Noble Marine RS100 Nationals - Runners and Riders
by Andrew Jones 9 Sep 13:54 BST
17-20 September 2026
Nigel Wakefield, Ian Gregory and Jake Bowhay © RS Class Association
The 2025 Mounts Bay Nationals left Nigel Wakefield as Champion (again), Andy Jones second (again), Huw Powell third and Nils Jolliffe fourth. Since then, some have improved, some have maintained form, and some have presumably spent the winter studying tidal charts while pretending they weren't.
So, with the racing equivalent of a bookmaker's tissue in hand, here are the Brixham 2026 runners and riders.
Nigel Wakefield — "The Consistency Machine" — 7/4
2025 Nationals: 1st | 2026 Inlands: 1st
The defending champion and current Inland Champion.
Nigel won Mounts Bay by deploying the most devastating weapon in championship sailing: not having any bad races.
His 2025 scoreline contained more 2s than a maths lesson and ultimately delivered the title.
Then he won the 2026 Inlands.
Verdict: The one to beat. Has apparently confused "Nationals" with "personal trophy collection".
Huw Powell — "Breeze Block" — 3/1
2025 Nationals: 3rd
If the wind gods are feeling generous, Huw could become very expensive for the opposition.
Mounts Bay demonstrated his considerable ability in a breeze, including two race wins in the big Saturday conditions.
If Brixham delivers wind, waves and the sort of sailing that makes your chiropractor nervous, Huw's odds should probably be shorter.
Verdict: Best horse when the going gets rough.
Nils Jolliffe — "The Silent Assassin" — 4/1
2025 Nationals: 4th
Nils opened Mounts Bay by winning Race 1 and followed it with a 4th, 7th, 3rd and 2nd.
Which is a fairly emphatic way of announcing that you're not here to admire the scenery.
He's consistently capable of putting the boat at the sharp end.
Verdict: Doesn't make much noise. Just makes the results sheet.
David Smart — "360 Degrees of Separation" — 5/1
2025 Nationals: 8th | 2026 Inlands: 4th
Frequently found on his lonesome in the corners of the course, Dave has an uncanny ability to roll the dice and come out smelling of roses. 4th at the 2026 Inlands.
Verdict: Plenty of pace and with a fair wind likely to surprise the fleet
Andrew Jones — "The Early Leader" — 6/1
2025 Nationals: 2nd | 2026 Inlands: 5th
Andrew led the 2025 Nationals after the opening three races, having scored a 3rd followed by two bullets.
Nigel eventually hunted him down through sheer consistency. A former Masters champion with ability to perform across all winds - just needs to string together a series.
Verdict: Knows how to lead a Nationals. Now needs to learn how to finish in front.
Clive Eplett — "Pin End Charlie" — 8/1
2025 Nationals: 11th
Clive's Mounts Bay score says 11th.
Clive himself would probably say "Yes, but did you see Race 5?"
He won that race after hitting the pin end, doing his turn and then apparently deciding this was all part of the tactical masterplan to duck the fleet and head right.
Verdict: Form questionable. Entertainment value guaranteed.
Jake Bowhay — "The Young Pretender" — 10/1
2026 Inlands: 3rd
Jake has made a serious impression this season, taking a race win and finishing third overall at the Inlands.
That puts him firmly into the category of people the established stars would prefer not to have discovered speed.
Verdict: Could be the horse that turns the old guard into glue.
Jeremy Troughton — "The Steady Express" — 12/1
2025 Nationals: 7th
Jeremy's Mounts Bay result deserves serious respect.
Seventh overall, including a 3rd and 2nd during the big Saturday racing.
Just needs to keep collecting good scores while everyone else is collecting stories.
Verdict: Reliable. Annoying. Effective.
Leighton King — "The King of Consistency" — 14/1
2025 Nationals: 6th
Sixth at Mounts Bay, with a 3rd in the big Saturday conditions and a 4th in the final race.
The sort of form that says: "I'm probably going to be somewhere near you all week."
Verdict: Each-way material. May be lurking behind the leaders when nobody is looking.
Mike Green — "Green Light" — 16/1
2025 Nationals: 10th
Mike started Mounts Bay slowly but loved the conditions on big Saturday leading all three races. A thorough-bred in heavy going he just needs to keep the mast upright/stay right side of the start line to avoid collecting letters rather than race scores.
Verdict: Good outside bet - needs to avoid mimicking 'Devon Lock'
Steve Main — "Main Event" — 18/1
2025 Nationals: 9th
A top-ten Nationals finisher and another sailor who knows how to grind out a result.
