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Noble Marine RS400 National Championship 2024 at Royal Torbay Yacht Club - Day 1

by Tom Halhead 19 Aug 21:13 UTC 19-23 August 2024

The calm before the storm seems the best way to describe the weekend; with Royal Torbay Yacht Club proving excellent hosts as competitors arrived in various states of preparedness.

Most were catching up in the sun over a couple of beers, with a few heading out for some practice and a great coaching session run by Sam Knight and Chris Bownes on Sunday. There was an undercurrent of nervous tension though, with a forecast for the week of a couple of jetstreams having a punch up followed by a Michael Fish-esque "hurricane" due to arrive Thursday or Friday... we shall see...

Sure enough, things were looking pretty fresh on Monday as the fleet launched into 18-20 knots with the forecast promising much more later on; Paul Smalley and Anna Kerslake lead the fleet out of the harbour in their new ship - and promptly continued this by leading round the first windward mark. It was all action behind, with Edd Whitehead and Ben Whaley having blown their kicker up in the first few seconds, managed to lash it up whilst heading out the corner and play their get of jail card to benefit from the same left shift that had catapulted Paul and Anna into the lead.

The breeze started to build on Lap 2 with a very short steep chop that made boat handling on the downwinds challenging - Sam Knight and Chris Bownes had flown upwind to challenge for the lead but the immortal line from their coaching session "we never safety gybe but here's how you do it if you need to" returned to haunt them as they hit the tide. At the front Edd and Ben had built a good lead by the end of the third lap to win from a hard charging Ollie Groves and Esther Parkhurst, and Chris Eames and Rachel Tilley.

Leading the silver fleet are Andy and Allyson Jefferies, one place ahead of Neil Bevington and Alan Skeens.

The race team rightly decided that that was enough fun and games for the day without unduly worrying event sponsors Noble Marine, sending the fleet in for a very hospitable prize-giving (thanks to Marlow Ropes and Rooster for the spot prizes) and Commodore's Reception with the plan for three races tomorrow.

Results after Day 1:

PosSail NoDivisionHelmCrewClubR1Pts
1st1541GoldEdd WhiteheadBen WhaleyParkstone YC11
2nd1526GoldOllie GrovesEsther ParkhurstBeaver SC22
3rd1528GoldChristopher EamesRachel TilleyQMSC33
4th1555GoldJon GorringeToby LewisParkstone YC44
5th1460GoldDave ExleyAlistair CoatesLeigh & Lowton SC55
6th1463GoldStewart RobertsonSarah RobertsonRoyal Forth YC66
7th1504GoldSam KnightChris BownesLyme Regis SC77
8th1538GoldIan MartinChris MartinBurghfield SC88
9th1535GoldTom HalheadPaul HilliarLlandegfedd SC99
10th1553GoldHoward FarbrotherJack MunnellyLymington Town SC1010
11th1511GoldHamish GledhillRoss SouthwellWest Riding SC1111
12th1414GoldSam WatsonDarren RoachNantwich SC1212
13th1550GoldJack HoldenRob HendersonChichester YC1313
14th1500GoldNick CraigAdam CraigBurghfield SC/Frensham1414
15th1479GoldChris WebberNicki WebberPevensey Bay SC1515
16th1480SilverAndy JeffriesAllyson JeffriesEastbourne Sovereign SC1616
17th1377SilverNeil BevingtonAlan SkeensLee on Solent SC1717
18th1469GoldMartin PowellArun PowellParkstone YC1818
19th1502GoldJon HeissigNicky GriffinLlangorse SC1919
20th1239SilverPaul CullenMatt SargentWeirwood SC2020
21st1SilverRoss RyanAmy Hinsliff-SmithNotts County SC2121
22nd1557GoldPaul SmalleyAnna KerslakeChew Valley Lake SC2222
23rd1461SilverCharlie ExleyCaroline ExleyLeigh & Lowton SC2323
24th1324SilverRichard WatneyGrant ShoebridgeHISC2424
25th690SilverJeremy StephensThomas KliskeyPenzance SC2525
26th506SilverAlex ZamariaAlice HarperSaltash SC2626
27th695SilverJake WillarsNicola WillarsNotts County SC2727
28th517SilverMax BurrowsAmy BurrowsRutland SC2828
29th411GoldFigs CainBarney DearslyStarcross YC37.0 DNC37
29th1210SilverNiall HoustonGeorge ZavosHISC37.0 DNC37
29th1220SilverJohn CooperMatthew WrightBurghfield SC/Thorney Island SC37.0 DNF37
29th1287SilverJames BowmanAndrew GladstoneStarcross YC37.0 DNF37
29th1328SilverSteve PeatJonathan CarrStarcross YC37.0 DNF37
29th1376SilverTim Le CouilliardJames Le CouilliardKing George SC37.0 DNC37
29th1455SilverGarry KnottJohn TailbyNotts County SC37.0 DNC37
29th1487SilverAndrew BraySarah BevingtonLee on Solent SC37.0 DNS37

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