ALBACORE NATIONALS 2000 AT LOOE

A dozen photos - 150K to load in total (Thanks to Brian Quant)

Trophy Winners List

Looe Sailing Club hosted an excellent Albacore National Championships between
27 August and 1 September at which 41 boats competed in varying weather conditions, including North American champions Barney Harris and David Byron and Fireball and 420 champion helm Steve Morrison sailing one of the new Speed Sails Albacores crewed by Liam Murray.  In addition, there was a large contingent of youth sailors both helming and crewing.

All races were sailed utilising triangular courses and the first race on the Sunday started in a westerly force 2 which freshened to a 3 to 4 as the race progressed.  The wind direction shifted two minutes before the start so favouring those starting at the port end of the line.  First to the windward mark was Steve Morrison following by another Speed Sails boat sailed by Jeremy Rook and daughter Mary with last year’s champion, Mike McNamara crewed by Robin Barker in third.  As the wind freshened, McNamara overhauled the two plastic boats followed by Richard and Jenny Thompson with Morrison third and Harris fourth.

Monday dawned bright with a light and variable westerly breeze.  Minutes before the scheduled start of the race the PRO was forced to move the start line.  The sea was somewhat disturbed giving a short chop up the beats.  Morrison showed his all round seamanship skills whilst demonstrating his increased ease in the Albacore to take the race from the Thompsons with McNamara third.

Two races were sailed on the Tuesday to allow for a lay on the Wednesday.  Light southerlys allowed a beat out to sea, again with the short chop providing some difficulty for some of the fleet upwind.  McNamara won from Morrison in second and Harris third.  Race four saw the pin end favoured by the majority necessitating  McNamara to gybe on the line in order to cross it and avoid starboard boats.  Harris and Byron sailing their best race had a good first beat and held the advantage to win and stave off the McNamara challenge with the Thompsons third and Morrison fourth.

With the Championship title still open, the leading four boats had not been placed below fourth and McNamara had not been lower than third.

Thursday proved to be a quite different day to the previous race days.  Grey skies were accompanied by force 4 to 5 south-westerly winds and moderate but somewhat confused seas with competitors’ boats at times disappearing from view in the swell.  The Thompsons had an excellent first beat and lead to the windward mark retaining the lead for some time but were unable to stave off McNamara.  Morrison challenged for a time but took the wrong route up the beat to allow Harris to take third place.

A Junior Championship followed the fifth race with winds freshening to a force 5 to 6.  This was won by Nathan Staley crewed by Norman Halstead.

Force 7 winds and rough seas on Friday caused the PRO to firstly postpone the planned race and then to abandon it such that the results were based on the five races sailed, with Mike McNamara once more retaining the Championship title.

Overall Results

Full results table

Junior Championship - Results

Gear