Results / Volvo Noble Marine National Championship Castle Cove SC - 20/08/2015

Congratulations to RS700 2015 National Champion Jerry Wales!

 

Congratulations to RS800 2015 National Champions Tim Saxton and Fiona Hampshire!

 

Final results and full prize winner lists below. More video incoming...

 

Great sailing photos above by Seb Godsmark.

 

Amazing short video of day three racing by [email protected] on Youtube: 

https://youtu.be/h09P_jZOy7Q

 

Click your fleet and day to go straight to the report:

 

RS700 Day One

 

RS700 Day Two

 

RS700 Day Three

 

RS700 Day Four and Overall Event Report

 

RS800 Day One

 

RS800 Day Two

 

RS800 Day Three

 

RS800 Day Four

 

Both fleet results are underneath the reports.

 

Volvo Noble Marine RS700 National Championship Day One Report by Ben Willows

 

The first race of the RS700 2015 nationals got underway in gusty conditions of 10 to 15 knots.  The sailing was held inside Portland Harbour and the first start saw a heavily port end biased line. Jerry Wales got away best off the start and was closely followed up the first beat by Neil Ashby and Ben Willows.  The downwind legs were very close with the gusts making a big difference to boat speed and saw lots of place changing.  The top three of Jerry, Neil and Ben kept their positions all the way to the finish with some very close racing between them and the rest of fleet just behind. 

 

Race number two got underway in slightly more breeze and saw Richard Wadsworth and Simon Letten get off the line well and extend up the first beat to the left hand side of the course.  Neil Ashby sailed well again and got up in to 4th with Ben Willows coming through the fleet to finish 5th.   Jerry Wales recovered from a high placing at the first windward mark to hoist his spinnaker halfway down the final reach to the finish line to sail right through to second place! 

 

Throughout the fleet there was close racing all the way through the fleet and day one saw very happy RS700 sailors coming ashore after two really fun action packed races. 

 

 

Volvo Noble Marine RS700 National Championship Day Two Report by Richard Wadsworth

 

With the weather for day three looking marginal the decision was made to complete four races on day two.  In order to sail a larger course the fleet headed out into the bay in 10-15 knots of breeze.

 

Race One:  The start line had a slight pin end bias which loaded that end of the line.  Jerry Wales made a clean start and led the fleet from start to finish.  Ben Willows, Neil Ashby and Richard Wadsworth were in tight formation around the course with Neil helping the others by getting stuck on the windward mark.  Jerry took the win with Ben narrowly beating Neil to the line.

 

Race Two:  Race two followed the pattern of the first race with Jerry pulling out a lead on the chasing Ben, Neil and Richard.  In the last lap Ben showed great speed downwind to nearly catch Jerry and show a clean pair of heels to the chasing pack.

 

Race Three:  Richard was smothered on the line by Neil and decided to cut his losses and tack oof up the right hand side of the course and promptly sail into a windless hole.  Fortunately the wind shifted and filled in from that side of the course and so Richard popped out significantly ahead of the fleet.  Richard hung on for the wind despite Jerry chasing hard.  Ian Swann and Neil took third and forth.  The fleet was beginning to tire at this point with cramp widespread amongst the sailors.

 

Race Four:  Most sailors were secretly hoping that the postponement flag was actually the race abandonment flag but it was not to be.  Race four was a race of attrition with sailors merely trying to get around the course with cramp ridden fingers and arms.  Jerry won by some margin, followed by Neil, Richard and Andrew Brown close behind.

 

The sailors returned to the bar for a well earned beer!

 

 

Volvo Noble Marine RS700 National Championship Day Three Report  by Richard Kennedy and Simon Letten

 

Race Seven:  Unfortunately race seven was such a long time ago that none of the RS700 sailors had any recollection of what happened.  Jerry Wales took the lead and was followed closely by Ian Swann. 

 

Race Eight: Huw Griffiths won the start despite James Bayliss’ failed attempt at a port hand flyer.  The wind shifted left over the first beat so at the first mark it was Huw followed by Jerry then Neil Ashby.  At the leeward mark Jerry had managed to take the lead.  The race finished with Jerry first followed by Huw and then Simon Letten.  A special mention must go to “The Punisher” and new RS700 Class Chair Richard Wadsworth for completing an extra lap of honour.

