Noble Marine RS700 National Championship 2024 at Hayling Island Sailing Club - Overall
by Rob Higgins 19 Sep 16:46 UTC
12-15 September 2024
The fourth and final day of the 2024 RS700 Nationals had a similar feel. Too many dark and stormies from the previous night were being regretted, breakfasts were being demolished and mirror-like conditions again met the fleet. Just like the last two days though wind was forecast, the fleet just had to wait for it.
After a postponement the fleet drifted out on the tide into the stunning Hayling Bay to wait for the breeze. At first it didn't look promising but all of a sudden the fans got switched on, the race team sprang into action and we were into race nine.
Although the top step of the podium had been confirmed the next two steps were far from done. Current European champion Matt Carter, James Clark, Robbie Bell and Jack Grogan all sat tightly bunched on points.
10 knots and some funky Hayling chop led to some challenging conditions. Rob Higgins got the cleanest lane out to the left-hand side and tacked to clear the fleet. Behind James Clark continued his late charge to round comfortably in second. Matt Carter knew he just had to keep the gap to James to a minimum and rounded next in a tight pack. Rob extended away to take the win with James coming home in second. Colin Dacey had a great second beat to overtake Matt into third but couldn't quite hold onto it on the run home.
Race ten: With the cut-off time for racing fast approaching the ever efficient race team set a course, raised the black flag and got the fleet into the final race. James Clark hit the line hard and led the charge over to the left-hand side. His eyes must have lit up when he looked back to see Matt Carter getting second row off the line. He rounded the top mark just in front of fellow Chew sailor Rob. James Bayliss (despite his lack of time in the boat) was again showing his speed to lead a tightly bunched chasing pack.
A dodgy hoist from James Clark allowed Rob through. A split at the bottom gate saw James Clark sail in his own personal wind bend to take the lead. Matt Carter quickly made his way through the fleet. James took the win and could only hope for others help to leapfrog Matt. Rob came in second with Matt showing why he is European champion recovering to take third and keep hold of second place overall.
At the prize-giving Race Officer Mark Darling drew the raffle for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. The prize was an RS700 spinnaker generously donated by RS Sailing. The lucky winner was Mike Banks.
A very big thank you to Hayling Island Sailing Club for providing an excellent full series of ten races and for looking after us so well on the shore. Thank you to our title sponsor Noble Marine, Fernhurst Books our Endeavour prize sponsor, and Rooster our prize-giving sponsor.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Fleet | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Gold | 1055 | Rob Higgins | Chew Valley Lake SC | 1 | 1 | 1 | ‑2 | 2 | ‑5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 2nd | Gold | 1062 | Matt Carter | Lancing SC | ‑12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | ‑6 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 24 |
| 3rd | Gold | 765 | James Clark | Chew Valley Lake SC | 6 | ‑7 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ‑10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 25 |
| 4th | Gold | 1031 | Robbie Bell | Snettisham Beach SC | 4 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 8 | ‑17 | 3 | 2 | 5 | ‑9 | 42 |
| 5th | Gold | 725 | Jack Grogan | WMYC/Dabchicks | 3 | ‑11 | ‑9 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 42 |
| 6th | Gold | 848 | Tom Playford | Snettisham Beach SC | 5 | 4 | ‑12 | 6 | 5 | ‑11 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 46 |
| 7th | Gold | 1058 | John Booth | Stokes Bay SC | 11 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 12 | (DNF) | 15 | ‑21 | 58 |
| 8th | Gold | 710 | Nathan Steffenoni | Weston SC | 7 | ‑12 | 2 | 11 | 10 | ‑16 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 65 |
| 9th | Gold | 944 | James Bayliss | Itchenor SC | ‑17 | 10 | 10 | ‑20 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 67 |
| 10th | Gold | 1027 | Colin Dacey | Snettisham Beach SC | 10 | 6 | 8 | ‑24 | 12 | 13 | ‑17 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 71 |
| 11th | Gold | 966 | Mike Banks | Dabchicks SC | 8 | ‑14 | 11 | 8 | ‑13 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 73 |
| 12th | Gold | 951 | Marek Dudak | YC Cere | 13 | 3 | 14 | 10 | ‑22 | 9 | ‑22 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 86 |
| 13th | Gold | 720 | Richard Wadsworth | RNSA/Stokes Bay SC | 2 | 15 | ‑19 | 17 | ‑20 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 88 |
| 14th | Gold | 1042 | Pete Purkiss | Brightlingsea SC | 9 | 20 | 4 | 9 | 16 | 22 | 6 | (UFD) | 12 | (DNC) | 98 |
| 15th | Gold | 1060 | Matt Conner | QMSC | 14 | 9 | 15 | 13 | ‑17 | ‑19 | 15 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 101 |
| 16th | Silver | 827 | Sam Caslin | Dabchicks SC | 16 | 17 | (DNF) | 14 | 9 | 8 | ‑23 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 108 |
| 17th | Silver | 1022 | Ian Swann | HISC | 18 | 13 | 21 | ‑22 | 15 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 18 | ‑23 | 131 |
| 18th | Silver | 1067 | Peter Onions | Draycote Water | ‑24 | ‑21 | 16 | 12 | 19 | 12 | 19 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 132 |
| 19th | Bronze | 926 | Simon Clark | Lyme Regis SC | ‑22 | 18 | 22 | 15 | 14 | 20 | 14 | 14 | ‑28 | 16 | 133 |
| 20th | Silver | 1068 | Roland Smith | HISC | 21 | ‑22 | 18 | ‑23 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 22 | 139 |
| 21st | Silver | 778 | Oliver Grogan | DSC | 19 | ‑23 | 17 | 19 | ‑21 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 151 |
| 22nd | Silver | 1043 | Jiri Kuthan | YC Liskovec | 20 | ‑24 | 13 | ‑25 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 7 | 152 |
| 23rd | Silver | 761 | Thomas Dutton | Dabchicks SC | 15 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 25 | 25 | (DNF) | (DNF) | 21 | 17 | 158 |
| 24th | Bronze | 1063 | Elliot Booley | Chew Valley Lake SC | 23 | 16 | 23 | 21 | ‑24 | ‑26 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 178 |
| 25th | Bronze | 929 | Jack Wills | Lancing SC | (DNF) | (DNF) | DNC | 18 | 11 | 23 | 25 | 22 | 22 | DNF | 179 |
| 26th | Bronze | 931 | Malcolm Streeton | HISC | (DNS) | (DNS) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 14 | 20 | 18 | 25 | 20 | 184 |
| 27th | Bronze | 763 | Sam Simmonds | Chew Valley Lake SC | 25 | 25 | (DNF) | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | (DNF) | 26 | 25 | 207 |
| 28th | Bronze | 801 | Stephen Carr | Brightlingsea SC | 26 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 27 | (DNF) | 26 | (DNF) | 27 | 26 | 209 |