Noble Marine RS300 National Championship at South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club - Runners and Riders
by Thomas More & Luke Smith 2 Sep 08:40 UTC
Noble Marine RS300 National Championship 2024 day 1 © Send It Media
This year, the Noble Marine 300 Nationals are venturing to North Wales to one of the UK's best venues - Abersoch. It's going to be a tight weekend of racing with the Best of Best in attendance!
The question is though, who will be Top Gun?... Whose regatta will go "Popty Ping" and whose just be "Araf"?..... and, which club will take the Club Championship?
The RS300 Brain Trust gathered to discuss and predict and here are their Runners and Riders for 2025!
Dave Acres: A class legend, stalwart and multiple Nationals winner. Rumour has it that a last min attendance isn't out of the question as he dials up his training regime ready for the pilgrimage to Garda for the RS300 Birthday in 2026 - Always fast, always competitive and that Grey Boat somehow always finds its way to the front! Home club Emsworth
Peter Mackin: Sailing in his back yard, he has no excuses to be late, though we are positive he'll miss at least one start! Could this be his year? He has dominated the traveller's series for many years and if the breeze is up and we get some waves.... - Definitely worth a flutter... Home club Y Felinheli
Paul Watson: Another local sailor with one Nationals under his belt already. He's not been much seen this year with the distraction of nappies - If its breezy we wouldn't be at all surprised to see him carrying home another title! Home club Y Felinheli
Harry McVicar: Another previous Nationals winner, Harry has sailed the 300 almost all his life, as with Paul, he has been MIA this year with Dad duties, Harry almost rounds out the Heavy Wind specialists, though he has a few more strings to his bow in the lighter stuff too! One of the favourites across the wind range for 2025
Charlie South: The last of the heavy wind specialists, Charlie comes to the games with a new leak free platform and for the full event this this year. If it's over 15knts, it could well be third time lucky for the win! Home club Emsworth or Stokes Bay?
Stephen Jones: Stephen "New Boy" Jones - What can we say, he joined this year and basically won everything he turns up to! Abersoch may prove one event too far if we get some breeze - Definitely a light wind bandit who has shown the fleet a clean transom - If its light, he'll be at the top end of the fleet!
Tom Moore: Chairman Tom the Racing Snake has pushed New Boy hard and with his Welsh heritage a return home and great boat speed across a very wide wind range Tom will be in for a good shout to take home some Silver - Big question will he be racing for Emsworth or Stokes Bay?
Richard Hanby: Defending his 2024 title, Richard will be looking to convert his boat speed into Silverware again. Richard is probably the dominate force in the fleet; fast in the light stuff and fighting fit in the breeze to ensure he is in the mix. Undoubtedly going into the event as the favourite!
Cart Afal Cynhyrfu: The strength of the fleet is apparent when the mid-fleet warriors are considered. Anyone of these could "Upset the apple cart" on their day and it would be unwise to discount any of them!
Sam "keep smiling" Davy - Always capable of winning - can he string a series together?
Rob "Golf Boat" Baker - Immense downwind pace and getting faster and faster each event!
Matt "Inland Champion" Jenkins - Obviously very fast - Does he have a Sea Nationals in him?
George Bender - treated himself to a new sail earlier this season and with some good results under his belt, is this his time to shine?
Steve Sallis - A stalwart in the fleet with consistently strong results. Will this allow him to keep a cool head whilst the youngsters get the jitters?
Will "Old Hikers" Powell - A contender in the breeze in his 20year old hikers! (Stokes Bay)
Ben "Puddle Sailor" Heppenstall - Great starter, though may get lost on way to the start!
Ed "Red" Wilkinson - Very quick on a Musto - can he covert this to his RS300 this weekend!
Luke "Buy Boat-Speed" South - He's "ok" - could the new boat lift his performance? - (Emsworth)
The Club Championships will be a tight fight! Emsworth Sailing Club retained the title last year and will be looking to make it three in a row - Deciding factor may be loyalties! Will Charlie and Tom sign on as Stokes or Emsworth! Could the local posse of Y Felinheli swoop in to spoil the party?
The 2025 winner will undoubtedly be settled by the wind gods. The weight range across the fleet from 65kgs to 100kgs+ demonstrates the appeal of the RS300 covering all sailors allowing skill on the day to shine through. At all levels, heavy to light, there is tough competition. If we get a mix of wind, our prediction is the 2025 National Champion may not win a race... Has that happened before?.... Stay tuned for the results! Pop lwc to all!