 

Race Nine:  Huw had a great start hitting the port end as the gun went.  At the top mark it was Huw followed by Simon and Neil.  Huw kept the lead over the next three laps for a thoroughly deserved win.

 

 

2015 Volvo Noble Marine RS700 National Championship - Day 4 and Overall by Jerry Wales

 

If you were blessed enough to pick your ideal ingredients for a class championships you would surely start with one of the very best sailing venues in the country in Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour.  You would also want (but of course this is just fantasy) the support of the leading brands in their category in Volvo cars, Noble Marine, Harken and RS - a massive thank you.  If you had a direct line to the big guy upstairs you would order 4 days of winds between 8 and 15 knots to give everybody, whether hobbit or hulk a fair crack.  On top of all that it would be rude to expect outstanding organisation from the host club, so let’s be rude.   Line up Hugh Shone and Hannah Tattersall to lead the show, Richard Woof to run the racing and amazing behind the scenes backup from the members and volunteers and it would be about perfect, and let’s not forget homemade cake.  Be proud Castle Cove Sailing Club!

 

At the beginning of the event the forecast for day 3 and 4 was a little shaky, and with that in mind the race team added an extra race to the program on day 2 just in case.  As it happened the third day was a perfect 3 race day in the bay and so we had only one race to complete the full race programme on the last day.  First and second overall had been sown up the previous day, so overall winner Jerry Wales and runner up Neil Ashby took the opportunity to pack their boats away in the rain rather than wait for the glorious sunshine an hour later.  The final race ought to have been a formality for the stand-out performer of the previous day.  Huw Reynolds looked to have the race under control but the thought of winning two races in his first Nationals was too much for the Welshman so he applied the hand brake, trawling his spinnaker at the end of the second lap allowing Ian Swann to assume the lead and dropping Reynolds to third.  Ian Swann in the lead would normally be the prelude to some serious entertainment and all those on shore lined the balcony to wait for the inevitable.  It was to the disappointment of the watching crowd (not that he might win) that Swann held on to secure the win.  Reynolds had sailed himself back onto contention but a capsize on the final leg allowed Adam Golding through to second with a damp Reynolds in third.

 

For most, this year’s Nationals was about as good as it gets if sailing is what floats your boat (OK a little bit more sun and less rain would have helped but with such awesome cake who cares).  The racing in the RS700 fleet was as it is always, competitive and fun, not aggressive and confrontational.  Race victories were recorded by one of the lightest (Huw Reynolds weighing in at 70 plus kilos) and by one of the heaviest (class Chair Richard Wadsworth weighing in at a 100 plus kilos) showing how versatile the weight equalised RS700 is.  Race wins were also recorded by Simon Letten (luck) and the legend that is Ian Swann.  

 

The remaining races were won by veteran Jerry Wales, finishing with a net 10 points to record his third nationals win (a jerryhattrick) and winning a voucher for lunch at the local old peoples’ home.   Joining him for lunch and winning the Masters trophy was Hamish Griffiths.

 

A clear second overall was Neil Ashby.  Now dividing his time between the RS700 and the Musto Skiff, we may see a smaller version of Neil next year if he wants to be all-round competitive in the Musto.

 

Best first nationals prize (Apprentice Trophy) went to Huw Reynolds who showed outstanding pace when he kept it upright, which unfortunately was not that often.

 

Plonker of the week was a close one (or perhaps not) nominated were, Richard Wadsworth for sailing an extra lap when all those around him, in front and behind sailed to the finish, and Simon Letten for redefining overstanding.  The stand out winner (no surprise here) was James (call me Paul) Bayliss.  It dawned on him at the last second what everybody else knew minutes earlier that his attempt at a port tack flyer at the pin end was doomed to failure and the crash tack ended with his tiller extension caught between his head and his sunglasses and an inevitable capsize.  To most it would have been obvious to take the sunglasses off and then slide the glasses off the extension, but not for James (call me Paul) Bayliss.  He proceeded to slide his head with sunglasses in position off the tiller extension.  He is still alive so it must have worked!

 

A final thanks to Simon and Richard from RS for providing support to both the RS700 and the RS800 and to Clare Sargent from the RS Class Association, great job.

 

Next year’s Nationals are at Hayling Island on the 25th to the 28th August 2016.  I will see you there if they let me out of the home.

 

2015 RS700 National Championship Prize Winners:

 

1st	Jerry Wales
2nd	Neil Ashby
3rd	Richard Wadsworth
4th	Simon Letten
5th	Ian Swann
1st Silver	Richard Kennedy
1st Master	Hamish Griffiths
Fidelis Trophy	Adam Golding (1st helm outside main prizes who has competed in at least 3 previous RS700 Nationals)
Apprentice Trophy	Huw Reynolds (1st helm at their RS700 Nationals)
Endeavour Trophy	Alastair Paul

 

 

Volvo Noble Marine RS800 National Championship Day One by Hugh Shone

 

It's on!  Many boats arrived a day in advance but all good intentions of a practice sail were put pay by fog and heavy downpours.  Despite this continuing into Thursday morning the race team and competitors remained undeterred and charged out to the race area for 2 races on day one of the 2015 RS800 Nationals.

Whilst the weather was a bit grim the wind was perfect allowing for some classic Portland Harbour flinging about.  All money was on a general for race one given the electric atmosphere!  Fastest out of the blocks were Matt Humphreys and Amy Cartwright who flung off the pin end and careered into a solid 1st place. Behind things were a wee bit more feisty with Tim Saxton and Fiona Hampshire holding off Pete Barton and Chris Feibusch (future class Chair obviously benefitting from class Chair bonus speeds) in 2nd and 3rd.  The course was condensed and it seemed to favour pinging the left hence a battle royal throughout the fleet in order to hit the favourable side in a healthy lane.  Once ahead and clear you were on the money.

Race two and the wind had built ever so slightly.  This time around it was Tim and Fiona who broke free to lead around the top.  Matt and Amy remained in close contention as these two boats built a healthy lead over the fleet.  Further back there was an almighty offensive/counter offensive going on between Hugh Shone/Hannah Tattersall, Russ Gibbs/Jamie Dawson, Hugh Watson/Andy Watkins and Roger Philips/Will Crocker.  It was the Hs who cannoned their way into 3rd.

The evening was spent skittleing (the Dorset technique) to varying degrees of success.  In the end Taste the Rainbow (Matt Humphreys, Amy Cartwright, Andrew Blundell and Maddie Fenner) beat clear favourites (given their qualifying score) Old Fogies + 1 in an alcohol fuelled duel of bellyflopping over skittle allies. The food was Bon and involved a lavish chocolate fountain and shots.

Onwards!

 

 

Volvo Noble Marine RS800 National Championship Day Two by Matt Humphreys

 

The fleet arrived at the boat park full of anticipation for four races in the Bay in breeze.  They were not disappointed with 12-16 knots from the South and occasional chop.

 

Race one was clean away.  Jimmy Green and James Trewick led around the first mark followed by David and Louise Steed.  Your author has now had some beer so...  There was much place changing.  Pete Barton and Chris Feibusch (the new RS800 Class Chair) pulled away to a big lead and won, followed by Roger Phillips and Will Crocker, with Matt Humphreys and Amy Cartwright pulling through the fleet to finish third.

 

Race two and another clean start! (except for the pile up near the pin).  We think it was Russell Gibbs and Jamie Dawson leading (maybe).  They were on the horizon when they were foiled by an upwind RS700 and took a swim.  Matt and Amy came through from eighth to take the win, followed by the Steeds having a good day in second, and Tim Saxton and Fiona Hampshire in third.

 

Race three:  A large shift resulted in a very biased line which then resulted in a general recall and the appearance of the dreaded black flag.  On the subsequent re-start no less than ten boats were pulled out at the windward mark including the overall event leaders until that point Matt and Amy.  Roger and Will won by a country mile followed by Luke and Emma McEwen (the newly appointed fleet plank monitors).

 

Race four:  We had a new windward mark position after a shift – well done Race Officer.  Boats overstanding and reaching in from the left caused mayhem at the windward mark.  Tim and Fiona won followed by local home club heroes Hugh Shone and Hannah Tattersall (great event so far guys – thanks!) with fleet stalwarts Andy and Allyson Jeffries in third.

 

 

Volvo Noble Marine RS800 National Championship Day Three Report by Luke McEwen and Jamie Trewick

 

Day 3 of the event dawned with blue skies and a zephyr of breeze. After a 5 mile sail out of the harbour, sailors were greeted with 12-15 knots from the South East.

 

Race 7 started with late attendees Phil Walker and John Mather causing chaos on Port on the start line, resulting in their first spins on their first start of the regatta! Pete Barton and Chris Feibusch started at the pin and banged the left hand corner with Matt Humphreys and Amy Cartwright chasing hard.  Andy and Allyson Jeffries and Hugh Shone and Hannah Tattersall led out to the right but it soon became apparent that left was going to be the order of the day! Pete and Chris led comfortably only to be caught on the last lap by Matt and Amy, with a fierce gybing battle ensuing near the finish resulting in Matt and Amy T-boning Pete and Chris.  Roger and Will pipped Tom Jeffcoate and Sarah Martin to third.

 

Race 8 started in slightly less breeze, again with the pin end and the left hand side of the course paying. With plenty of team pushing the start line, reigning champions Roger Phillips and Will Crocker found themselves OCS at the gun, with an exciting game of dodgems on their return to duck the line leaving them well back. Hugh Watson and Andy Watkins won the pin and led out to the left, only to overstand the windward mark.  Tim Saxton and Fiona Hampshire took advantage to lead the rest of race, with Hugh and Hannah and Matt and Amy in hot pursuit, and this is how it stood until the finish.

 

By race 9, it was clear that left was the way to go, so again the pin was hotly contested. Roger and Will’s starting dramas still weren’t over, when Ralph and Sophie Singelton forced 4 starboard boats to take avoiding action, resulting in a broken trapeze line.  Redress later in the protest room was a fair outcome for Roger and Will at least!  Hugh and Hannah got away to the best start, followed by team Jimmy Green (James Green and James Trewick). Hugh and Hannah led round the windward mark only to trawl the kite, with helm Hugh resurrecting the situation by taking over hoisting duties! Hugh and Andy again rounded in the top 3, but a charging Barton and Feibusch banged the right hand side of the run to pull through to 3^rd.  A procession ensued for the following 2 laps with Hugh and Hannah taking their first nationals race win.  Team Jimmy Green, (with James’ 2 day “stomach bug” following 10 pints on Thursday) finally disappearing, were pushed hard to the line by Barton and Feibusch with a gybing duel at the bottom of the last run to cling onto 2^nd.  Hugh and Andy rounded off a brilliant day to finish 4^th.

 

With one race left to complete in the morning, it will be hotly contested with Tim and Fiona leading from Matt and Amy by 3 points, with Roger and Will a further 3.9 points back after their redress hearing.  More importantly, which team will come out on top, or least scathed, when roles are reversed in the all important crews race (subject to Noble Marine’s agreement...) following the conclusion of the event tomorrow...?!

 

 

Volvo Noble Marine RS800 National Championship Day Four and Overall Event Report by Tim Saxton

 

The final day of the Volvo Noble Marine RS800 Nationals dawned with what can only be described as “typical British weather” - torrential rain! As the RS800s began to slowly emerge from the warmth of the clubhouse after protracted bacon sandwiches and hot cups of tea there was considerable envy for some of the front runners of the RS700 fleet, who having already sewn up their finishing positions were able to stay inside!

Not so for us!  After three days and 9 very well run and closely fought races (thanks to Richard Woof and all of the Castle Cove volunteers) the fleet remained tight throughout with the fight still on for the podium places, despite there only being one race left!

 

The situation was perhaps most simple for event leaders Tim Saxton and Fiona Hampshire, who, thanks to their consistency and a discarded 5^th place, simply needed to prevent 2^nd place Matt Humphreys and Amy Cartwright from winning the race.  The ever consistent reigning champions Roger Phillips and Will Crocker, entered the day in third place.  Despite the event win being just beyond them, Roger and Will were still hunting for second place, with their best chance also appearing to be slowing Matt and Amy.  It certainly looked like it was going to be a tough day for Matt and Amy after BFD and an unfortunate capsize on day 2 left them with a potentially costly 12^th as their current discard!

 

Hot on the heels of these three were Hugh Shone and out-going class Chair Hannah Tattersall, and former champion Pete Barton sailing with incoming Chair Chris Feibusch.  It was certainly set up be an interesting race as the fleet launched into the 12-15kt Westerly on Portland Harbour!

