2016 Volvo Marine RS400 National Championships - Overall report
by Matt Sheahan on 30 Aug 2016
Paul and Mark Oakey (1441) - Volvo Noble Marine RS400 National Championship 2015 Sportography.tv
2016 Volvo Marine RS400 National Championships - The RS400 fleet has new National Champions, Paul and Mark Oakey (1441) from Portchester SC.
Throughout a taxing week, where the weather danced around the fleet and provided more snakes than ladders on the open sea courses off Hayling Island, the father and son team were never out of the top ten. Indeed, their discarded scores were an eighth and a fourth leaving four bullets, a second and a third to count.
Such consistency was particularly impressive given the tricky conditions and more erratic scores of many in the rest of the fleet. From reading the light breeze, to understanding the influence of the across course tide and then coping with stronger winds and short steep seas, many enjoyed a range of views in the fleet including some of the big guns who were reminded what thirty odd transoms look like.
But the Oakey’s, who are well known for being among the flyweights in the fleet and even refer to themselves as the Hobbits, excelled in all of the conditions. It was of little surprise that they went well in the light but when the breeze got up, as it did on the second to last day of the event, they were still smoking off into the distance and nailing podium results.
But they’re not superhuman, as a few at the front witnessed on Day 4 when Paul and Mark tripped up on the last gybe of the last leg of race six when they were vying for the lead.
This image of the fallible Oakeys swimming around their boat may well have been in the minds of those chasing them on the overall points on final day as teams awoke to a solid 20 knots plus and a forecast of more to come. If there were conditions that the Hobbits could be caught in, these were surely them.
But as breakfast was digested and boat covers pulled back, the breeze continued to build. Many kept a keen eye on the committee boat and its armada of rescue RIBs as they headed out towards the notorious bar at the entrance to Chichester Harbour. But when they turned back just short of the breaking waves, many suspected that the game was over. One hour later it was and the final day’s racing was cancelled.
Despite the disappointment of the last day, the event had been a superbly run and convivial affair with plenty of tales for the bar. The best of which must surely be Ben Robertson’s downwind capsize. In a gybe that saw, ‘lots of things go very wrong, very quickly’, helmsman Ben launched himself to the high side, (as mother Sarah took the leeward side dunking) and made his high jump style bid over the windward gunwale for the centre-board.
Unfortunately, he missed the centre-board and banged his head on the hull. But instead of plunging into the sea his fall was arrested as the mainsheet that had wrapped around his foot left him hanging upside down on the outside of the hull with his head in the water.
“To be honest it took a few hours to see the funny side,” he admitted afterwards. Fortunately, the bar inside the club house helped in that respect.
Among the other top tales, that of legendary dinghy gurus and self-confessed pensioners Nick and Rob Martin, who claim that they ‘don’t tack much because they can’t’, taking a win on the breeziest of days in the trickiest of last minute gybes that saw younger fitter teams go swimming was as impressive as the grins on their faces afterwards. Finishing sixth overall they continue to be an example to the rest of the fleet.
Throughout the week there were teams that looked like they could be a threat to the Oakeys. Both the Robertsons (1319) from Royal Forth YC and the Martins (1433) from Lymington Town SC were among those who added a win to their scoreline while also appearing to make the family point at the same time.
But it was Jon Heissig and Nicky Griffin (1454) from Llangorse SC, who snatched two wins during the week that were pushing the Oakey’s the hardest finishing second overall by eight points.
But wherever you had finished, the mixed bag of weather, the wide range of entries from across the country and the broadest friendliest bunch of sailors said a great deal about why the 400 class continues to thrive.
