Noble Marine 2022 UK Musto Skiff National Championship at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club - Day 4
by GBR Musto Skiff Class Association 5 Sep 2022 07:42 AEST
1-4 September 2022
Start line - Noble Marine 2022 UK Musto Skiff National Championship 2022 © Tim Olin /
www.olinphoto.co.uk
It was another warm and sunny start for the final day of the 2022 Noble Marine UK Musto Skiff Nationals at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club.
A decent breeze was building, and with an earlier start planned for Day 4, the beach was already busy and buzzing with sailors getting ready to launch for 10.30am start.
Race 9
Perfect conditions with a true south breeze of 12-14k and a few rolling waves building. The fleet got away on a black flag start. Jono Shelley came off the port end hoping the tide was still going out and judged the lay line best to lead at mark one from a gaggle of boats including Jamie Hilton and Danny Boatman. The big news, however, was that Sam Pascoe's number was on the Black Flag board.... where was Bruce Keen......2nd at the top rounding just behind Shelley.
Shelley led for 2 laps, but on the second downwind, he tried to cross Keen and infringed. After a 360 turn, Keen led followed by Dan Vincent and Shelley with Eddie Bridle, Billy Maughan, and Danny Boatman in close pursuit. Vincent sailed around Keen on the 3rd beat showing some serious pace to take the win from Keen and Shelley. It was still advantage Pascoe, but Keen had narrowed the gap.
Race 10
Race 10 got away cleanly, and with the tide starting to turn, the chop started kicking up making for big gains for those who could find the groove.
After breaking his main halyard in Race 9, Ian Turnbull returned with the bit between his teeth to lead for the first lap. Turnbull was slowly overhauled by Keen and Pascoe on the 2nd beat, with Keen going on to take the bullet from Pascoe and Dan Trotter chasing hard in 4th and Ben Clegg in 5th.
Going into the final race of the Championship, Pascoe still had a comfortable margin, but could not afford another BFD.
Race 11
The sun had come out and the breeze was down to 10-12knots. Dave Poston and Dan Vincent got onto Port best with clear lanes and stretched their legs ahead of Robbie Richardson and Jono Shelley. Pascoe was somewhere in the teens, but Keen was worse off still. Over the 3 laps, the top 4 traded places a few times with the finishing order Vincent (second of the day!) Richardson in 2nd, Shelley in 3rd, then Poston in 4th.
Pascoe showing his class, rounded out the top 5, pulling through the fleet to 5th to secure the Title. The fleet then sailed back to shore to pack up their boats and get ready for the prize-giving ceremony back at the club house.
After four days of racing, Sam retains his UK National Champion Title and the trophy for another year. Joining Sam on the podium was Bruce Keen in second place, and Jono Shelley in third place.
Thanks to the Race office team and all the fantastic volunteers at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club. The whole class enjoyed the event and the great hospitality provided by this very friendly and well-run club.
Thanks, also, to our Event Title sponsor, Noble Marine Insurance, and our Class Title sponsor, Musto, for all the great prizes. Lastly, thanks to the event photographer, Tim Olin, for capturing all the races, and to the ESSC media team for the impressive drone footage.
Well done to all the podium winners and to all competitors for another great event. See you all next year!!
Other category winners:
- Overall: 1st - Sam Pascoe, 2nd - Bruce Keen, 3rd - Jono Shelley, 4th - Dan Vincent, 5th - Sam Barker, 6th - Ian Turnbull, 7th - Rob Richardson, 8th - Eddie Bridle, 9th - Danny Boatman, 10th - Dan Trotter
- Silver: 1st - Josh Belben, 2nd - George Cousins, 3rd - Stuart Keegan
- Youth: 1st - Rob Richardson, 2nd - Eddie Bridle, 3rd - Josh Belben
- Master: 1st - Dan Vincent, 2nd - Rich Pelley, 3rd - Brian Greensmith
- Grand Master: 1st - Ian Trotter, 2nd - Richard Smith, 3rd - Karsten Groth (NED)
- Legend: 1st - Ian Escritt, 2nd - Stephen Wright
Overall results after Day 4