Volvo Noble Marine RS800 National Championships at Hayling Island

by Chris Feibusch on 22 Aug 2016 The teams to look out for next week at Hayling Island…

Tim Saxton and Fiona Hampshire
The reigning National Champions. No major event wins this year, but consistently quick and at least one smart tactical brain on board. The distraction of faffing about wasting time sailing other classes this year could cost them.

Roger Philips and Will Crocker
The Cabin Boy and his super crew have competed in two events this year and won both of them, making them one of the favourites to repeat their Championship success of 2014. At 85 years old, Roger is a lot older than he looks and will be retiring from the RS800 after this event to take up the more sedate sport of ‘big boat’ or ‘slow motion’ racing as it’s known within RS800 circles.

Luke and Emma McEwen
Since upgrading their boat over the winter this pair have found an extra speed edge powering them to two event wins this year, one of which was the European Championships sailed on Lake Garda last month. This pair excel in the tactical sniggly stuff and are no slouches in the bigger breezes either, thanks to Emma and her now legendary guns in the front end. The closest the class has to a ‘form’ boat at the moment.

Andy and Allyson Jeffries
Team Jeffries has certainly been going quickly this year winning lots of races and particularly revelling in the gnarlier conditions. Fed up with writing event reports they’ll be determined not to finish third again in this event. Whether that means slowing down or speeding up will remain to be seen. Worryingly for everyone else they seem to have found a high pointing mode which they’ve been putting to great effect dramatically reducing the number of miles they sail up each beat.

Phil Walker and John Mather
Flashes of brilliance and supreme speed, particularly in the lighter stuff, ‘The Kids’ will undoubtedly put themselves out of contention at some point with a big night and the familiar sight the next morning of their boat in the dinghy park with the cover still on as the fleet heads out to the race course. Their uncanny ability to sniff out a bangin’ party within a 20 mile radius won’t be necessary at this event with the social programme that’s planned.

Christina Bassadone and Natasha Gladman
With an ex-Olympian at the helm expect this lightweight duo to be at the front end of the fleet especially in the lighter conditions. A lack of practice time in the boat might be the only limitation, but never rule out an ex-pro and a fiercely competitive pitbull in the front.

Pete Barton and Chris Feibusch
This pair of old farts have shown they’ve got the pace to threaten at the front if they can just manage to put a series together without a string of black flag disqualifications, being taken out by other boats and finishing a lap early. Pete is a multiple past champion and will be keen to prove he’s still got it, putting his faith in Chris who isn’t a past champion and some might say never had it.

Laurie Fitzjohn-Sykes and Anna Babtie
A welcome sight back in the class, Laurie is a past National Champion. A last minute entry, so may struggle with a lack of practice, but never rule out a proven performer and former champion. There’s brain power in this boat too, which is always a powerful tool.

Paul and Peter Jenkins
Father and son team improving with every event. With the super-fit lever of a crew in Peter this pair will be hoping for big breezes. Being a teenager Peter gets bored easily and his attention span may not be enough to last a whole race if conditions are light. Pokey monsters positioned at each turning mark could really help in this situation.

Martin Orton and Ian Brookes
Fully signed up members of the Chichester Harbour ‘Dad’s Army’, this experienced pair seem to have made a step gain in performance this season, which can be traced back to the class coaching weekend at Itchenor earlier in the year. Coaches Tim Saxton and Roger Philips need to hope they didn’t give too many of their secrets away.

James Hughes and Toby Wincer
A pair of rock star crews in a boat together, one a former Int 14 POW winner and the other a former RS800 National Champion crew. If one of them could just figure out how to steer, this pair could be podium potential. Fierce competitors on the water and possibly lovers off it, nobody’s sure, one thing is for certain; these two will be the life and soul of the social scene.

Also look out for:-
A new generation coming through with an invasion of 29er hotshots, Nick Robins sailing with Tom Darling and Elliott Wells sailing with James Eales and ex 29er stars Hannah Diamond and Sophie Porteus…
Also the overseas entries from France and Holland will be relatively unknown quantities and could well be battling it out at the front.