuffled positions at the corners, it ended with a good win for Rob and Tom, a consolidated second place for Tom and Tommy, and third for Monique and Hugh.
Race two saw a more concerted push from Tom and Tommy from the off. They blasted the first beat to look comfortable at the top. Rob and Tom did their best to reel them in but it was not to be. Again, Monique and Hugh wriggled their way into third and watched the duel in front keenly - waiting for a slip up.
The final race of the day got away after a shuffle of the course as the wind went hard right and reduced (after a particularly freezing rain shower and mini squall). There was great impetus from the race team to get the final race in despite the non-compliant wind.
Hard port bias and tide pushing boats back from the line made for a particularly messy start at the pin. With teams bailing out all over the line and panicked tacks it was all very chaotic. Meanwhile Tom and Tommy managed to stay clean and led the charge for the second race in a row. Monique and Hugh held out left to sneak in at the top in second only to be instantly rolled by Rob and Tom.
The fleet was much more compact with Alex Smallwood and Toby Freeland, and Chris Feibusch and Matt Alvarado also looking interested. With Tom and Tommy, and Rob and Tom both extending away things looked settled. However sailing is never that straightforward. Monique and Hugh caught a good band of pressure on the last downwind. They ate up the meters on Rob and Tom and managed to sneak their noses in front right at the last.
With less wind today everyone is expecting the racing to get tighter and with the shifty Northerly breezewe can expect more snakes and ladders to keep everyone on their toes. Wrap up warm everyone!
Full results so far