Rooster RS Feva UK National Championships 2023 at Plas Heli Welsh National Sailing Academy

Laura Jubb and Elsie Upton-Brown win the Fancy Dress at the Rooster RS Feva UK National Championships at Pwllheli © Dave Wood

Our RS Feva Nationals saw 93 boats racing in the main fleet with an additional training regatta fleet running alongside the championships, we nearly reached one hundred boats in total. Blessed with glorious Welsh sunshine and great conditions, after four days of racing in Pwllheli it saw home region favourites Ben Greenhalgh and Tom Sinfield of Port Dinorwic SC take the 2023 UK RS Feva National Championship title.

Qualifying saw two days of sailing completing six races. The second day the sailors wore fancy dress costumes on the water and amazingly these stayed on all day. Day two was also the windiest day of the Championships, the determination of the sailors really shone through through just like the sun gleaming on the sails.

Day 3 saw three races completed (R7, 8 and 9) three bullets taken by Ben Greenhalgh & Tom Sinfield of Port Dinorwic Sailing Club. (R7) second place went to brothers Joe & Sam Armstrong Rowland of Hayling Island SC, and in third was Max Rawlinson & Edie Johnson of Roa Island Boat Club.

Race 8 - Ben & Tom from Port Dinorwic Sailing Club took their second win of the day, with Alec Stanley & Ethan Hill from Hayling Island Sailing Club in second, in third being consistent was Max & Edie for the second time of the day.

Race 9 - Making the third win of the day Ben & Tom took first place. Ed Stubbs and Bruno Greenfield from Lyme Regis Sailing Club claimed second place and in third was Ben Tylecote & Charmelia Caldecott from Rutland Sailing Club.

Rooster RS Feva UK National Championships at Pwllheli - photo © Dave Wood

Our crew race at the end of the day 3, was optionally for the sailors, some headed home while some were eager to participate. Tom Sinfield & Ben Greenhalgh of Port Dinorwic SC winning first place, in second place was Edie Johnson & Max Rawlinson of Roa Island Boat Club and third went to Ethan Hill & Alec Stanley of Hayling Island SC.

The final day of the 2023 National Championships was upon us, we saw two races completed with sailors competing for the final championship positions!

Race 10 - The girls were on form, Ffion Bailey & Megan Gowers from Port Dinorwic Sailing Club took the first win of the day, in second place was Ben Greenhalgh & Tom Sinfield also from Port Dinorwic Sailing Club. Third place was Theo Smith & Will Cowley from Draycote Water Sailing Club.

Race 11 - Was the last race of the day, Ben & Tom came back to claim their eighth bullet of the championships, with Max Rawlinson & Edie Johnson from Roa Island Boat Club coming in second place and Ffion & Megan in third place.

The Race Team came in every day and said how polite and happy the sailors were on the race course. Sailors showed great enthusiasm and determination, these are amazing attributes to have and it makes everyone that is involved in the events proud to know you and to be part of the class. Congratulations goes to all the sailors for your achievements throughout the Nationals, you should be proud of yourselves!

Fancy Dress day at the Rooster RS Feva UK National Championships at Pwllheli - photo © Dave Wood

Everyday, once the main fleet launched, we had a small training regatta fleet eager to get on the water. The sailors learnt a lot through the event and played various games of the water. On the final day these sailors ventured over to the main fleet and sailed a lap of the course. The regatta fleet sailors are excited about future Feva sailing and we can't wait to see the fleet grow for next year.

Our thanks must go to our title sponsor Rooster who supplied multiple prizes, Allen Sailing and RS Sailing Store also supplying prizes for the event. Thank you all for your continued support.

A special thanks goes to Plas Heli for hosting the event, especially the to venue volunteers Stephen and Richard Tudor who were always busy pleasing the sailors and parents onsite. RYA Cymru also deserves a special thanks for their ongoing support throughout the event. Thanks also goes to the Race Officer Henry Wright and his team on the committee boat and the mark layers, Mike Butterfield our Jury, our event CSL Simon Greenhalgh and Steve Sinfield assisting co-worker. Our fantastic photography team Dave and Ali Wood, and to all the volunteers.

There are so many names to mention it is hard to list you all, it truly is your support that makes these events run, the class really does appreciate you!

Rooster RS Feva UK National Championships at Pwllheli - photo © Dave Wood

Prizes:

Feva Fun Award - Mia Hateley & Mona Nygard, the bunny girls for always smiling!
Fevaship Award - David Whelan & Ben Sinfield, both sailors stepped in to sail when crews were unwell
Endeavour Award and The CKE Cup Jonathan Lewis Cup (Best improved from Qualifying to final results) - Daisy Fuller & Kate Charlesworth of Hayling Island SC
Fancy Dress Runner Up - Banana in Pyjamas
Fancy Dress Winner - Bride and Groom
First School (Best 3 boats from a School) - Tonbridge School
First Sailing Club (Best 3 boats from a Sailing Club) - Port Dinorwic SC
Jonathan Webster Pro/AM - Jacob Knock & Phoebe Greenhalgh of Port Dinorwic SC

Family Category:

1st Family - Joe & Sam Armstrong Rowland of Hayling Island SC
2nd Family - Chris & Will Fuller of Hayling Island SC
3rd Family - Matthew & Peter Ridout of Ballyholme YC

Junior National Champion Category: (Helm and Crew age 13 or under until 31st December 2023)

1st Juniors - Alex Breese & Sienna Mordaunt of Royal Lymington YC
2nd Juniors - Isobel Sandow & Alex Welfare of West Kirby SC
3rd Juniors - Ruby Callaghan & Lauren Barber of Hayling Island Sailing Club

Boys:

1st Boys - Ben Greenhalgh & Tom Sinfield of Port Dinorwic SC
2nd Boys - Ed Stubbs & Bruno Greenfield of Lyme Regis Sc
3rd Boys - Joe & Sam Armstrong Rowland of Hayling Island SC

Ladies:

1st Girls - Ffion Bailey & Megan Gowers of Port Dinorwic SC
2nd Girls - Ella Jones & Kate Gamble of Hayling Island SC
3rd Girls - Fflur Pierce & Keira Luke of Port Dinorwic SC

Silver fleet:

1st Silver - Ethan Rhodes & Josh Beadsworth of Warsash SC
2nd Silver - Annabel Caldecott & Gabe Beatty of Rutland SC
3rd Silver - Charlotte Cooper & Harriet Wood of Elton SC

Gold fleet / Overall top ten:

1st Overall - Ben Greenhalgh & Tom Sinfield - Port Dinorwic SC
2nd Overall - Ffion Bailey & Megan Gowers - Port Dinorwic SC
3rd Overall - Ed Stubbs & Bruno Greenfield - Lyme Regis SC
4th Overall - Max Rawlinson & Edie Johnson - Roa Island Boat Club
5th Overall - Ben Tylecote & Charmelia Caldecott - Rutland SC
6th Overall - Joe & Sam Armstrong Rowland - Hayling Island SC
7th Overall - Alec Stanley & Ethan Hill - Hayling Island SC
8th Overall - Louis Hiscocks & Nicola Richards - WPNSA
9th Overall - Ella Jones & Kate Gamble - Hayling Island SC
10th Overall - Ben Welfare & Ada Daniels - Leigh and Lowton SC

Ben Greenhalgh and Tom Sinfield win the Rooster RS Feva UK National Championships at Pwllheli - photo © Dave Wood

Blue Flight Results:

Yellow Flight Results: