Noble Marine TridentUK RS400 National Championship at South Shields Sailing Club - Overall
by Nicky Griffin 28 Aug 2021 08:19 PDT
23-27 August 2021
Mike Simms and Mark Lunn - Noble Marine TridentUK RS400 National Championship © Tim Olin /
www.olinphoto.co.uk
Day 3
Thursday, it is very rare in the 400 fleet that a bar has stopped sailing, but with a very strong north easterly wind and the tide flooding out of the harbour, a large confused sea had built up at the entrance and with strong winds and large two meter plus waves outside, the race team wisely deemed it unsafe and racing for the day was called off. Everyone headed to find quieter bars and culture. A prize-giving, AGM, and a delicious tagine meal from the South Shields catering team was rounded off with a lively band, Moondance.
Day 4 and overall
Friday dawned with a steady north north easterly wind and one to two metre rolling waves left over from Thursday. After a short delay while a couple of volunteer boats went out to test the bouncy conditions for getting out of the entrance, watched by the fleet, we followed them to the sailing area.
Once out of the harbour entrance, a steady bear away and a few minutes to get the feel of the waves, kites went up and the boats took off! The waves were long, deep and rarely breaking and once the first nervous gybe was done, it was sit back and enjoy some of the longest downhill sled rides I'd ever done.
The race officer was ready, and the three races were turned around efficiently. The first start saw silver fleet supremo Neil McClellan port tack the fleet and hang on for 6th.
The second race saw the tide starting to change. The fleet divided but arriving at the top mark close together and giving space to each other as tacking could knock you off your feet. After the bear away and surf off down the waves it was noticeable that the crews were working even harder than usual with hands a blur to avoid being the ones who trawled the kite.
Mike Simms and Mark Lunn took the first race, preventing Nick Craig and Tobytastic Lewis a clean sweep.
On returning to shore, tired sailors were buzzing with their surfing tales.
The biggest cheer at the prize-giving went to Matthew Boatman, aged nine who with his dad Danny, showed having completed all the races and finished a credible 20th in the 50-strong fleet, that he will be one to watch in the future.
The silver fleet trophy went to Neil McLellan and Ewen Rycroft, who will certainly be promoted to gold next year. Dave and Sophie Stockton won in the bronze fleet. All prize winners took home vouchers generously donated by title sponsor TridentUK.
Race Officer, Howard Steavenson's persistence in achieving 8 races did a great service for the competitors and club.
Many of the newer sailors and South Shields club members commented on what a friendly, inclusive fleet the RS400s are, but the real praise and thanks must got to the volunteers of South Shields Sailing Club, as one sailor put it "a big hand to South Shields Sailing Club for managing some very, very tough, random cards - Covid, no wind, lots of wind, Covid, horrible/awesome waves and Spring tides; so many people putting in such a massive effort so that we could go sailing". There are too many individuals to list, but special thanks must go to Commodore Jason Riby, Tony Shiels, Niall Graham, Yvonne and James Henry.
Last, but not least, this event would not have happened without the efforts of fleet chair Jacob Ainsworth and Kayleigh, planning and re-planning every last detail for the last two years. Jacob's comment? "Can't wait for East Lothian next year!"
Save the date: RS400 Nationals 2022, East Lothian Yacht Club, 8th-12th August.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Fleet | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 1500 | G | Nick Craig | Tobytastic Lewis | Frensham & Burghfield SC | 1 | 1 | ‑2 | 1 | ‑3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 2 | 1488 | G | Michael Sims | Mark Lunn | Carsington SC | ‑6 | ‑5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 15 |
| 3 | 1515 | G | Stephen Cockerill | Sarah Cockerill | Lee on Solent SC | 2 | ‑8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | ‑8 | 4 | 6 | 20 |
| 4 | 1376 | G | Sam Knight | Chris Bownes | Bartley SC | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | ‑10 | ‑15 | 9 | 3 | 31 |
| 5 | 1316 | G | Ollie Groves | Sam Waller | Beaver SC | (OCS) | ‑15 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 37 |
| 6 | 1370 | S | Neil McLellan | Ewen Rycroft | East Loithan YC | 5 | 4 | 3 | ‑24 | (DNF) | 6 | 14 | 8 | 40 |
| 7 | 1460 | G | Dave Exley | Alistair Coates | Leigh & Lowton SC | (OCS) | 2 | 17 | ‑20 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 49 |
| 8 | 1463 | G | Stewart Robertson | Sarah Robertson | Royal Forth YC | 8 | ‑19 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 5 | ‑20 | 14 | 50 |
| 9 | 1275 | G | Nathan Batchelor | James Clark | Tynemouth SC | 10 | 7 | ‑27 | 10 | 11 | 7 | ‑16 | 5 | 50 |
| 10 | 1502 | G | Jon Heissig | Nicky Griffin | Llangorse SC | 7 | 10 | ‑31 | 8 | 8 | 9 | ‑12 | 12 | 54 |
| 11 | 1511 | G | Hamish Gledhill | Ross Southwell | West Riding SC | 3 | 13 | ‑21 | 13 | 13 | ‑14 | 5 | 10 | 57 |
| 12 | 944 | G | Alex Knight | Rob Higgins | Chew Valley SC | ‑19 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 3 | 10 | (DNC) | 61 |
