Noble Marine Enterprise National Championships at Tenby Sailing Club - Day 1

Noble Marine Enterprise Nationals at Tenby Day 1 - Jeremy & Becca Stephens, Penzance SC © Mhairi Ogilvie

Given the forecast for Monday, the Race Officer scheduled three races for day one of the championship on Sunday.

Race 1

Wind: North West F3 to 4
Course: Trapezoid outer loop, 3 laps

Jon Woodward 233443, South Staffs crewed by Alex Homer was first round the windward mark, followed by Oli Boocock & Luke Hartshorn and Paul young and Mhairi Ogilvie.

The wind eased to F2 to 3 as the race progressed.

Jeremy Stephens and Becca 22652, Penzance SC, pulled through to second place on the down wind legs. They then got past Jon and Alex on the second beat to take the lead and were never headed to take the gun.

Race 2

Wind: F2

The wind shifted right just before the start, significantly favouring the committee boat end. Jeremy & Becca were first to the windward mark closely followed by Chris Palmer & Ella Rich, 22935, Penarth YC with Callum Gibb & Duncan Willoughby, 22270 in third.

Jeremy & Becca pulled further ahead as the race progressed. Meanwhile Callum & Duncan slowly closed on Chris & Ella. The finishing reach turned into a beat with a further rightward shift enabling Callum & Duncan to take advantage and grab second place in the final moments.

Race 3

Wind: F2

The decision in race 3 was, would the wind keep going right, or would the sea breeze cause a leftward shift, and where would the pressure be?

Charles Morrish & Dan Swaffield 23089, St Mary's Loch SC, took the left hand option. In the event the pressure came in from the left over the last 500m of the beat. They were able to round just ahead of Jeremy & Becca, with Jon & Alex in third. The leading two boats battled it out for the rest of the race pulling further away from the remainder of the fleet. On the third beat, about 200m short of the shortened course finish Charles & Dan found a hole in the pressure and Jeremy & Becca pulled through beneath them to take the gun and three bullets on the first day of racing.

Noble Marine Enterprise Nationals at Tenby Day 1 - Callum Gibb & Duncan Willoughby, Largo Bay SC and St Mary's Loch SC - photo © Mhairi Ogilvie

Noble Marine Enterprise Nationals at Tenby Day 1 - Oli Boocock & Luke Hartshorn, Scammonden Water SC - photo © Mhairi Ogilvie

Results after Day 1: