Club hopes to increase entry limit for Noble Marine West Country Boat Repairs RS200 Nationals
by Sally Campbell 20 Apr 2021 02:37 PDT
15-19 August 2021
RS200 racing © Mike Rice / Fotoboat
Online entry for the Noble Marine West Country Boat Repairs RS200 National Championships at Exe SC reached the 80-boat entry limit within a record 3 hours of going live last month and there is now a waiting list of 20 boats on top of this, all hoping for a place, which would bring the entry up to 100 in total.
The limit was set because of the potential COVID restrictions, but Exe SC Event Manager Nick Coombes is now cautiously optimistic that it will be possible to increase the limit to admit all of those currently on the waiting list around 10th May, should the Government roadmap progress as hoped. RS200 sailors not yet on the waiting list but wanting to take part are urged to get their names down as soon as possible, so that the club can assess the demand to further increase the event capacity.
Pete Vincent, owner of title sponsor West Country Boat Repairs said, "This is excellent news! We very much appreciate the work that the club have put in to look at ways to make the event the best it can possibly be under various scenarios and to include all those that want to take part in this 25th Anniversary nationals."
The Noble Marine West Country Boat Repairs RS200 National Championships will be hosted by Exe SC from 15th-19th August 2021. Pete Vincent has been associated with the RS200 class since its launch in 1996 and incredibly has sailed in 20 RS200 National Championships. Although he will host the Ugly Party as part of the Championships he has opted to leave the organisation of the famous RS200 social scene to the younger class committee members, most of whom weren't born when he started to sail RS200s.
Class Secretary Sally Campbell said "the demand for this event is testament to the enduring popularity of the versatile RS200 class, sailed by a wide range of sailors and although hugely popular with youths, still accessible and welcoming for older sailors, parents with juniors and female teams who can all not only sail in the fleet, but compete at the highest levels too."