Overall Results:
Sailed: 8, Discards: 2, To count: 6, Entries: 38, Scoring system: Appendix A
| Rank |
Tally No |
Fleet |
Sail No |
Helm |
Crew |
Club |
Category |
R1
24 Aug |
R2
26 Aug |
R3
26 Aug |
R4
26 Aug |
R5
26 Aug |
R6
27 Aug |
R7
27 Aug |
R8
27 Aug |
Total |
Nett |
| 1st |
33 |
Gold |
1441 |
Paul Oakey |
Mark Oakey |
Portchester SC |
GM |
(4.0) |
1.0 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
(8.0) |
1.0 |
3.0 |
21.0 |
9.0 |
| 2nd |
35 |
Gold |
1454 |
Jon Heissig |
Nicky Griffin |
Llangorse SC |
LC/MH/MC/LC |
(11.0) |
2.0 |
1.0 |
7.0 |
(10.0) |
3.0 |
3.0 |
1.0 |
38.0 |
17.0 |
| 3rd |
15 |
Gold |
1186 |
Dave Exley |
Mark Lunn |
Leigh & Lowton SC |
MH/MC |
(8.0) |
(6.0) |
4.0 |
4.0 |
6.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
5.0 |
37.0 |
23.0 |
| 4th |
23 |
Gold |
1362 |
James Sinclair |
Ben Wilcox |
East Lothian YC |
|
3.0 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
(7.0) |
(13.0) |
7.0 |
46.0 |
26.0 |
| 5th |
19 |
Gold |
1202 |
Sam Knight |
Chris Bownes |
Bartley SC |
|
7.0 |
(8.0) |
8.0 |
(9.0) |
3.0 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
2.0 |
47.0 |
30.0 |
| 6th |
30 |
Gold |
1433 |
Rob Martin |
Nick Martin |
Lymington Town SC |
MH/MC/GM |
(13.0) |
4.0 |
5.0 |
6.0 |
9.0 |
1.0 |
(15.0) |
8.0 |
61.0 |
33.0 |
| 7th |
14 |
Gold |
1319 |
Ben Robertson |
Sarah Robertson |
Royal Forth YC |
LC |
1.0 |
5.0 |
7.0 |
11.0 |
4.0 |
6.0 |
(33.0) |
(13.0) |
80.0 |
34.0 |
| 8th |
16 |
Gold |
1189 |
Steve Restall |
Chris Stubbs |
Downs SC |
GM |
(12.0) |
9.0 |
(15.0) |
2.0 |
2.0 |
4.0 |
6.0 |
11.0 |
61.0 |
34.0 |
| 9th |
32 |
Gold |
1439 |
Kevin Podger |
Heather Chipperfield |
Lymington Town SC |
GM/LC |
6.0 |
(11.0) |
9.0 |
3.0 |
8.0 |
(17.0) |
4.0 |
6.0 |
64.0 |
36.0 |
| 10th |
13 |
Silver |
1131 |
Ben Williamson |
Jon Willars |
Welton SC |
|
5.0 |
(26.0) |
12.0 |
15.0 |
7.0 |
(28.0) |
8.0 |
10.0 |
111.0 |
57.0 |
| 11th |
27 |
Gold |
1390 |
Andy Hatch |
Dan Hawkins |
QMSC |
GM |
2.0 |
10.0 |
6.0 |
(19.0) |
(19.0) |
13.0 |
14.0 |
14.0 |
97.0 |
59.0 |
| 12th |
28 |
Gold |
1414 |
Caroline Whitehouse |
Jason McDonnell |
Bartley SC |
LH |
9.0 |
12.0 |
13.0 |
10.0 |
17.0 |
12.0 |
(30.0) |
(24.0) |
127.0 |
73.0 |
| 13th |
22 |
Gold |
1356 |
Pete Vincent |
Darren McNamara/Emma Hivey |
Llandefedd SC |
MH/GM |
15.0 |
7.0 |
14.0 |
(22.0) |
(22.0) |
19.0 |
11.0 |
9.0 |
119.0 |
75.0 |
| 14th |
17 |
Gold |
1190 |
Steve Jones |
Andy Harris |
Chew Valley Lake SC |
MH/MC |
10.0 |
16.0 |
(18.0) |
12.0 |
16.0 |
10.0 |
(17.0) |
17.0 |
116.0 |
81.0 |
| 15th |
34 |
Gold |
1452 |
Howard Eeles |
Wayne Hancox |
Bartley SC |
MH |
18.0 |
(23.0) |
(22.0) |
14.0 |
20.0 |
11.0 |
7.0 |
12.0 |
127.0 |
82.0 |
| 16th |
9 |
Gold |
1017 |
Sean Cleary |
Annalise Nixon |
Oxford SC |
LC/LC |
14.0 |
14.0 |
(19.0) |
17.0 |
12.0 |
(39.0 DNC) |
10.0 |
15.0 |
140.0 |
82.0 |
| 17th |
24 |
Silver |
1363 |
Ross Ryan |
Oliver Ryan-Moore |
Notts County SC |
MH/MC/GM |
17.0 |
13.0 |
10.0 |
13.0 |
13.0 |
(23.0) |
(21.0) |
19.0 |
129.0 |
85.0 |
| 18th |
3 |
Gold |
770 |
Thomas Broatch |
Karen Thomas |
Leigh & Lowton SC |
LC/LH |
(39.0 DNC) |
19.0 |
11.0 |
21.0 |
11.0 |
26.0 |
(27.0) |
16.0 |
170.0 |
104.0 |
| 19th |
18 |
Gold |
1192 |
Jack Munnelly |
Mark Nichols |
