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UK International Moth National Championship at Paignton - Day 1

by Mark Jardine 27 May 2017 21:29 UTC 27-30 May 2017

Fletcher rocket in Paignton

A big day in Paignton as the 48 helms taking part in the 2017 UK International Moth National Championship took to the water for an intense four race day. With the defending champion Robert Greenhalgh unable to take part due to Volvo Ocean Race commitments, and Chris Rashley no longer in the fleet, the title is up for grabs between sailors who have been close to winning the nationals title on previous occasions.

With the wind in the west, Torbay saw thankfully flatter water than had been seen over the last couple of days, but the shifty and gusty 15-20 knot wind tested the helms, especially at the windward mark close to Goodrington beach.

Throughout the day, the form sailor was Rio 2016 Olympian Dylan Fletcher. After a poor first race, caused by hitting the anchor line on the spreader mark, he went on to dominate the next three races, including a massive win in race 3 where he crossed the finish line as the next boat had just rounded the final windward mark.

"We didn't really know what to expect - I haven't sailed in Torbay since 2005 in a 29er. We had 15 to 25 knot winds with 30 to 40 degree shifts which made it pretty tricky racing, but it was good fun, everyone got into it, and it was a really enjoyable day out there", said Dylan after the racing.

On his speed around the racecourse in his Rocket Moth Dylan said, "The boat's on top form. I haven't done much to it since Bermuda but I seem to be getting more and more comfortable and it's going faster and faster. I'm using a Lennon A4M sail and CST boom and it's all working really nicely together and marrying up - happy days! It's just disappointing that I can't make the Worlds this year."

On the competition he thought David Hivey was the next quickest on the water. He also thought Ben Paton was quick, but teething troubles with control systems on his new Moth curtailed his day on the water.

On completing four races in the day Dylan said, "It was really good forward-thinking to get four races in today and everyone wants to be foiling. Hopefully the forecast breeze for Sunday will be better than we think and we can get some racing in, but it was cracking racing and a good effort by the race officer and his team."

Hivey leads overall on 8 points with Fletcher a point behind and Dan Ward in third.

Race 4 start at the Moth Nationals

Posted by Yachts and Yachting Online on Saturday, 27 May 2017

The waves provided a significant challenge for foiling as explained by Kyle Stoneham, "As soon as you introduce some waves and some chop there's a lot more that could go wrong. You're trying to avoid your foils breaking out in the chop so your ride height is a bit lower, which increasing the loads on the sheets. In the shifty conditions we had today you have to play your controls quite a lot more which affects your steering as you're having to move your weight around a lot more. You end up looking like you don't know what you're doing!"

Paignton Sailing Club Commodore Nick Ripley, who was out on the water as part of the Race Team said on hosting the championship, "It was a daunting prospect initially, because it's obviously seen as a major event in the UK. As it turns out the guys are just like any other class and they certainly seem to be a really friendly bunch. The first day has gone really well I think. The racing was amazing to watch. The speed of the boats and also there was really close racing in the middle of the fleet with a lot of position changes and nothing was finished until the end. It's exciting to watch."

On conditions for the rest of the event Nick said, "Knowledge of Torbay is that you can expect anything. There's a bit of east in the wind tomorrow so any sea breeze might be killed. Sunday is the worst prospect but the latest forecast is looking a bit more promising - hopefully we'll get another three decent days."

Results after Day 1:

PosSail NoHelmClubDesignR1R2R3R4Pts
1st4434David HiveyDatchetExocet12238
2nd4480Dylan FletcherWPNSARocket SSD61119
3rd4433Dan WardStokes BayExcoet335415
4th4409Ross HarveyHISCRocket463720
5th4509Jason BelbenStokes Bay Sailing ClubExocet277824
6th4508Dan VincentStokes Bay Sailing ClubExocet1344526
7th4442Kyle StonehamTBYCExocet9512228
8th4180Carlo De Paoli AmbrosiC.v.TorboleExocet78101035
9th4323Benoit MarieSno nantesExocet89111139
10th4501Dan EllisYealm Yacht ClubExocet17126641
11th4278Alex KoukourakisEastbourne Soverign SCExocet111581347
12th3959Paul GliddonNetley Sailing ClubMach 21616171261
13th4499Dominic HuttonStokes Bay SCExocet1517151663
14th4386Tom OfferRockExocet121193264
15th4311Alex AdamsCastle CoveMach 22014161464
16th4075Doug PybusQMSCRocket1424201977
17th4350David SmithwhiteHISCExocet1921192079
18th434Leigh AlbrechtQueen MaryExocet242032985
19th4096Tim PenfoldHISCExocet2322221885
20th4347Eddie BridleBrightlingseaRocketDNC192115104
21st4336Jonathan HeathcoteStokes Bay Sailing ClubMach 2101036DNC105
22nd4121James PhareQMSCRocketDNC231817107
23rd4492Nic StreatfeildRutlandExocet211823DNC111
24th4122Andrew friendNorfolk Punt ClubRocket28303024112
25th4100Chris WhiteRestronguet SCChopper26312927113
26th4072Madey Ciret Le CosquerASN QuibenonRocket36342721118
27th3975Jacob ClasenRegatta Vereinigung ElbeMach 235292826118
28th4208Tom LambertWilsonan Sailing ClubRocket182826DNC121
29th4343James SainsburyGrafham scLunarSeaDNC252523122
30th4309Jim McMillanStokes BayExocetDNC1313DNC124
31st4248Neil BakerQMSCMach 2DNC391422124
32nd4346Nick MillerMarconi Sailing ClubRocket V3252724DNC125
33rd4033Adam GoldingHiscMach 229353130125
34th4385Steve McLeanHISCExocet27383433132
35th3169Brad GibsonBirkenhead RS&PCBladerider X833363331133
36th4277Jeremy HartleyStokes BayExocet2240DNS25136
37th3870Eddie GatehouseHISCMach 230373834139
38th4136Ed RedfearnBrightlingsea SCMach 2DNS333529146
39th5Ben PatonLymingtonExocet5DNCDNCDNC152
40th3877Josie GliddonNetley Sailing clubMach 232DNCDNC28158
41st4036Chris ClarkeThorpe bayExocetDNC2637DNC161
42nd3281Mark DickerRORCMach 23132DNCDNC161
43rd4438Matthew LeaRutland Water Sailing ClubRocket V334DNCDNCDNC181
44th4439Richard MasonWPNSARocketDNCDNCDNCDNC196
44th4445Phil OligarioAtomik HQVoodooDNCDNCDNCDNC196
44th4483Ben SaxtonRoyal Thames YCRacoonDNCDNCDNCDNC196
44th4099Suquant MorganeASN QuibenonMach 2DNCDNCDNCDNC196
44th4484David JessopGrafham WaterRocketDNCDNCDNCDNC196

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