2015 Volvo Noble Marine RS300 National Championship overall

by Pete Ellis on 17 Jul 2015 Following the successful completion of the Volvo Noble Marine RS300 Nationals in beautiful Aberdovey last week see what really happened throughout the fleet with “Runners and Riders – The Verdict”

In overall finishing order:

480 - Dave 'Windy' Acres (Emsworth). Chuckle Brother number one lived up to his billing by taking a well-deserved win in varied conditions, dominating the last three days. Match-Raced Sleazy in the bar on Saturday night to take his second title, this time an away win.

411 - Steve 'Sleazy' Bolland (Bristol Corinthian). Chuckle Brother number two now has to lick his wounds and be pleasant to the family on holiday. Will be looking for revenge at Exe in 2016 – being almost local odds on the crafty fella will be down there practising early next year.

323 - Matt 'Pin End' Jenkins (Sheffield Viking). Rejected the once in a lifetime opportunity to take a port tack flyer, but shrugged off the milestone of a black flag from race two to pull together a typical Mr Consistent series. Shock- horror black flag at an RS300 event – you would have thought it was a RS200 nationals.

476 - Steve Sallis (Hykeham). Only once out of the top 10 – threatening to take the Mr Consistent tag for next year. Retained his Lightweight trophy and spearheaded the successful Hykeham team to win the club championship. Was even spotted not being last off the beach!

335 - Sam Knight (Bartley). Tipped for the Apprentice trophy and did not fail to deliver. True his best performances were on the lighter days, but quick enough in the heavy stuff to secure fifth at his first nationals – future champion in the making. Thanks to Sarah for all the support.

328 - Tim 'The Traveller' Keen (Sheffield Viking). Heard to say “that’ll be t’discard” on every day. Alas Timbo only two discards allowed so your inconsistency cost you dear – or is it time for a new boat to achieve that elusive first championship win? Nailed on Wooden Spoon winner for ordering the wrong colour hoodies and trying to cover it up before Declan’s day four antics.

520 - Mike 'Bionic' Bees (Brightlingsea). Top Master. Even managed to capsize at the first gybe mark of race five, lodge his burgee in Sleazy’s buoyancy aid and still come storming back to win. Crossed the fleet on a port tack flyer to win the champagne moment on day 1.

416 - Neil 'Bevs' Beveridge (Prestwick). Spent all week desperately avoiding any potential wooden spoon antics – top Prestwick boat.

500 - 'Two Pint' Pete Ellis (Stewartby). Forward gears at last in tune to post several top 5 results. Now needs to fit more stabilising technology on the runs, capsizing on the penultimate leg of each race on day three cost him dear. What was that 27th all about?

524 - Matt 'The Major' Sargent (Thorney Island). Perhaps not Matt’s best regatta, suffering on the lighter days. Saved his best for Saturday night duetting with the Jenny Stevens band – new found skills Matt.

518 – Luke 'Mr Go-Pro' Pepper (Hykeham). As predicted, a massive seven place improvement in overall position. Would have captured day three in glorious HD if he had managed to turn his go-pro on.

419 - Luke Ridout (Christchurch). Don’t get sick in Christchurch – this highly trained medic is lethal with a safety knife but a dab hand with superglue to repair his severed finger. Revelled in the wind, (see his twin below). Thanks to Becky for all your assistance ashore.

383 - Stu Hopson (Shotwick). How do you learn to sail an RS300 in wind and waves on a lake of only 36 acres? No idea, but Stu has managed to tame the beast fairly rapidly and can only get quicker. Introduced the future Mrs Hopson and in-laws to the Saturday night party – brave lad.

321 - Andy Bayliss (Hykeham). Unselfishly heeded team orders to retire in race two to ensure Luke Pepper could qualify for the Hykeham team, then showed the rest of the fleet up with some cracking results to win the Silver Fleet.

426 - Richard LeMare (Bartley). Added purple rudder to his boat locker. But actually more of his purple kit was seen as spares on other boats as the week wore on.

490 – Alistair 'Storky' McClaughlin (Prestwick). A new lease of life for the old campaigner. Some stunning results on the first two days but predictably tired in the wind. Managed to finish eight races which is a massive increase on the norm and earned him the best improver award if we had remembered to present it at the prize giving. Well you forgot to bring your RS300 T-shirt, so we forgot to present you with another one.

374 - Tom 'Team Racer' Whitehead (Prestwick). Tom has been working out and is now quick in the windies as well as the light stuff. Foolishly tried to call for water when the inside boat and on starboard – whatever next.

542 - Chris Bridle (Hykeham) We watched with interest. Very quick in the lighter stuff and nailed on as Silver Fleet winner until it blew and blew Chris away. Don’t be surprised to see Chris back and quicker in all breezes after a year’s schooling at Hykeham.

503 - Dave 'Desperate Dan' Sinclair (Prestwick). No gear failure this year but no luck either – big guys shouldn’t be required to sail an RS300 in light airs. Desperately looking for windy nationals with a fully functioning boat.

425 - Chris Gandy (Draycote). The reunification of the Ridout/Gandy twins separated at birth was completed by them becoming team buddies after day 1. Also revelled in the strong stuff with three top 10s on windy Saturday.

422 – Alastair 'Woody' Wood (Bough Beech). Arrived early to watch the Chancellor's budget speech, spurning the opportunity to go out and practice. Volunteer early pathfinder back home through the breaking waves on Saturday only to capsize several times and watch the fleet cheerily sail past without any offer of assistance (we were too busy trying to stay upright Woody - honest).

336 - Mark Taylor (Prestwick). 22nd – exactly the same as last year. Was all that practice around the country in vain or did Mark maintain his position one year older – take your pick.

313 - Ben Green (Highcliffe). Never gives up, reputedly capsized 25 times on the windiest day but still finished. That tenacity deserves a medal which was duly awarded as top youth in the expanded under 23 age limit.

393 - Chris 'Blogtastic' Arnell (Christchurch). Most active boat bimbler with added minions to provide moral support. Very ably assisted by Ela who did a sterling effort on the beach and also salvaging runaway RS Vareos – was it worth it Ela?

342 - Ian 'Dopey' Hopkins (Southport). On his own this year and better behaved. Supplier of the “mast of disaster” after Saturday’s antics. Where did that top 10 come from in race two Ian?

332 - Declan Clamp (Lymington). What an impact the Court Jester made at his first Nationals – pity none of it was on the racetrack. If he wasn’t capsizing on the committee boat, repairing boat leaks or orchestrating the “mast of disaster”, Dec was deservedly winning the wooden spoon for going to the wrong windward mark in race 10. No excuse - we sailed the same course in race nine just 30 mins earlier – Muppet.

426 - Jimmy Ruddiman (Glossop). Glam tin tenting in £48k’s worth of demo camper van out on a test drive for five days. Will be pleased with a 13th in race nine to show what can be achieved.

318 - Gary Morris (South Cerney). Proved once again that a well driven A rig can compete with the bigger boys even in the lighter winds. Had to leave early so missed the heavy weather racing, missing the opportunity to demonstrate his reefing techniques.

508 – Alan 'The Don' Sinclair (Prestwick). Suffered in the light stuff and the heavy, but like Bionic Bees due to be repaired with a new hip this year to come out fighting in 2016 - best wishes Alan.

Are you sad to have read all about this event and not have joined in yourself? Don't despair because you definitely have sufficient notice to book time off work and duty for the 2016 RS300 Nationals at Exe SC 8-11 Sept 2016.