Volvo Noble Marine RS300 National Championship overall

by Steve Bolland on 23 Aug 2014

Volvo Noble Marine RS300 National Championship Tim Keen

We knew it was windy when we looked out of the window and the seagulls were flying backwards. By the time we reached the club the Race Officer, Paul Gilmore had already ‘phoned the harbour masters at Ayr and Troon and received confirmation that the gusts were reaching 40 knots. Less scientifically, my hat blew off which tells me it’s definitely too windy to go sailing.

Volvo Noble Marine RS300 National Championship © Alan Henderson

Thus, the 2014 Volvo Noble Marine RS300 Nationals finished with both the Saturday and Sunday races blown off with the final results decided on the six races sailed over the opening two days.

Highlights of the week? Almost too many to mention, but I’ll try anyway…

The absolutely impeccable welcome and hospitality afforded by Prestwick SC. The race management was exceptional and the final evening’s entertainment, a hog roast and comedy night, will live long in the memory, and luckily there are many photographs on the class’ Facebook page to help us recall some of the more fuzzy bits.

The resurgence of the fleet after a couple of disappointing years in terms of turnout. The 36 entries is an increase of 80% over the last two years and represents over 15% of all the boats ever built. A third of the fleet were attending their first 300 championship.

The ongoing rivalry between Dave Acres and Steve Bolland who have swapped first and second places for the last three years. Fortunately their coming together in race 1 was settled over a couple of beers, followed by several lagers, some weird local concoctions and a final rum and coke in the early hours. Thereafter they shadowed each other on the water and in the bar, just how championship sailing should be.

Full results are below. Other prize winners were as follows:

Apprentice (first RS300 championship) – Steve Sallis (Hykeham SC)
Youth – Pete Mackin (Bolton SC)
Master – Steve Sallis (Hykeham SC)
Silver fleet – Pete Ellis (Aldenham SC)
Fidelis (entered three or more previous championships) – Harry McVicar (Aldenham SC)
Lightweight (helm under 75kg) – Steve Sallis (Hykeham SC)
Biggest improver – Dan Treloar (Aldenham SC)
Team prize – Thorney Island SC

I’m sure the fleet will return to Prestwick before long for another championship. Before then there’s the 2015 Nationals at Dovey YC next July.

Volvo Noble Marine RS300 National Championship © Alan Henderson

Rank	HelmName	SailNo	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Total	Nett
1st	Steve Bolland	411	Bristol Corinthian SC	1	1	1	1	1	-6	11	5
2nd	Dave Acres	480	Thorney / Emsworth	3	2	4	2	-11	1	23	12
3rd	Matt Sargent	524	TI SC	7	-13	3	5	3	2	33	20
4th	Tim Keen	328	Shefield Viking SC	2	3	5	-13	4	7	34	21
5th	Matt Jenkins	323	Shefield Viking SC	5	4	-10	6	2	4	31	21
6th	Neil Beveridge	416	Prestwick SC	-12	6	6	11	7	5	47	35
7th	Duncan Jenkins	454	Aldenham SC	11	5	2	10	-13	10	51	38
8th	Steve Sallis	476	Hykeham SC	6	12	11	4	10	-14	57	43
9th	Harry McVicar	523	Aldenham SC	8	10	9	8	8	-13	56	43
10th	John Wilson	502	Prestwick SC	-14	8	12	7	6	11	58	44
11th	Richard Le Mare	426	Barnt Green SC	13	11	-14	3	12	8	61	47
12th	Pete Ellis	500	Aldenham SC	-26	14	13	15	9	9	86	60
13th	Paul Rigg	445	East Lothian YC	(37.0 DNS)	37.0 DNS	7	9	5	3	98	61
14th	Peter Mackin	360	Bolton SC	-20	16	8	14	15	17	90	70
15th	Dan Skinner	379	Aldenham SC	16	17	16	12	-20	16	97	77
16th	Thomas Whitehead	374	Prestwick SC	4	15	18	25	-28	18	108	80
17th	Dave Sinclair	503	Prestwick SC	10	7	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNS	16	15	122	85
18th	Luke Pepper	518	Hykeham SC	19	18	17	18	14	(37.0 DNF)	123	86
19th	Tom Moore	410		23	19	15	16	-25	20	118	93
20th	David McCardel	507	Prestwick SC	18	9	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNS	18	12	131	94
21st	Andy Bayliss	321	Hykeham SC	17	22	21	17	17	-26	120	94
22nd	Mark Taylor	336	Prestwick SC	-24	24	20	19	19	19	125	101
23rd	Mark Newton	354	TI SC	22	23	19	20	-24	21	129	105
24th	Alasdair Cattanach	403	Prestwick SC	15	-28	23	21	26	23	136	108
25th	Alan Sinclair	508	Prestwick SC	-29	20	22	22	22	24	139	110
26th	Ian Hopkins	342	Southport SC	-27	21	24	24	23	25	144	117
27th	Dan Treloar	417	Aldenham SC	-30	25	25	27	21	22	150	120
28th	Mark Henman	450	South Shields SC	25	26	-27	23	27	27	155	128
29th	Alistair Mclaughlin	490	Prestwick SC	9	29	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNS	37.0 DNS	37.0 DNS	186	149
30th	Joe Watkins	361	Bassenthwaite	28	30	28	26	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNS	186	149
31st	Ian M Ross	452	Prestwick SC	31	27	29	29	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNS	190	153
32nd	Malcolm Downie	437	Prestwick SC	32	31	26	28	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNS	191	154
33rd	Alan Henderson	527	Prestwick SC	21	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNS	37.0 DNS	37.0 DNS	37.0 DNS	206	169
34th	Jonathan Osgood	440	Aldenham SC	33	32	(37.0 DNF)	30	37.0 DNS	37.0 DNS	206	169
35th	Eamonn Rankin	521	Prestwick SC	34	(37.0 DNF)	37.0 DNF	37.0 DNS	37.0 DNS	37.0 DNS	219	182
36th	Richard Cumming	536		(37.0 DNS)	37.0 DNS	37.0 DNS	37.0 DNS	37.0 DNS	37.0 DNS	222	185