Stormforce Coaching SB20 UK National Championships 2016

Stormforce Coaching SB20 UK National Championships 2016 - Day 1

by Tom Clay on 2 Oct 2016

Stormforce Coaching SB20 UK National Championships 2016 - Day 1 Doug Innes

The first day of the 2016 SB20 National Championships at Royal Torbay Yacht Club brought big breeze, broken masts and brilliant sailing. So excited was Class Chairman Adrian Peach about the prospect of the day’s racing that he forgot to take his outboard bracket off until ten minutes before the first start.

Stormforce Coaching SB20 UK National Championships 2016 - Day 1 © VR Sport Media Ltd

Over enthusiasm by the 26 boats delayed race one with a general recall leading to the remaining starts on the day starting under black flag. The wind varied between Force three and five in the first race and Uber owned by Adrian Peach but helmed by James Peters had an excellent first run to lead the first lap from Paddy Bettesworth’s Mistral and Whyaduck sailed by Tom Clay. These places remained the same until the second run when Joe Llewellyn in Forelle Estates spotted big pressure coming in from the left, gybed early and planed down to the mark, almost catching James Peters who had to drop early as he had over stood. This race saw the retirement of Paul Hine’s Poor Buoy with a broken spreader, but fortunately they saved the mast.

Stormforce Coaching SB20 UK National Championships 2016 - Day 1 © Doug Innes

By race two the wind had risen to Force five - six and Rob Gullen sailing 3047 had a good first beat to lead down the first run from Uber and James Peters. On the second run a very heavy squall came through causing multiple broaches and bringing down the mast of Jerry Hill in Sportsboat World. By the end of the second beat the places were the same but Uber hit the windward mark with their boom and doing a 360 let Joe Llewellyn into third. But both Rob Gullen and Joe Llewellyn over stood the leeward mark allowing Uber to plane through to take the race win from Rob Gullen followed by John Pollard in Xcellent and Mistral.

Stormforce Coaching SB20 UK National Championships 2016 - Day 1 © VR Sport Media Ltd

The wind was still gusting six in the last race of the day but was not quite as powerful and four boats broke away from the fleet to have a brilliant tactical battle throughout the race. Joe Llewellyn nailed the first beat to lead from Rob Gullen, John Pollard and James Peters. Places remained the same at the leeward mark. The second beat was very close and tactical with all four boats looking as though they could end up in the lead. At the last windward mark Joe Llewellyn led but a momentary lull let Rob Gullen, James Peters and John Pollard through with the final finishing order being Rob Gullen, James Peters, John Pollard and Joe Llewellyn. This left James Peters leading the regatta with two bullets and a second.

Stormforce Coaching SB20 UK National Championships 2016 - Day 1 © VR Sport Media Ltd

The top five are:

1 James Peters/ Morgan & Adrian Peach/ Emma Barnett 4 Pts
2 Rob Gullen/ Peter Heyn/ Maria Stanley/ Ben Ainsworth 11 Pts
3 Joe Llewellyn/ Nigel Wakefield/ Mark Williams 11 Pts
4 John Pollard/ Rob Smith/ Steve Proctor 12 Pts
5 Paddy Bettesworth/ Genevieve Stringer/ Olie Hare/ Jamie Binmore 14 Pts

Stormforce Coaching SB20 UK National Championships 2016 - Day 1 © VR Sport Media Ltd

Results:

Series Place	Sail No	Bow No	Boat	Helm/Crew	Series Points	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3
1	3720	20	UBER	James Peters/Morgan Peach/Emma Barnett/Adrian Peach	4	1	1	2
2	3047	45		Robert Gullan/Pieter Heyn/Maria Stanley/Ben Ainsworth	11	8	2	1
3	3732	30	Forelle Estates	Joe Llewellyn/Nigel Wakefield/Mark Williams/Jim Short	11	2	6	3
4	3724	31	Xcellent	John Pollard/Rob Smith/Steve Procter	12	5	3	4
5	3053	32	Mistral	Paddy Bettesworth/Genevieve Stringer/Olie Hare/Jamie Binmore	14	3	4	7
6	3086	24	Wet "n" Dry	Chris Clyburn/Stuart Clyburn/Alex Reid	21	11	5	5
7	3106	37	Whyaduck	Tom Clay/Ed Morris/Tim Goodhew	24	4	14	6
8	3336	22	Job Lot!!	Barry Jobson/Jaimie Jobson/Connie Meek	35	13	8	14
9	3366	33	Doris	Phil Rumbelow/Mike Rutland/Finn Houlihan	37	15	9	13
10	3740	27	A New Hope	Doug Innes/G Glover/Martin Fox	39	20	7	12
11	3305	25	Trio	Gary Baker/Owen Bowerman/Chris O'Donnell	40	14	11	15
12	3021	34	Here Comes Bod	Charles Whelan/Richard McAdam/Richard Hall	41	10	13	18
13	NED3555	40	Damen Sailing Team	Mark Snijder/Olivier Stuip/Alistair Perkins	42	18	16	8
14	3368	42	6a Vision	Peter Noe/James Greenwood/Justin Noe	42	17	15	10
15	3082	39	SHARC	C Sheppard/G Van Hollebeke/Franki Hilary	45	9	27	9
16	30	44		Garry Phare/ Neil Spacagna/Oli Needham	46	7	12	27
17	3473	38	Sllartibartfast	Tom Methven/Paul Methven/Gill Methven/Ella Methven	49	12	10	27
18	3276	43	Trouble and Strife	George Barker/George Chilvers/Charlie Sprays	49	16	17	16
19	3177	21	Dark and Stormy	Andrew Bell/Alice Salisbury/George Poval/Catherine Wood	50	21	18	11
20	3316	29	L.O.S.	Joe Hemmant/Tom Hemmant/Rob Corbally	57	19	21	17
21	3750	28	Sportsboatworld.com	Jerry Hill/AlanHillman/Craig Watson	60	6	27	27
22	3135	36	Firefly	Tom Savidge/Mike Sutton/Harry Butler/Ben Pickford	64	23	22	19
23	3096	35	Red Kite	Roger Harford/Freddie Smith/Franseca Martin	68	22	19	27
24	3089	41		John Reekie/John Reekie/Jennifer Reekie	74	27	20	27
25	3149	26	Poor Buoy	Mark Gillett/Paul Hine/Niki Birrell/ Heather Ross	81	27	27	27
25	3217	23	Doolali	Arthur Bruce/Dan Neild/Giles Oldershaw	81	27	27	27