Volvo Noble Marine RS300 National Championships - Runners and Riders
by Pete Ellis, Neil Beveridge & Steve Bolland 23 Jul 2014 16:37 BST
14 – 17 August 2014
Boll' RS300 Scottish Championships © Ian Forrest Photograph
A trip to the ancient Kingdom of Ystrad Clud (Strathclyde) for the 2014 Nationals of the very modern RS300 Class at Prestwick SC (14 – 17 August) is now only three weeks away. Entries so far stand at 35, that's a whopping 75% increase over the last two years and is testament to the work put in by members of the host club, in particular the home fleet and the excellent Nationals there in 2010, and the general buzz about the class at present.
So who's going to put in a top result and who's in it for the beers and the whisky?
David 'The Whistler' Acres (Emsworth). 2013 champion, is to training what Brazil are to defending but will no doubt put up a stronger defence of the title than Spain managed. Fleet Training Rep whose multiple whistling instructions usually mean he's hyperventilating.
Steve Bolland (Bristol Corinthian). Previous champion, smarting from his off-wind frailties last year spies tell us he's been putting in loads of sea practice and is even rumoured to have carried out some boat maintenance recently. Probably explains why his rudder fell off during the Weymouth Regatta last weekend. Sporting a new black sail to blend in and avoid an OCS like last year.
Matt 'Pin End' Jenkins (Sheffield Viking). Very quiet but very fast, especially when the line's port-biased. 3rd last year and current Winter Champ.
Dan Treloar (Aldenham). Not so quiet and not so fast - here to learn and always sails with a smile.
Matt 'The Major' Sargent (Thorney Island). If you want a debate then Matt's your man. Involved in the first protest in years at the Southerns - then went home!!! Will show good consistent form all week. 4th last year.
Neil 'Bevs' Beveridge (Prestwick). Think of Mel Gibson in Braveheart and wonder why you have never seen Mel & Bevs in the same room. Strong in heart, strong in character, strong in enthusiasm. Likes to say the word "pish" at every opportunity. Will be a threat if the wind's up.
Tim 'The Traveller' Keen (Sheffield Viking). There is hardly an event that Tim hasn't been to in the last decade. Despite his stature eats F4 and above for breakfast (normally). Current Northerner Champ. Best to stay clear on the start line.
Dave 'Boy' McCardel (Prestwick). Current Scottish Champion, showing great form as long as he can avoid a Sambucca head.
Richard LeMare (Barnt Green). Now with a purple mast to match his purple hull, the fleet's Mr Fix-it, praying for strong winds and a free bar, only one of which is likely to happen.
Mark 'Sparky' Newton (Thorney Island). Another Mr Fix-it, but actually knows what he's doing. Now sporting the larger B rig and praying for lighter winds, although adept in any conditions. Will a veggie diet and B rig work together?
'Two Pint' Pete Ellis (Aldenham). Likely to be more successful in the pre-nationals golf competition than the sailing. May make the odd appearance near the front on the first beat but goes backwards faster than an Italian tank downwind.
Dave 'Desperate Dan' Sinclair. Part of the fabled Prestwick mini fleet sponsored by Greggs. Goes in a breeze.
Luke Pepper (Hykeham). New dad, new boat, new to waves. Sails downwind with all the stability of someone's who's consumed 10 pints of Stella.
Peter Mackin (Bolton). Hot footing from a very successful debut 8th at the Supernova Nationals, larger than life character who is likely to make an impact somewhere at the champs. Purveyor of the foredeck continuous knitting system.
Alasdair 'Wireman' Cattenach (Prestwick). The 300 is his first non- trapeze boat. Wears a harness for old time's sake. Confused.
Ian Hopkins (Southport). Bouncing back from having his boat destroyed by a bouncing ski ramp in the spring storms. Things can only get better.
Tom 'The Miner' Moore. Taking the "furthest travelled" trophy to extremes. Living the dream and jetting in from Zambia to compete. Strange accent.
Mark Taylor (Prestwick). From the host club but with severe emotional problems that will need to be overcome. Racing from a Scottish club but with Welsh and Malaysian mainsail flags. Is he Welsh? Is he Scottish? Nobody knows, nobody cares, but the mystery man has more boats of different classes than the Portsmouth Yardstick.
Tom 'Team Racer' Whitehead (Prestwick). Watch out for this man on the start line - no prisoners will be taken. Goes like a rocket in the light stuff, so we're praying for wind.
Alan 'Snaps' Henderson (Prestwick). Another man for the lighter conditions, so we're praying for wind. Huge amount of Prestwick experience so if you want to know how to beat the tide, follow this man.
Mark Henman (Sunderland). Loads of experience, an old head on old shoulders. Based in Sunderland so almost a local. Will be one of the quickest lightweights.
Duncan Jenkins. Third element of the defending Aldenham top team from 2013. Has the potential to ping in a few top results if he turns up and his boat stays in one piece.
Steve Sallis. Part of the new fleet at Hykenham - experienced dinghy sailor who will be getting to grips with the 300.
Andy Bayliss. Part of the new fleet at Hykenham - experienced dinghy sailor who will be getting to grips with the 300 - Part 2.
And what of the top team trophy won in the past by Draycote, Prestwick, Sheffield Viking, Thorney Island and Aldenham? Likely to be 8 teams competing this year from 4 different clubs. Defending club is Aldenham with the second highest number of boats entered. Will be trying to be the first club to score back-to-back wins but have failed to appreciate that Aldenham is based on a small lake in Hertfordshire while Prestwick is on the sea with big waves so we are likely to be royally entertained. Host club Prestwick has 4 teams entered. Likely to do well as have been training under the watchful eye of Neil Beveridge for the past 2 months. Looking forward to seeing a whole fleet of Bev clones.
Hykeham enters a team for the first time, but with none having done a 300 champs before a year too early? Again, we are likely to be royally entertained. Sheffield Viking will be sporting a top team with all members likely to be in the top 10 if they can get Bish to enter. Another top team will be from Down South SC (Emsworth/Thorney Island) but only if they all remember to enter from the same club. Probably why they failed to win the team trophy last year. Will they learn?
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