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Noble Marine TridentUK RS400 National Championship at South Shields Sailing Club - Overall

by Nicky Griffin 29 Aug 2021 03:19 NZST 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:

PosSail NoFleetHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8Pts
11500GNick CraigTobytastic LewisFrensham & Burghfield SC11‑21‑32117
21488GMichael SimsMark LunnCarsington SC‑6‑542412215
31515GStephen CockerillSarah CockerillLee on Solent SC2‑8152‑84620
41376GSam KnightChris BownesBartley SC4366‑10‑159331
51316GOllie GrovesSam WallerBeaver SC(OCS)‑15143943437
61370SNeil McLellanEwen RycroftEast Loithan YC543‑24(DNF)614840
71460GDave ExleyAlistair CoatesLeigh & Lowton SC(OCS)217‑206116749
81463GStewart RobertsonSarah RobertsonRoyal Forth YC8‑199955‑201450
91275GNathan BatchelorJames ClarkTynemouth SC107‑2710117‑16550
101502GJon HeissigNicky GriffinLlangorse SC710‑31889‑121254
111511GHamish GledhillRoss SouthwellWest Riding SC313‑211313‑1451057
12944GAlex KnightRob HigginsChew Valley SC‑19177717310(DNC)61
131292SChristopher EamesRachel TilleyQMSC912‑30‑17121771370
141398GPhil MurrayNeil SchofieldTynemouth SC23‑2451471315(DNC)77
151428GWayne FletcherMartin CooperRYA‑329151518‑2611977
161484SMark SomervilleJoe RobertsBassenthwaite SC‑3520‑2841512182089
17=1492SMartin PentyLuke DickinsonBeaver SC‑221811161616‑191895
181410SJacob AinsworthKayleigh RobertsTynemouth SC‑272324‑252010815100
191377SNeil BevingtonAlan SkeensLee on Solent SC‑29‑22181119201321102
201437SDanny BoatmanMatthew BoatmanSunderland YC131122‑312222‑2722112
211518GBen WilliamsonCharlie TicehurstRipon SC116131924(DNC)(DNC)DNC124
221481GHoward FarbrotherLouise HoskenQMSC1714101221(DNC)(DNC)DNC125
231465SJon WillarsRyan WillarsWelton SC2416‑3323‑28252116125
241516SMike SaulJohn HobsonYorkshire Dales SC2029(RET)‑3326192219135
251456GBarrie ThorntonNick HuntScaling Dam SC18RET121827(DNC)(DNC)11136
26971SSimon KitchenAbbi HooperGrafham Water SC2826‑2929‑33211717138
271263BDave StocktonSophie StocktonWimbleball SC16‑311627313025(DNC)145
281043BIan WatkinsImogen WatkinsOxford SC1525(DPI)‑3732232625146
291325BJames LoganPhilippa LoganNottinghamshire County SC143020‑36‑41273028149
301175BFred LordLouise GaleCarsington SC2127‑3728351823(DNC)152
311439SKevin PodgerHeather ChipperfieldLymington Town SC1221192229(DNC)(DNC)DNC154
321503SPeter SnowdonLouise CarrShoreham SC303782123(DNC)(DNC)DNC170
331509SStu KeeganTrisha ClancyStarcross SC‑36‑36353530242423171
341491GJon GayAmanda HendersonLochaber YC3328252614(DNC)(DNC)DNC177
351148BHester RobertsonRichard HopeDalgety Bay SC343934‑40‑42293124191
36603BGraham FraserUschi HiermeierTynemouth SC‑45‑47403937282926199
371123SCarl WhiteheadCarol MilnerFiley SC2533233434(DNC)(DNC)DNC200
381363SRoss RyanOliver Ryan‑MooreNotts County SC2632383225(DNC)(DNC)DNC204
391129BDavid WebleyFraser MulfordWormit Boating Club3841‑4848(DNS)312827213
401362BThomas ParkhurstJack AcronBeaver SC4235423036(DNC)(DNC)DNC236
41538BNicholas WoodhouseMiles LilleySouth Shields SCOCS4249501(DNC)(DNC)DNC243
421342BMax TosettiJitka ZenatoweQMSC3944264639(DNC)(DNC)DNC245
431513BNeil ParkhurstIan ParkhurstBeaver SC3146394538(DNC)(DNC)DNC250
441487SAndrew BraySarah KingstonLee on Solent SC37433638(DNF)(DNC)DNCDNC256
451432BJames AlsopSimon EdwardsQMSC4034414945(DNC)(DNC)DNC260
461520BAndy PowellPaul Caiger‑WatsonWarsash SC4640444443(DNC)(DNC)DNC268
471445BPhil BrittonMike AtkinsonDalgety Bay SC41384741(DNF)(DNC)DNCDNC269
48738BIan NichollsNeil RobinsonLargs SC4448454240(DNC)(DNC)DNC270
491519BSteven BroomfieldJenni LewisLymington Town SC(DNC)(DNC)434344DNCDNCDNC283
50543BIan Webber‑RostronLuke HarrisonDelph SC43454647(DNF)(DNC)DNCDNC283

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