Volvo Noble Marine RS400 Nationals at Mount's Bay - Overall Results

Volvo Noble Marine RS400 Nationals day 5 © Tom Gruitt / www.tom-gruitt.co.uk

Volvo Noble Marine RS400 Nationals day 5 © Tom Gruitt / www.tom-gruitt.co.uk

While those that had raced at Mount's Bay before had told those that hadn't about the legendary waves, what they hadn't mentioned was the 50 or so different varieties. In a challenging week for all, the range of sea states and weather had stretched from a whisper of a breeze and left over slop to full-on and frightening white crested growlers with a breeze, no visibility and rain to match.

But for Day 5, Mounts Bay delivered champagne conditions midway between the week's extremes, along with a few more varieties of sea states and wind combinations.

Still battered and bruised from Wednesday's 20-30 knot pummelling, the fleet headed out to a new race area to the east of the famous Mount. The decision by the race committee to take the fleet to this new location proved to be spot on.

The first of three races started in a 10-12 knot breeze that didn't really match the sea state, particularly on starboard tack where every fifth wave seemed to have a steep front and vertical back. Stopping the boat was easy, getting it going again was a far tougher task.

By the windward mark it felt like we had carried our boats to the top of the course using the mainsheet and toe straps.

The short stretch from the windward mark to the spreader buoy served up an entirely new sea state based on a washing machine's spin cycle. White chop, waves from everywhere, it felt like the entire fleet had headed off road.

And then came the downhill slide.

The waves suggested that there should be plenty of hiking and surfing but the breeze was holding back making the first two laps a bit of a struggle for all but the lightest crews.

By the third and final round of the first race the breeze had woken up and added a few more knots making the upwind legs a full hike and the downwind slides more fun.

Volvo Noble Marine RS400 Nationals day 5 - photo © Tom Gruitt / www.tom-gruitt.co.uk

By the finish Nick Craig and Toby 'Tastic' Lewis had led the fleet around the course once again.

Race two saw the conditions perk up a few more notches with some more breeze to match the building swell from the South West. But while the waves were longer the beats were still hard work and the battle for clear air just as intense. Fortunately the downwind slides became more fun too, especially for the extra-medium proportioned crews who had struggled to keep their boats on the boil. (No names, we know who we are!)

Again, Craig and Lewis scored a bullet and sealed their overall win of the championship. But for everyone else there was more to come.

Volvo Noble Marine RS400 Nationals day 5 - photo © Tom Gruitt / www.tom-gruitt.co.uk

First was a return to a three lap course, race two had been a teasing two-lapper. Second was the waves, stretching out a little further to make longer surfs downwind easier. But for some there were bigger surprises in store.

One was for Jim Downer who beat Nick Craig to the finish, but the other was for David Brown and Rebecca Witt (1290) who capsized at the start, (not something they make a habit of), but onto a rather sick looking shark. Rebecca refused to to leave the boat and enter the water by hanging onto the gooseneck to keep her feet above the water making life a little trickier for David who was trying to right the boat while convincing her that the shark was dead.

For the rest of the fleet the race was a perfect finish to a boisterous week but there was one more surprise in store - the ride home.

As we headed back towards the Mount the breeze kicked in with a 10 knot bonus on top of the 15knots we had got used to making for a full on foam up for the two sail reach home. Some, no names, didn't quite make it without a swim on the way.

Volvo Noble Marine RS400 Nationals day 5 - photo © Tom Gruitt / www.tom-gruitt.co.uk

Overall, as far as conditions were concerned, the week could not have ended on a better note - sunshine, breeze, another variety of waves and big smiles around the fleet.

The last challenge was the long haul up the beach at low tide. A proper work out at the end of the day and a good excuse to use the stair lift in the club.

Congratulations to Nick Craig and Toby Lewis for taking an emphatic win.

Overall Results: