Noble Marine RS400 National Championship 2024 at Royal Torbay Yacht Club - Day 3

After Tuesday's shenanigans, Wednesday dawned relatively sedate, with a moderate 12 to 15 knots and sunshine welcoming the weary competitors down to the pier.

Torbay flattered to deceive. We "turned left" out of the harbour entrance into full planing conditions and, fundamentally, more of the same.

Noble Marine RS400 Nationals at Torquay Day 3 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Usual service did indeed resume as Edd Whitehead/Ben Whaley took Race 5 by a huge distance to continue their neat scorecard. Following behind in quick succession were the Martin brothers Ian and Chris, then Ollie Groves/ Esther Parkhurst after some neat work downwind as the breeze funnelled over Paignton town. There was a notable 6th place from our Silver fleet leaders, Niall Houston and George Zavos. This follows a 2nd in yesterday's racing. Niall and George are showing some remarkable speed and positioning upwind this week.

Race 6 had a more variable breeze, still from a West-ish direction but the puffs were stronger than before. Just what the doctor ordered...

Noble Marine RS400 Nationals at Torquay Day 3 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

I can't really remember the order to start with, but it was close. RS400 sailing at its best - there's nothing like hammering along at full chat while neck-and-neck with 16 other likeminded individuals. Anyway, a spell seemed to have been cast somewhere in the region of Totnes as the fleet rounded the leeward gate at the end of the first lap, and the breeze died across the course, apart from on the right, where Dave Exley/Alistair Coates and Jack Holden/Rob Henderson found themselves on a one-tack track to the windward mark.

Jack and Rob gybed at the spreader to take a long gybe down to the bottom and the win.

Noble Marine RS400 Nationals at Torquay Day 3 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Edd/Ben shimmied through to second with Chris Eames/Rachel Tilley hot on their heels.

Jon Heissig/Nicky Griffin had their best result of the regatta in 7th, as did Charlie and Caroline Exley (Silver Fleet/Youth) in a well-earned 9th.

Noble Marine RS400 Nationals at Torquay Day 3 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Race 7 was close at the start, middle and end, as the breeze started to give even the most experienced teams something to think about (hats off to the Royal Torbay team for laying on some fabulous racing!). A harumscarum final downwind saw Edd/Ben take a narrow win from the fast charging Sam Knight/Chris Bownes.

I'm afraid, sports fans, we will not be returning until Friday as Thursday's forecast looks too biblical.

Thankfully, the wise head of Mr Currie has reshuffled the schedule this week so we can get our full quota of hiking, holding on and hiking again with three races due on Friday.

Results after Day 3: