Noble Marine 2023 Albacore Internationals and UK National Championships at Abersoch - Day 4

Albacore Internationals at Abersoch Day 3 © John Davies

Well day 4 will go down as "fresh to frightening". Wind, waves and sun, not quite as much of the last of those but enough to add to the experience. The first race of the day was series race 8 and the final one for the UK Nationals. Half a point separating the top two of Nev & Lewis and Mike Mac & Weed.

Triangle courses set by our race officer Malcolm Blackburn and his team of mark layers were the right choice given the conditions, and that gave us some awesome flat out reaching with the boats not seeming to have a terminal velocity. The upwind legs however reminded us all just how much salt water you can endure hitting your face whilst riding a bucking bronco!

The first race started bang on time as the intention was to complete four races to catch up from lost races earlier in the week. The fleet split on the first beat and it looked like Matt Metcalf-Smith crewed by Jason Upton had it nailed coming in from the right, complete with straight upright mast whilst everyone else had max rake on? However, Andy & Martin Couch having gone left and middle arrived first and set off on the reach in a cloud of spray.

Mike Banner crewed by Pete Snowdon were round next followed by Nev Herbert & Lewis Fowler, whilst Matt Biggs & Mark Fowler took advantage of the melee that ensued with Barney Harris crewed by Dave Byron capsizing on a port/starboard incident snagging Tom Lonsdale & Emily Batterton in the process and breaking their jib.

The positioning of the wing mark was spot on and seemed to be in a more sheltered place, still wobbly but manageable, Andy & Martin made it look easy still comfortably leading at the leeward mark leaving the rest to sort themselves out at the gybe mark. By the end of the next lap the race was shortened. Andy & Martin crossed the line in first followed by Matt & Jason in a well deserved second and Mike Banner & Pete Snowdon in third. Tom Lonsdale was awarded redress and average points.

The overall standings for the UK National Champs was Nev & Lewis first, Mike Mac & Weed second and Tom & Emily third.

The SCYC safety crews had been put to good use during the race and as result a number of boats calling it a day, the second start followed promptly.

This time when the leaders got to the windward mark for the first time there were some new faces rounding first, Matt & Jason arrived first but misjudged the tide and touched the mark, they weren't alone as a number of teams suffered the same fate, all of which confused the issue but the consistent Nev & Lewis once again got through and led to the end. Tom & Emily sailed into second with Matt & Jason taking the last podium place.

As the boats finished the race officer flew the postponed/return to shore so all turned back upwind towards the shore except one boat, 8192 Mr Biggs who was busy eating his Scotch egg "athlete's lunch" and hadn't noticed the flags.

Once ashore racing was abandoned for the day. After nine races of the Internationals series Nev & Lewis stand first (12.5) with Tom & Emily second (25.6), Mike & Weed third (26) and Raines & Steph flying the flag for Canada in fourth (27).

Friday is the last day and with four races scheduled and with the current unreliable forecasts we shall see. But the battle for the title of Internationals Champion 2023 is still open for four teams.

Thanks once again to all our sponsors HD Sails, Allen Brothers, Ovington Boats, Camclearts Abersoch Boatyard and Noble Marine.

UK National Championship Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Albacore nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here