Albacore Southern Championship at Paignton Sailing Club

Albacore Southern Championship at Paignton © Morag Aitken

Every dog has its day, so the saying goes (not calling anyone a dog here!). A weekend of two halves in rainy then sunny Paignton for the Albacore Southern Championship.

For those that determine their sailing based on weather forecasts... don't. It could not have turned out very much different to the forecast (except perhaps frogs falling from the sky).

Eight Albacores competed for the Southern Championships, held at Paignton SC alongside the Tasar class National Championships. Saturday had 3 races completed in very unsettled conditions. Race 1 was closest to the forecast with some hazy sunshine and a gentle breeze mostly holding steady. Matt Biggs and Mark Fowler took the bullet closely followed by Matt and Heather Thompson (whom they had overhauled on the reaching leg of the final lap). Jeremy Shinton and Harry Ashworth posted a creditable third place. Mark Reddington suffered gear failure which left him rounding up the back markers Matt Metcalfe-Smith and Andy Pearce.

The start of race 2 was rudely interrupted by heavy cloud and a downpour causing a 60-degree wind shift (port tack would almost aim at the windward mark) so the inevitable abandonment followed by the recall of the Tasar fleet that had still not made the windward mark. An hour plus was then spent trying to shelter from the downpour and keep awake & active (some were seen taking a snooze on the foredeck!) Race 2 eventually started after the worst had blown through and the wind settled back to a steady direction. Obviously now refreshed, and having consulted the training notes, Allan Tyler and Richard Frost took control and sailed the perfect race for a bullet, followed by Mark Reddington and Colin Anderson, having now work out a solution to the brakeage. Jeremy and Harry followed up with another 3rd place. The new rope and rigging on the Biggs/Fowler boat must have shrunk in the downpour and they could only limp home for a 6th place, just behind Matt and Heather (whom they had given some reaching advice to after race 1). The battle for 7th and 8th was going down to the wire with Andy & Ian sure to go over the top of Matt & Jason on the reach in. But strangely Andy decided to sail towards a non-existent finish line to windward of the Committee boat, so Matt and Jason were gifted(?) 7th place. Senior moment Andy??

Race 3 quickly followed with another bullet for Allan and Richard followed by Jeremy and Harry in 2nd and Nathan and Sarah in 3rd - without doubt now learning the ropes in their newly acquired Albacore. Matt and Jason were left to lick their wounds as this time they were pipped over the line by Andy and Ian.

Overnight Allan & Richard lay 1st with Jeremy and Harry 2nd and Matt & Mark 3rd.

The forecast for Sunday was sunny all day with a possible shower at around 1 pm. So sure enough, we throw the curtains open in the morning and it is pouring down. They must have been posting the forecast for a Paignton somewhere else in the world to be so wrong. The rain did ease up by 10am and clear skies then showed some promise for a glorious day of sailing. It did not disappoint.

Albacore Southern Championship at Paignton - photo © Morag Aitken

Matt Biggs had a prior commitment with the Merlins in Salcombe, as did Colin Anderson (Mark Reddington's crew) so it had been agreed that Mark would crew for Mark (following?). However, with the Internationals now just 3 weeks away Mark Reddington decided that it was better to get the boat home and repaired rather than risking any further damage. So the fleet was reduced to six boats for the first two races with Matt and Jason deciding to only do 2 races as they had a long drive home.

The sail out to the start area was a glorious reach with the promise of things to come. The forecast was 10-15 mph but it was easily at the higher end of this scale throughout the day - maybe a few gusts a bit stronger. When it blows it helps to have some righting moment in the boat!

From the gun Matt and Jason charged up the course to an unassailable lead in race 4. Nathan and Sarah were left battling with Allan and Richard for 2nd/3rd respectively with Matt & Heather holding off Jeremy and Harry to collect 4th. Matt & Jason were quickly hunted down for an on the water interview with the Paignton media team!

Race 5 was almost a rinse repeat but this time Allan got the better of Nathan.

With 5 races down the scores were Allan 7pts, Nathan 12pts, Jeremy 13pts, Matt T 15pts, Matt MS 15pts.

The last race of the series was now depleted to five boats as anticipated. But it was Nathan and Sarah heading for the beach. Matt & Jason were enjoying themselves so much in the sunshine and breeze they decided to stay and play.

Allan had the trophy in the bag by now regardless of his final race score, but was still competing hard. Race 6 saw very close competition between Allan, Matt T, Matt M-S and Jeremy all the way up the beat. You could have thrown a blanket over them at times. The run did little to separate things. A split in the fleet at the leeward gate saw those taking to the right-hand side of the beat gain a small advantage (though Jeremy and Harry did decide to go and ring the bell!!). At the windward mark Matt M-S rounded first with Matt T hot on his heels. The two headed off on the reach in a ball of spray battling for tactical advantage. Despite taking the low option, Matt T could not quite get the inside overlap on Matt M-S at the wing mark and followed round onto the last leg. Again, another challenge on the approach to the leeward mark fell short and with the dogleg blast to the finish Matt M-S won by half a boat length, moving up from 7th overnight to 2nd overall. Despite ringing the bell, Jeremy came back in hard and pipped Allan over the line to pick up another 3rd place and secure 3rd overall.

Half a boat length makes all the difference! I would not now be writing this article but instead sipping something from the second-place glassware.

But every dog has its day, and this was the day for Matt Metcalfe-Smith and Jason Upton. Matt is now praying to the gods for the same weather for the Internationals in Abersoch!

And congratulations of course to Allan Tyler for the Southerns win - three times on the trot now.

Our thanks go to Paignton Sailing Club for hosting us at short notice, and for a very well run regatta and the usual friendly welcome in the clubhouse.

Overall Results: