Noble Marine 2023 Albacore Internationals and UK National Championships at Abersoch - Overall
by Mark Reddington & Matt Thompson 5 Aug 2023 16:22 UTC
30 July - 4 August 2023
Competitors awoke on the fifth and last day of the event to yet another windy day. Talking to Michael McNamara whilst rigging, it had been the windiest Albacore Nationals he could remember for a very, very long time.
The difference this morning was that the sun was shining, and that made it so much easier to face the 4 races that had been scheduled, with the PRO trying to make up for lost races.
The wind was NNW and from the SCYC balcony you could see white horses in the bay off The Warren, so it looked like it was going to be a repeat of day 4. The sail out to the start was fast and furious and by the time the depleted fleet of 19 boats arrived in the start area it was 20 + knots with good waves. Local photographer Andy Green also came out to record the action.
The race team got the first race off on schedule on a beat of approximately 0.75 miles. The course set was a triangle of 3 laps. First to arrive at the windward mark was the pairing of Mike Banner and Pete Snowden who kept first position to the finish, which had been shortened to 2 laps. Behind the leaders was some close racing for second place between Nev Herbert crewed by Lewis Fowler, Matt Biggs and Mark Fowler and Matthew Metcalf-Smith and Jason Upton. On the last upwind leg Tom Lonsdale, with Emily Batterton in the front, got through into second holding the to the finish with Matt Biggs and Mark close behind.
By the time the race officer Malcolm Blackburn got the second race started the wind had begun to ease and the fleet got away after a quick turnaround on another triangle course. This time Matt and Mark arrived at the top mark first with Nev and Lewis second, Michael McNamara crewed by Colin Gardiner in close attendance. Unlike the first race the positions stayed the same for the whole race, this time getting in all 3 laps.
The breeze had now dropped to approximately 12 - 18 knots and the race officer set a triangle sausage course of 3 laps for race 3. At the first mark there were some new faces in a tight bunch, 2 of the Canadian teams of Raines Koby and Stephanie Mah, and Henry Pedro with Guy Tipton were in the mix. By the bottom mark Nev and Lewis were first, Raines and Stephanie second followed by Matt and Mark. Nev kept it tight in the rounding making Raines tack off, Nev after a short distance tacked to cover leaving Matt to continue on port. This allowed Matt and Mark to gain the lead by about 60 yards, Nev tacked back and Raines kept going allowing Henry and Guy through and they all finished in that order.
The last race of the 2023 championships, started just before the time limit cut-off, was to be another triangle sausage of 3 laps in what was now champagne conditions, much more like Abersoch! This race was to be Michael McNamara and Colin Gardiner's race leading from start to finish after not having the best start. Matt and Mark started at the pin, crossed the fleet, tacked back, and took a lift all the way arriving second. Positions remained much the same on the reaches and back at the top mark Michael was still in the lead, bearing away to the right whilst Raines and Henry in company with Phil Smith crewed by Steve Carr all gybed and went left making ground on Matt and Mark. At the mark there was a coming together allowing the Canadians to get clear and head right with Mike, Phil tacked off left and after a short hitch went back right whilst Matt tacked and went hard left. By the time they all got to the last windward mark Michael and Colin still held the lead but Matt and Mark had made big gains and were back on Michael's transom. On the last triangle Michael and Colin held Matt and Mark off to win the last race, and appropriately to claim the Anton McNamara Memorial Shield for winning the last race of the Internationals series. Matt and Mark were second with Raines and Stephanie third. However, after a visit to the protest room Matt and Mark lost their second, hoisting Raines into second and Mike Banner and Pete Snowdon who had a good last beat, into third.
Defending champion Neville Herbert with new crew Lewis Fowler claimed the Internationals title and the Governor General's Trophy with an impressive Net score of 25.5. Second overall was Michael McNamara and crew Colin Gardiner, taking the Unnamed Trophy (though the engraving says awarded by the British Albacore Association!) with a net score of 41. Third were Raines Koby and Stephanie Mah from Canada on 43 points - retaining the President's Trophy and claiming the Freedom Trophy for the highest placed helm not from the host nation.
Fourth Overall were Tom Lonsdale and Emily Batterton with 47.6 points and winners of the Waypoint Trophy for highest placed team with a combined crew age under 65. Fifth overall were Matt Biggs and Mark Fowler with a net score of 71 points. The BP Barrel was awarded to Crawford Reid and Nada Shehab of Strathclyde Loch SC for highest placed boat from a Scottish club.
Full results can be found here.
The International Albacore Association would like to thank Noble Marine Insurance, HD Sails, Allen Brothers Fittings, Ovington Boats, Clamcleats and Abersoch Boatyard for their generous sponsorship to make this event possible.
The next International Championship will take place in the USA in 2025.