Arun YC |
|
16.0 |
17.0 |
(23.0) |
20.0 |
23.0 |
15.0 |
19.0 |
(27.0) |
160.0 |
110.0 |
| 20th |
4 |
Gold |
836 |
Adam Humphrey |
Jo Humphrey |
Thorney Island SC |
|
21.0 |
15.0 |
16.0 |
18.0 |
(25.0) |
(25.0) |
22.0 |
22.0 |
164.0 |
114.0 |
| 21st |
7 |
Silver |
934 |
David Swift |
Robert Burgess |
Warsash SC |
MH |
22.0 |
(27.0) |
17.0 |
16.0 |
18.0 |
20.0 |
(23.0) |
21.0 |
164.0 |
114.0 |
| 22nd |
8 |
Silver |
971 |
Tom Haslam |
Karen Baldwin |
Notts County SC |
LC/LC |
(26.0) |
(30.0) |
25.0 |
25.0 |
15.0 |
22.0 |
12.0 |
20.0 |
175.0 |
119.0 |
| 23rd |
31 |
Gold |
1435 |
Matt Sheahan |
Ellie Sheahan |
Netley SC |
MH/MC |
(27.0) |
(28.0) |
21.0 |
26.0 |
21.0 |
18.0 |
18.0 |
18.0 |
177.0 |
122.0 |
| 24th |
36 |
Silver |
1342 |
Max Tosetti |
Jenny Douglas |
Queen Mary SC |
GM |
23.0 |
21.0 |
(24.0) |
24.0 |
24.0 |
14.0 |
20.0 |
(28.0) |
178.0 |
126.0 |
| 25th |
21 |
Silver |
1450 |
Nick Eaves |
Greg Pace |
Bartley SC |
GM |
25.0 |
20.0 |
27.0 |
8.0 |
(39.0 OCS) |
24.0 |
24.0 |
(29.0) |
196.0 |
128.0 |
| 26th |
5 |
Gold |
904 |
Grant Blake |
Jessica Barker |
Oxford SC |
LC/LC |
20.0 |
22.0 |
(29.0) |
27.0 |
28.0 |
16.0 |
16.0 |
(30.0) |
188.0 |
129.0 |
| 27th |
38 |
|
1418 |
Howard Fairbrother |
Louise Fairbrother |
QMSC |
|
(39.0 DNC) |
(39.0 DNC) |
39.0 DNC |
39.0 DNC |
39.0 DNC |
9.0 |
9.0 |
4.0 |
217.0 |
139.0 |
| 28th |
25 |
Silver |
1380 |
Richard Wharram |
Hannah Wharram |
Welton SC |
LC |
19.0 |
25.0 |
26.0 |
23.0 |
14.0 |
32.0 |
(39.0 DNC) |
(39.0 DNC) |
217.0 |
139.0 |
| 29th |
20 |
Silver |
1210 |
Mike Partridge |
Claire Davis |
HISC |
LC/HM/GM |
24.0 |
24.0 |
20.0 |
(29.0) |
(26.0) |
21.0 |
26.0 |
25.0 |
195.0 |
140.0 |
| 30th |
12 |
Silver |
1060 |
Pete Pickford |
John Pickford |
Dell Quay SC |
|
28.0 |
18.0 |
28.0 |
(32.0) |
27.0 |
27.0 |
(39.0 DNC) |
23.0 |
222.0 |
151.0 |
| 31st |
26 |
Silver |
1383 |
Phil Robinson |
Dave Pears |
Carsington SC |
MH/MC |
30.0 |
(31.0) |
30.0 |
(33.0) |
31.0 |
29.0 |
25.0 |
26.0 |
235.0 |
171.0 |
| 32nd |
37 |
Silver |
670 |
Tim Harrison |
Tor Harrison |
Notts County SC |
LC/MH/LC |
(32.0) |
29.0 |
(31.0) |
28.0 |
29.0 |
31.0 |
28.0 |
31.0 |
239.0 |
176.0 |
| 33rd |
6 |
Gold |
915 |
Sean Curtis |
Andy Lyne |
Emsworth Slipper SC |
MC |
31.0 |
33.0 |
(39.0 DNC) |
(39.0 DNC) |
30.0 |
30.0 |
32.0 |
32.0 |
266.0 |
188.0 |
| 34th |
2 |
Silver |
689 |
Matt Wright |
Gavin King |
HISC |
MH/MC |
29.0 |
32.0 |
(34.0) |
30.0 |
32.0 |
33.0 |
(39.0 DNC) |
33.0 |
262.0 |
189.0 |
| 35th |
1 |
Silver |
527 |
Andy Powell |
Jon Costin |
Warsash SC |
MH/MC |
33.0 |
(35.0) |
33.0 |
31.0 |
34.0 |
35.0 |
29.0 |
(39.0 DNF) |
269.0 |
195.0 |
| 36th |
10 |
Silver |
1019 |
Rob Corfield |
Tom Dobbs |
Dell Quay SC |
GM |
(39.0 DNC) |
34.0 |
32.0 |
34.0 |
33.0 |
34.0 |
31.0 |
(39.0 DNC) |
276.0 |
198.0 |
| 37th |
11 |
Silver |
1031 |
John Excell |
Simon Goldfarb |
Emsworth Slipper SC |
MH/MC |
(39.0 DNC) |
(39.0 DNC) |
39.0 DNC |
39.0 DNC |
39.0 DNC |
39.0 DNC |
39.0 DNC |
39.0 DNC |
312.0 |
234.0 |
| 37th |
29 |
Silver |
1428 |
James Gardner |
Anne Gardner |
HISC |
LC |
(39.0 DNC) |
(39.0 DNC) |
39.0 DNC |
39.0 DNC |
39.0 DNC |
39.0 DNF |
39.0 DNC |
39.0 DNC |
312.0 |
234.0 |
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