 

Once in sequence it was quickly apparent that Saxton/Hampshire planned to slow Humphreys/Cartwright with Phillips/Crocker taking a slightly more stand-off approach.   As these three started their games off the line a number of boats, including Shone/Tatersall, Barton/Feibusch, James Green/James Trewick and Russell Gibbs/Jamie Dawson executed great starts and first beats to lead off into the distance.

 

With the podium players languishing outside the top ten on the first lap the race would be played out between those four boats with Shone/Tatersall taking a convincing win to end their event with a consistently brilliant 2, 1, 1 in the final three races!

 

Huge amounts of credit must go to Matt and Amy, who using their impressive boat speed managed to wriggle free of both Saxton/Hampshire and Phillips/Crocker before distancing both and advancing through the fleet at great pace to recover to seventh by the finish.  However with the race win out of reach Saxton/Hampshire claimed the championship, finishing on 20 points.

 

Behind them the points were set to be very close.  The incredible final race recovery from Humphreys/Cartwright was enough for them to squeak the silver medal, ending on 25 points, with Phillips/Crocker a mere 0.9 points behind them after an earlier redress claim on day three. Shone/Tatersall ended 4^th, missing out on the podium by a wafer thin 0.1 points ending with 26!

 

Second in the final race handed Barton/Feibusch 5^th overall (and first Masters). Andy and Allyson Jeffries ended 6^th, beating the fast starting Hugh Watson and Andy Watkins into 7^th on countback. Luke and Emma McEwen, Dave and Lou Steed, and Ben Schooling/George Kingsnorth rounded out the top 10, with Schooling/Kingsnorth also scooping the prize for first “old-style” main.

 

Other notable performances included Paul and Peter Jenkins who despite just missing the top 10 scooped the first Silver.

 

Such tight and enjoyable racing throughout the week was a great advertisement for the versatility, performance and fun that racing the RS800 always offers.  2015 also saw a resurgence of the female crews, with Fiona Hampshire becoming the second female national champion (after super-crew Roz McGrane) and females sailing in 6 of the top 10 boats.  Figures any other performance class is surely jealous of!

 

With weight equalisation, one-design equipment, and minimal boat work required the RS800 really does offer accessible performance racing to all!  I highly encourage you to give it a go whether you are coming towards the end of the RYA youth programmes or simply looking for some great fun racing in a friendly but competitive fleet!

 

I cannot end this report without thanking Castle Cove Sailing Club for putting on a truly exemplary event. From the ever-friendly welcome, to the expert race team and helpers, and the bar and galley staff the whole event was a perfect example of how a community sailing club should run an event on, and off the water!

 

Thanks should also go to all the other volunteers from the club, Clare Sargent from the RS Class Association, and out-going Chair Hannah Tatersall (and soon to be husband Hugh Shone) for all their hard work prior to, and during the event.

 

A great four days of racing!  Bring on the rest of the season…

 

2015 Volvo Noble Marine RS800 National Championship Prize Winners

 

1st	Tim Saxton	Fiona Hampshire
2nd	Matt Humphreys	Amy Cartwright
3rd	Roger Phillips	Will Crocker
4th	Hugh Shone	Hannah Tattersall
5th	Peter Barton	Chris Feibusch
6th	Andy Jeffries	Allyson Jeffries
1st Lady	Fiona Hampshire
1st Silver	Paul Jenkins	Peter Jenkins
1st Master Helm	Peter Barton
1st Master Crew	Chris Feibusch
1st Old Style Main	Ben Schooling	George Kingsnorth
Endeavour Trophy	Cameron Moss	Darrol Moss

 

RS800 Nationals Crews Race

 

Position	Sail No	Helm (normally the Crew!)	Crew (normally the Helm!)
1	1219	Chris Feibusch	Peter Barton
2	1189	Hannah Tattersall	Hugh Shone
3	1010	James Clapham	John Warburton
4	1163	James Trewick	James Green
5	1129	Emma McEwen	Luke McEwen
6	1144	Debbie Robertshaw	Daniel Goodman
OCS	1050	Will Broom	Joe Joyner
RET	1057	Dan Kilsby	Sarah Martin
DNF	1058	Tom Prower	Ian Lodder