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Noble Marine Rooster RS400 National Championships - Day 4

by Tom Halhead 4 Aug 03:48 PDT

After "super-size" Wednesday (Day 3) had the fleet checking out the local kart track and minds being stretched by Oppenheimer with the day blown off, vans rocking and tents blowing around overnight, it was confirmed we were on for "Big Thursday" - with a race to catch up it was going to be a bit of a fitness test.

A pretty lively ride out to the start saw the fleet greeted by 18-22 knots in the vicinity of the start for race 6. Clearly a little bit too much time spent chatting onboard the pathfinder though as they didn't bother turning up until 30s after the gun - a strong candidate for the daily Duckhams but nothing like the litany of nominations that ensued on the following attempt; something our brilliant photographer for the week, Lee Whitehead, described as "carnage".

The stand-out effort, perhaps being Jeremy Stephens' attempt to turn the gate boat into a catamaran, reverse off and head back for another nibble. The race management was again superb and with 1.5mile+ legs set for the 70 boat fleet it was the sort of high-speed, open water, tight racing that shows the 400 at its absolute best.

The usual suspects featured at the front throughout the day, with Edd & Ben showing some lightning pace (clearly honed on the kart track...) to take the first race from Roger & Keith followed by Ollie & Esther.

Race 2 saw the order reversed with Ollie & Esther taking the gun from Roger & Keith then Edd & Ben.

Race 3 saw the wind build further and Lee reporting gusts beyond 30 from the safety boats. A slightly reduced fleet set off with tired legs - well worth it though for some of the best conditions of the year downwind. Roger & Keith took this one from Edd & Ben and Ollie & Esther, leaving the battle for the title finely poised going into the last day with a mere two points between the three of them.

Two races are scheduled tomorrow in a slightly lighter breeze - thankfully little to trouble our generous sponsors Noble Marine today and much of the Rooster kit on show, keeping the fleet nice and toasty in the Northerlies.

Mount's Bay are again proving to be incredible hosts; having just tucked into a Hog Roast and Ice Cream we've got a Ska band warming up, and a raffle for a new kite (generously funded by RS Sailing) coming later in aid of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. No sign of too many heading off for an early night yet...

Editor's note: the 'Mighty Off beats' were certainly well and truly enjoyed by all, Tom Halhead was lucky enough to win the spinnaker and we raised over £1160 for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, thanks to the generosity of the sailors and club members. Now with just 3 points between the top 3, it's going to be an exciting finale!

Results after day 4:

PosSailSelecHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8Pts
11541GEdd WhiteheadBen WhaleyParkstone YC‑31(DSQ)2213211
21526FGLOllie GrovesEsther ParkhurstBeaver SC‑531‑7131312
31533GRoger GilbertKeith BedboroughDalgety Bay Sailing Club‑6‑1141322113
41528FGLChristopher EamesRachel TilleyQueen Mary SC1‑262‑6644421
51535GTom HalheadPaul HilliarLlandegfedd SC‑10433‑1065627
61376GSam KnightChris BownesBartley SC‑8254‑3176529
71398GPhil MurrayNeil SchofieldTynemouth SC‑3212‑17511117955
81479FGLChris WebberNicki WebberPevensey Bay SC2710‑2041320‑2256
91400GMJames StewartSam ParkerNetley Sailing Club‑21‑2011128911758
101481GMHoward FarbrotherJack MunnellyLymington TownRDG‑259‑1912581459
111414SSam WatsonGeoff EdwardsBudworth SC76622(DSQ)8(DNC)1059
12411GMRichard CainBarney DearslyStarcross Yacht Club48181114(RET)‑191166
131469MSYMartin PowellArun PowellParkstone YC‑30‑231314910181276
141377GMNeil BevingtonAlan SkeensLee on Solent‑24522(RET)1815121385
151410FGLJacob AinsworthKayleigh RobertsTynemouth sc‑282220‑3116129887
161532GMSteve NorburyAndy HillWarsash SC1313‑3417‑2414102491
171362GOMike SaulOliver Kentyorkshire Dales149‑2618‑2521161795
181439FOSKevin PodgerHeather ChipperfieldLymington Town SC151082720(DSQ)17(DNS)97
191239GPaul CullenMatt SargentWeirwood Sailing Club16‑371223523‑271998
201539FLSSteven BroomfieldJenni LewisLymington Town221923‑3313(RET)1316106
211189OSSteve RestallChris StubbsDowns SC916‑553471825(DNS)109
221515OSPaul BartlettGreg BartlettStarcross Yacht Club1918‑2421221614(DNC)110
231004STom PurdonSam PurdonStrangford Lough‑392425161917‑3618119
241456GAlex OystonPhilip CowansTynemouth Sailing Club23‑3115131526‑4028120
251455FGGarry KnottAmy Hinsliff‑smithNCSC112714817‑5045(RET)122
26767CMSChris LarrAbigail LarrDraycote Water20‑321626‑32192121123
271489MSDavid SwiftRob BurgessWarsash SC27‑4032923‑341526132
281363OSRoss RyanOliver Ryan‑MooreNotts County SC1714‑3732212226(RET)132
291513MSNeil ParkhurstIan ParkhurstBeaver Sailing Club3128291028‑3924‑34150
30971FLSSimon KitchenAbbi HooperGrafham Water SC1233312534‑38‑3715150
311437BFJustin SmithSarah BatchelorTynemouth SC‑56‑46331529204120158
321530FOSJohn CooperBecci WigleyLymington Town‑36303028262428(RET)166
331524FSStuart HalmanAnna WalshLeigh and Lowton sc‑352919‑3630273330168
34690BJeremy StephensThomas KliskeyPZSC(OCS)4273541(DSQ)3529189
35506BAlex ZamariaRob StainesSaltash SC293821432742(DSQ)(RET)200
361184BChristopher SpencerEdward SmithHooe Point Sailing Club‑45413529‑43292937200
37880STim Le CouilliardJames Le CouilliardKing George Sailing Club‑5036274238(DSQ)3133207
381493FLOSGeoff HoldenBernice HoldenLocks Sailing Club33‑434330403130(RET)207
391435FOSMatthew SheahanEllie SheahanWarsash SC‑53‑52424551302323214
401547FMSJohn HobsonRebecca OgdenNotts County Sailing Club3715362433(DSQ)(DNC)DNC216
41877SWilliam FindlayPeter GilmoreStrangford Sailing Club40‑5846‑5845323227222
421427FLMSCarl WhiteheadCarol MilnerFiley S.C2545‑4939393743(DNC)228
431271SPeter GreigMike GreigMounts Bay Sailing Club‑635545‑6244283425231
441417BOAndy RitchieMalc RitchieHykeham SC483428(DNC)(DNC)3522RET238
451536BOJonty ChallisNic AllenLee on Solent38‑6653(DNF)35365231245
461179BBen MartinDarren CushleyRUYC / Strangford Lough4235‑4744464038(RET)245
471325LSJames LoganPhilippa LoganNotts County SC18‑604449424749(RET)249
48573BLTim StickleyFlorence KerrLymington Town SC5117‑6647484542(RET)250
491470BMOGareth GriffithsIan PeaceIsland Barn‑60‑64484836415135259
501503MSNick DanielsMark AitkenWarsash SC3421415737(DNS)(DNC)DNC261
51762BFYPaul McMeekinJane McMeekinStrangford Sailing Club26535038‑564648(DNC)261
521521BMAndy powellChris Rolfewarsash‑65‑54544652334436265
531422FGBruce MillsAndrea JarmanWarsash SC473965535525(DNC)(DNC)284
541324BMRichard WatneyGrant ShoebridgeHISC57‑655654‑64483932286
551501BOKen TwemlowGoiz‑Eder Aspe‑JuaristiNotts County4150395258(DNS)46(DNC)286
561345BFJohn WoolcockGemma ORourkeMounts Bay Sailing Club4649404047(DNC)(DNC)DNC293
571432BMJames AlsopSimon EdwardsQueen Mary SC‑64516151494350(RET)305
58856BYConor McveighLaurence McVeighStrangford sailing club54‑565155544447(RET)305
591430BMYSimon MathewsJack FusseyLancing SC526262375049(RET)(DNC)312
601487BOAndrew BraySarah BevingtonLee on Solent4347595053(RET)(DNS)DNC323
611263FOSDavid StocktonAnna WarrenWimbleball446138(DNS)(DNC)52DNSDNC337
621462BFLDennis WatsonNikita WatsonLee on Solent4963524162(DNC)(DNC)DNC338
631287MSJames BowmanAndrew GladstoneStarcross Yacht Club5544575657(RET)(DNC)DNC340
64603BMOMostyn EvansPhil DaviesMounts Bay SC584860(DNF)60(DNC)DNCDNC368
651025BJohn GabbieErin GabbieStrangford Sailing Club625758(DNF)(RET)51RETDNS370
661525BFLOMartin HartMoira HartNotts County Sailing Club5959635959(RET)(DNS)DNC370
671294BOMike GrantAlan BirseLargs6167646061(DNC)(RET)DNC384
681201BFLOMatt GreenSharn WardMounts Bay SC66(RET)(RET)6163DSQDNCDNC403

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