National Championships at Torquay - August 1st to 6th

Despite fewer boats than anticipated, the Albacore Fleet showed great strength and depth of talent with tight competition hroughout the championships during the week of 1 to 6 August. Racing was hosted by the Royal Torbay Yacht Club, and sunshine and principally southerly breezes provided ideal conditions for excellent racing with first class courses and start lines set throughout the week.

The first points race saw Richard and Jenny Thompson leave the line fast on starboard, together with Judy and Paul Armstrong whilst Michael McNamara and Robin Barker came over on port. McNamara failed to catch the other two boats by the windward mark and the Thompsons and Armstrongs pulled ahead on the reaches to eventually take first and second places respectively with McNarmara third.

Monday dawned sunny and warm but with little wind. The race, however, started on time and saw McNamara leading the fleet out to sea to meet the freshening sea breeze, which enabled those boats occupying the port side of the course to reap marked advantage. McNamara was first to the windward mark and continued to lead throughout eventually winning from the Thompsons second and Martin Cockram and Colin Smith third.

Tuesday again brought light winds with two races scheduled. Again, the sea breeze kicked in following the initial abandonment of the third race. On re-start, the wind gradually strengthened. McNamara once more led from the windward mark taking the race from the Thompsons with Mike and Lesley Johnson coming in third. The fourth race following straight on and as the wind freshened to a brisk force 4 with the sea developing a short chop, a bright blue sky and sunshine provided the ideal conditions for some wonderful planing reaches. Racing was close and although McNamara once more got away, the Thompsons and Cockram duelled throughout with Cockram finally taking second place and Thompsons third.

Wednesday was a lay day for the main fleet, however, thanks to the co-operation of the host club, a Junior Nationals was run in light winds in the early evening. Katrina Johnson emerged a worthy winner of the event.

Race 5 on the Thursday saw Martin Cockram first to the windward mark, a position he held until the third lap, only to be overhauled by the Thompsons who finished first with Cockram second and McNamara third.

The scene was set for an exciting finale in race 6 with both McNamara and Thompson capable of taking the title. Additionally, only three points separated positions five to ten. A poor first beat by Thompson left him well down the field, whilst McNamara rounded the windward mark in fourth place behind veteran campaigners, Ron and Julie James. Whilst McNamara took the race from Cockram with the Armstrongs third, Thompson retired and the race also clearly resolved the lower placings.

The detailed overall results , team results and individual trophy winners can be found by following these links..

In summary:

1st M McNamara/R Barker 7 points
2nd R Thompson/J Thompson 9 points
3rd M Cockram/C Smith 13 points
4th J Armstrong/P Armstrong 17 points
5th M Johnson/L Johnson 33 points
6th N Halstead/L MacDonald 35 points
7th D Hammond/N Hammond 39 points
8th F Whitehead/J Riley 43 points
9th S Wilson/A Wilson 44 points

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Under 21 Nationals

On the lay day the annual Under 21 Championship was raced. The result was:
Winner - Katrina Johnson,  South Cerney
Second - Alex Talbot,  South Cerney
Third - Steve Manders, Covenham
Fourth - Emma Johnson, South Cerney

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