Volvo Noble Marine RS400 Nationals – Ready for action on Day 5

by Heather Chipperfield on 15 Aug 2015 2015 Volvo Noble Marine RS400 Nationals – After a day off – golfing, cycling, swimming, playing on the beach, visiting the state-of-the-art lifeboat station, lunching or just starting drinking earlier than normal - the fleet was ready for action, ending the Championship with a three-race day.

The forecast of strong winds and large waves never really materialised, so there were some very hot crews sailing in a gentle F3, building slightly for final race nine.

Jon Goringe and Nicola Bass (Parkstone YC) had a great day with 1, 2, 3, raising themselves to second place overall, and making it a fight to the end with Mike Sims and Richard Brown (Carsington SC) who held on to their yellow-jersey lead by two points overall with a second and their two discards. Grandmaster Paul Oakey and son Mark (Porchester SC) continued their excellent form, but did do quite enough, moving to a very respectable third overall. Even grander-master John Cooper and Becci Wigley (Lymington Town SC), following an afternoon of archery and golf, had a storming day, winning race eight after keeping very right once released as pathfinder.

In the hotly-contested Silver Fleet, Steve Restall and Chris Stubbs (Downs SC) had a very respectable 4, 17, 14, winning the daily prize and the overall, ahead of Paul McMahon and Laura Houlihan from Howth SC.

Similarly in the Bronze Fleet, The Ryan-Hinsliff-Smith party games combo had a great last day, but did not do quite enough to beat the overall winners, Richard Bolton and Naomi Moran from Dalgety Bay SC.

The category awards were largely won by Goringe/Bass, who picked up first lady crew, first master and the loving cup. Elaine Turner, sailing with Sybrand Jongejans (Braasemeer SC) was again awarded the first lady helm, and the increasingly competitive Grandmaster prize was awarded to Paul Oakey. 13-year old crew Ellis Banner (23rd overall from Neyland YC) picked up the Youth prize – next year he will give a speech.

The final Duckhams nominations included the Race Committee, who broke their committee boat on the way back from an early fishing trip and had to conduct the racing – excellently as ever - from a small RIB. The week’s winners, however, were Howard Farbrother and Dan Martin (Queen Mary SC) for not being pathfinder on day one – long story… There is no further Duckhams now the event is over – a shame as our esteemed Class Chairman, Keith Bedborough, would have been in the frame for leading the whole party to a closed nightclub.

With seven race winners, eight placed second in nine races, and some major surprises, the Championship was very open and exciting throughout. At the prize-giving, Keith Bedborough thanked our generous title sponsors Volvo and Noble Marine for their continued support, and Lennon Racewear for the prize vouchers. He praised the excellent race team led by PRO Mark Dashfield and all the volunteers at the club who made it such a glorious, fun and friendly event. Tenby SC Commodore, Paul Evenden, praised the fleet for being so laid back and friendly. Well Done RS400s and Well Done Tenby SC – we look forward to returning very soon to this stunning venue.

 Final Results

HelmName	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5	Race 6	Race 7	Race 8	Race 9	Total	Nett
Michael Sims	3	1	3	4	3	1	(5)	(DNF[48])	2	70	17
Jon Gorringe LOVE M	4	(8)	1	3	(9)	5	1	2	3	36	19
Paul Oakey GM	2	3	(18)	(10)	1	3	3	5	4	49	21
Jim Downer	(10)	(6)	6	5	5	2	2	6	1	43	27
Chris Pickles	5	10	5	(20)	2	6	(12)	4	11	75	43
Keith Bedborough	9	9	(14)	2	11	13	(14)	3	5	80	52
Stewart Robertson LOVE	(16)	12	8	(21)	4	9	6	15	6	97	60
John Cooper GM	7	5	(24)	16	15	7	10	1	(20)	105	61
Howard Farbrother M	14	(23)	10	1	8	(22)	7	16	7	108	63
Steve Middleton M	(17)	11	12	6	17	4	(19)	7	8	101	65
David Brown LOVE	6	4	11	14	(19)	(16)	9	11	12	102	67
James Sinclair	1	15	4	18	6	12	16	(23)	(19)	114	72
Jon Helissig LOVE	12	7	13	13	7	8	(17)	(20)	13	110	73
Rob Martin GM LOVE	11	2	(26)	12	14	11	(15)	12	15	118	77
Steve Restall GM	18	13	(DNF[48])	(DNC[48])	13	10	4	17	14	185	89
Paul McMahon	13	17	17	17	12	14	8	(19)	(21)	138	98
Elaine Turner LH LOVE	8	19	20	24	10	15	(31)	9	(28)	164	105
Chis Penny	(24)	22	21	9	(23)	17	23	10	10	159	112
Sean Cleary	21	24	9	8	22	18	(39)	(27)	17	185	119
Nick Martin GM	15	18	(28)	11	16	24	20	(25)	16	173	120
Ben Robertson	22	14	2	(32)	20	(31)	27	30	9	187	124
Kevin Podger GM	(26)	(DSQ[48])	22	15	25	19	11	14	18	198	124
Mark Chamberlain	20	20	19	(DNC[48])	21	(30)	18	13	25	214	136
Jonathan Lye	19	(40)	23	(30)	24	21	13	18	22	210	140
Steve Jones M	(38)	26	25	22	18	(28)	26	8	26	217	151
Oliver George-Taylor	23	16	15	(DNF[48])	26	26	25	(31)	23	233	154
Nick Zammit	33	25	16	7	28	37	(38)	(42)	24	250	170
Jack Munnelly	25	21	32	(34)	(37)	25	30	29	31	264	193
Max Tosetti M	28	27	(35)	27	32	23	28	(35)	30	265	195
Richard Bolton GM	29	33	(36)	26	29	32	(40)	24	27	276	200
Ross Ryan M LOVE	32	31	40	(DNC[48])	31	27	22	21	(42)	294	204
Jacob Ainsworth LOVE	37	32	7	25	39	33	(45)	38	(DNF[48])	304	211
Dan Woodcock	30	35	31	31	34	34	21	(36)	(DNC[48])	300	216
Chris Stanton M	(34)	29	(34)	29	33	29	33	33	33	287	219
Vicki Thurston LH	35	(42)	27	19	(41)	36	32	32	40	304	221
Simon Baker GM	(41)	30	30	36	30	(44)	24	40	39	314	229
Peter Craggs	31	36	37	35	(40)	(41)	37	22	32	311	230
David Webley GM	36	39	(42)	33	27	35	35	28	(41)	316	233
Grant Blake LOVE	42	34	(DNC[48])	(DNC[48])	36	20	29	41	34	332	236
Nick Francis GM	27	38	41	37	(42)	(45)	34	34	35	333	246
Phil Britton M	(DNF[48])	28	38	23	(DSQ[48])	40	44	26	DNF[48]	343	247
Howard Eeles	(43)	(DNF[48])	33	28	38	43	41	39	29	342	251
Nick Eaves	(45)	41	29	38	35	39	42	(43)	38	350	262
David Hearsum GM	40	43	(DNF[48])	(DNC[48])	43	38	36	37	37	370	274
Colin Davies	39	37	39	39	(44)	(46)	43	44	36	367	277
Alan Cooke GM	44	44	(DNF[48])	(DNC[48])	45	42	46	45	DNF[48]	410	314
Jack Holden	(DNC[48])	(DNC[48])	DNC[48]	DNC[48]	DNC[48]	DNC[48]	DNC[48]	DNC[48]	DNC[48]	432	336