Not necessarily spectacular.
Just persistently there.
Verdict: The horse you don't notice until you realise it's fifth overall.
Duncan Barr — "Barr None" — 20/1
2025 Nationals: 12th
Duncan's 12th at Mounts Bay doesn't really tell the whole story.
He produced a couple of 8ths before the championship became rather more complicated.
Verdict: Needs a clean series. Preferably one involving fewer opportunities for the discard.
Martyn Catlow — "The Comeback Kid" — 25/1
2025 Nationals: 25th | 2026 Inlands: 9th
Now this is an interesting bit of form.
Mounts Bay: 25th.
Inlands: 9th.
That's the sort of improvement that makes bookmakers nervous.
Verdict: Form is heading in the right direction. Don't judge this horse on last year's haircut.
Darrell Sleep — "Wide Awake" — 25/1
2026 Inlands: 10th
The name says Sleep.
The results say otherwise.
Darrell's 10th at the Inlands showed that he's perfectly capable of mixing it with the fleet, and a championship is a long game.
Verdict: May spend four days quietly waking up the people in front.
Nick Creak — "The Crested Wave" — 28/1
2025 Nationals: 17th
The final position at Mounts Bay doesn't tell the whole story.
Nick produced an 8th and two 9ths and showed respectable pace in the big stuff.
Verdict: The sort of horse that could suddenly discover itself in the top ten.
Nick Shuttleworth — "The Shuttle" — 28/1
2025 Nationals: 14th
Solid Mounts Bay form with plenty of fleet experience.
Nick may not have been setting the scoreline on fire, but he kept himself in the mix.
Verdict: Reliable transport to the middle of the fleet. Potential upgrade available.
Mostyn Evans — "Sea Biscuit" — 30/1
2025 Nationals: 18th | 2026 Inlands: 13th
It's almost compulsory to give a sailing horse named Mostyn something involving the sea.
A couple of strong Mounts Bay results showed he has the pace to get into the mix, while his familiarity with the lumpy stuff and serious coastal sailing makes him an interesting Brixham proposition.
Verdict: If Brixham gets lumpy, watch the sea horse.
Andy Trickett — "Trick or Fleet" — 35/1
2025 Nationals: 22nd
Andy had some useful results at Mounts Bay, including a 12th and 18th.
But the great thing about sailing is that last year's position doesn't necessarily matter.
Except when we're writing previews.
Then it's extremely important.
Verdict: Could be a trick. Could be a treat. Probably both.
Jon Elmes — "Elmes Presley" — 35/1
2025 Nationals: 20th | 2026 Inlands: 6th
Now here's a horse with momentum.
Jon went from 20th at Mounts Bay to 6th at the 2026 Inlands.
He also picked up the Endeavour award at Mounts Bay.
Verdict: The comeback is real. Whether it ends with a podium remains to be seen.
Matt Johnson — "Matt Finish" — 40/1
Matt has plenty of RS100 experience and has previously shown serious race-winning pace.
He's therefore one of those awkward entries for a preview writer:
the odds say outsider; the CV says don't be stupid.
Verdict: A dangerous price if he finds the right Brixham settings.
Francis Bucknall — "Buck the Odds" — 40/1
Francis has plenty of RS100 miles under his belt and previous solid championship form.
At 40/1, the bookmakers appear to be taking the view that the front of this particular field is rather crowded.
Verdict: Has the experience to make a mockery of the odds.
Juan Ces — "Juan More Time" — 50/1
Juan's Mounts Bay result wasn't one for the trophy cabinet, but Nationals are funny things.
A new venue, a different set of conditions and one good run can completely change the complexion of a championship.
Verdict: Needs a good start. Preferably several.
The Paddock Picks
Favourite: Nigel Wakefield — The Consistency Machine
Main danger: Huw Powell — Breeze Block
Dark horse for the podium: Nils Jolliffe — The Silent Assassin
Best value: Jake Bowhay — The Young Pretender
Biggest improver: Jon Elmes — Elmes Presley
If it's windy: Huw Powell
Most unpredictable: Clive Eplett
Best horse name: Sea Biscuit
Most likely to make this entire preview look ridiculous: all of them.
Because that's the beauty of the RS100 Nationals.
The Mounts Bay form tells us plenty.
The Inlands tell us who's moving forward.
But Brixham will have its own ideas.
Wind. Tide. Waves. Shifts. Spinnakers. Fatigue.
And 22 sailors simultaneously convinced that their side of the course is definitely the right side.
Form books at the ready.
Bixham, here we come.
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