Noble Marine Albacore National Championship at Thorpe Bay Yacht Club

The long hot Summer was very definitely over by the time thirty Albacores had gathered at Thorpe Bay Yacht Club for the Noble Marine National Championship over the August Bank holiday weekend. It could have been more, but three entrants had to pull out at the last minute due to family health issues. The forecast was for lots of breeze and some sunshine interspersed with much needed rain and that's exactly what we got.

Competitors had come from far and wide, with one crew travelling from the USA and another from the Shetland Isles to join the fleet.

She Who Dares, 8079 (Annissa Baines and Theo Holmes) at the leeward mark during the Noble Marine Albacore Nationals at Thorpe Bay - photo © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com

Friday, however, seemed to buck the forecaster's trend. Sunny, reasonably warm and a steady force 2/3 greeted the 30 starters for the first of three races. The PRO, Howard Warrington, took the very wise decision to run three because the forecast for later on Saturday was looking a bit tasty!

Race one got away on time, everyone behaving themselves, on a triangular course. Judy and Paul Armstrong, the current European and Inland Champions, put down an early marker with a win followed by Barney Harris and David Byron from the US and in third Allen Burrell and Paul Dell from Thorpe Bay in a borrowed boat.

Race 2 start during the Noble Marine Albacore Nationals at Thorpe Bay - photo © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com

Race two was sailed in similar conditions. This time it was Cameron Moss, crewed by Simon Law taking top spot followed by Allan and Chris Tyler from Lyme Regis and Nev Herbert crewed by local lady Daisy Floyd grabbing third.

A quick turn-around for race three saw another "local", Alex Farrall and Alex Warrington, in the Class demo boat taking the win with Steven Brown, from Shetland, crewed by Mark Fowler (definitely not from Shetland) in second place and Allen and Paul in third.

Alex Farrell and Alex Warrington during the Noble Marine Albacore Nationals at Thorpe Bay - photo © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com

So, by the end of day one inconsistency was the name of the game with Barney and David overnight points leaders, and everyone else trying to get their discard in early!

Saturday morning dawned grey and damp and already plenty of breeze with a forecast to get up to "beyond sailable" by the mid-afternoon. Two races were planned and sailed, again, on triangular courses.

Cameron Moss and Simon Law during the Noble Marine Albacore Nationals at Thorpe Bay - photo © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com

Race four, and some kind of order was beginning to develop. Barney and David took the win, Cameron and Simon second and Matthew Metcalfe-Smith and Jason Upton third, making up for a miserable first day where they had counted a RET and a DNC in races two and three.

Barney Harris and David Byron during the Noble Marine Albacore Nationals at Thorpe Bay - photo © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com

Race five and things were starting to get quite interesting. A turning tide against what was now a solid force five was building a short steep chop. Barney and David, clearly loving the conditions, took another win. Cameron and Simon finished second with Judy and Paul, super quick as ever downwind, taking third. The return to the lee shore and rolling waves was scary and challenging but the sterling efforts of club volunteers in the surf helped ensure no damage to the boats or crews!

Nemo, 8273 (Allen Burrell and Paul Dell) leading Gale Warning, 8263 (Barney Harris and David Byron) on Sunday during the Noble Marine Albacore Nationals at Thorpe Bay - photo © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com

Day two in the bag and the talk was all about the reaches, and the gybes, and the beats. An excellent BBQ was held in the stunning clubhouse while it rained, a lot, outside. Much beer was also consumed as the sailors shared stories of how much their muscles were aching.

Sunday, the last day, and the sun was back. Race six got away at the second attempt in a steady force two. The first downwind leg was compromised with a big wind shift that saw boats going low being able to gybe in the new air and make big gains. The beats became port biased, even after the windward mark was moved. Allen and Paul read the conditions best and took the win, Charles Devenport and Matthew Purdon nicking a second and Barney and David third.

Noble Marine Albacore Nationals at Thorpe Bay - photo © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com

Race seven and the breeze was on the up again. Now the course was reset, the reaches, especially the top one, became a flat out plane. Allen and Paul found another gear and won the race by some distance with Alex and Alex second and Allan and Chris third.

Barney Harris and David Byron during the Noble Marine Albacore Nationals at Thorpe Bay - photo © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com

So overall, Barney Harris and David Byron were crowned National Champions, with Alex Farrall and Alex Warrington second and Cameron Moss and Simon Law in third place. Full results in the table below. In the team event, Scaling Dam won the prestigious Little Ships trophy, narrowly beating the Thorpe Bay and Tewkesbury Teams. Silver Fleet winners were Adrian Hewit and Marcus Rex from Pevensey Bay SC near Eastbourne.

Barney Harris taking a selfie with Keith Musto and crew David Byton after winning the Noble Marine Albacore Nationals at Thorpe Bay - photo © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com

Due to the vast array of silverware built up over the years, an Albacore prize giving is a significant event with Club Commodore, Martin Swindon patiently handing out the majority of the prizes. The Class was also delighted that the prizes for the top two crews were presented by former Olympic silver medalist, Keith Musto, OBE, who had won the first Albacore Nationals at Thorpe Bay in 1960.

Rythum, 8262 - Alex Farrell and Alex Warrington being presented with their 2nd place trophies by Keith Musto during the Noble Marine Albacore Nationals at Thorpe Bay - photo © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com

Keith reminded everyone that one of the keys to success was keeping your eyes outside the boat not inside! Barney and David said how proud they were to be standing next to such a sailing legend. The third place prize was presented by another local, Richard Findlay who was a young cadet crew on the 3rd place boat at the 1960 Thorpe Bay Albacore Championship.

Cameron Moss and Simon Law finish 3rd in the Noble Marine Albacore Nationals at Thorpe Bay - photo © David Maynard / www.alleycatphotographer.com

All in all a fantastic championship, and a massive "thank you" from all the sailors to all the volunteers at Thorpe Bay who made this happen. A big thanks also to the event sponsors, Noble Marine, WEST SYSTEM Epoxy and Wessex Resins & Adhesives, HD Sails and Ovington Boats.

Final event of this year is the two-day Northerns at Leigh & Lowton SC 17/18 October then the focus goes to 2027 especially the Internationals at Lyme Regis where over 50 boats are expected.

If you'd like a go in this exciting and robust double hander remember the class has a demo boat which is available to try - see the NAA website for more info.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Albacore nationals then enter your Gear Guide information