| 13 | 1292 | S | Christopher Eames | Rachel Tilley | QMSC | 9 | 12 | ‑30 | ‑17 | 12 | 17 | 7 | 13 | 70 |
| 14 | 1398 | G | Phil Murray | Neil Schofield | Tynemouth SC | 23 | ‑24 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 15 | (DNC) | 77 |
| 15 | 1428 | G | Wayne Fletcher | Martin Cooper | RYA | ‑32 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 18 | ‑26 | 11 | 9 | 77 |
| 16 | 1484 | S | Mark Somerville | Joe Roberts | Bassenthwaite SC | ‑35 | 20 | ‑28 | 4 | 15 | 12 | 18 | 20 | 89 |
| 17= | 1492 | S | Martin Penty | Luke Dickinson | Beaver SC | ‑22 | 18 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 16 | ‑19 | 18 | 95 |
| 18 | 1410 | S | Jacob Ainsworth | Kayleigh Roberts | Tynemouth SC | ‑27 | 23 | 24 | ‑25 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 100 |
| 19 | 1377 | S | Neil Bevington | Alan Skeens | Lee on Solent SC | ‑29 | ‑22 | 18 | 11 | 19 | 20 | 13 | 21 | 102 |
| 20 | 1437 | S | Danny Boatman | Matthew Boatman | Sunderland YC | 13 | 11 | 22 | ‑31 | 22 | 22 | ‑27 | 22 | 112 |
| 21 | 1518 | G | Ben Williamson | Charlie Ticehurst | Ripon SC | 11 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 24 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 124 |
| 22 | 1481 | G | Howard Farbrother | Louise Hosken | QMSC | 17 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 21 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 125 |
| 23 | 1465 | S | Jon Willars | Ryan Willars | Welton SC | 24 | 16 | ‑33 | 23 | ‑28 | 25 | 21 | 16 | 125 |
| 24 | 1516 | S | Mike Saul | John Hobson | Yorkshire Dales SC | 20 | 29 | (RET) | ‑33 | 26 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 135 |
| 25 | 1456 | G | Barrie Thornton | Nick Hunt | Scaling Dam SC | 18 | RET | 12 | 18 | 27 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 11 | 136 |
| 26 | 971 | S | Simon Kitchen | Abbi Hooper | Grafham Water SC | 28 | 26 | ‑29 | 29 | ‑33 | 21 | 17 | 17 | 138 |
| 27 | 1263 | B | Dave Stockton | Sophie Stockton | Wimbleball SC | 16 | ‑31 | 16 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 25 | (DNC) | 145 |
| 28 | 1043 | B | Ian Watkins | Imogen Watkins | Oxford SC | 15 | 25 | (DPI) | ‑37 | 32 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 146 |
| 29 | 1325 | B | James Logan | Philippa Logan | Nottinghamshire County SC | 14 | 30 | 20 | ‑36 | ‑41 | 27 | 30 | 28 | 149 |
| 30 | 1175 | B | Fred Lord | Louise Gale | Carsington SC | 21 | 27 | ‑37 | 28 | 35 | 18 | 23 | (DNC) | 152 |
| 31 | 1439 | S | Kevin Podger | Heather Chipperfield | Lymington Town SC | 12 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 29 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 154 |
| 32 | 1503 | S | Peter Snowdon | Louise Carr | Shoreham SC | 30 | 37 | 8 | 21 | 23 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 170 |
| 33 | 1509 | S | Stu Keegan | Trisha Clancy | Starcross SC | ‑36 | ‑36 | 35 | 35 | 30 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 171 |
| 34 | 1491 | G | Jon Gay | Amanda Henderson | Lochaber YC | 33 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 14 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 177 |
| 35 | 1148 | B | Hester Robertson | Richard Hope | Dalgety Bay SC | 34 | 39 | 34 | ‑40 | ‑42 | 29 | 31 | 24 | 191 |
| 36 | 603 | B | Graham Fraser | Uschi Hiermeier | Tynemouth SC | ‑45 | ‑47 | 40 | 39 | 37 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 199 |
| 37 | 1123 | S | Carl Whitehead | Carol Milner | Filey SC | 25 | 33 | 23 | 34 | 34 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 200 |
| 38 | 1363 | S | Ross Ryan | Oliver Ryan‑Moore | Notts County SC | 26 | 32 | 38 | 32 | 25 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 204 |
| 39 | 1129 | B | David Webley | Fraser Mulford | Wormit Boating Club | 38 | 41 | ‑48 | 48 | (DNS) | 31 | 28 | 27 | 213 |
| 40 | 1362 | B | Thomas Parkhurst | Jack Acron | Beaver SC | 42 | 35 | 42 | 30 | 36 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 236 |
| 41 | 538 | B | Nicholas Woodhouse | Miles Lilley | South Shields SC | OCS | 42 | 49 | 50 | 1 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 243 |
| 42 | 1342 | B | Max Tosetti | Jitka Zenatowe | QMSC | 39 | 44 | 26 | 46 | 39 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 245 |
| 43 | 1513 | B | Neil Parkhurst | Ian Parkhurst | Beaver SC | 31 | 46 | 39 | 45 | 38 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 250 |
| 44 | 1487 | S | Andrew Bray | Sarah Kingston | Lee on Solent SC | 37 | 43 | 36 | 38 | (DNF) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 256 |
| 45 | 1432 | B | James Alsop | Simon Edwards | QMSC | 40 | 34 | 41 | 49 | 45 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 260 |
| 46 | 1520 | B | Andy Powell | Paul Caiger‑Watson | Warsash SC | 46 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 43 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 268 |
| 47 | 1445 | B | Phil Britton | Mike Atkinson | Dalgety Bay SC | 41 | 38 | 47 | 41 | (DNF) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 269 |
| 48 | 738 | B | Ian Nicholls | Neil Robinson | Largs SC | 44 | 48 | 45 | 42 | 40 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 270 |
| 49 | 1519 | B | Steven Broomfield | Jenni Lewis | Lymington Town SC | (DNC) | (DNC) | 43 | 43 | 44 | DNC | DNC | DNC | 283 |
| 50 | 543 | B | Ian Webber‑Rostron | Luke Harrison | Delph SC | 43 | 45 | 46 | 47 | (DNF) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 283 |