Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 S600 LEADERBOARD

Albacore National Championship at Parkstone Yacht Club

by Mike Banner 15 Aug 2014 02:34 PDT 8-10 August 2014

'Albacore Bertha Blast'

Thirty-six Albacores gathered at Poole for the National Championships at Parkstone YC over the long weekend of 8, 9 & 10th August. With the remnants of hurricane Bertha forecast for the last day the fleet and PRO Bruce Gridley were keen to get the races in early which turned out to be the right decision with gusts of 35 knots in the boat park on Sunday preventing any racing.

On Friday after a morning postponement to allow a light breeze to fill in two races were sailed in the bay after a tide assisted exit through the harbour and past the chain ferry. In Race 1 Mike Hartley and Octavia Owen in 818 'Castor and Pollox' a restored old wooden boat saved literally from the bonfire put the plastic boats in the limelight by taking an early lead and extending throughout the race to take the win ahead of husband and wife team John & Janet Woffinden 8126 'Who ate all the pies' with Nev Herbert and Mark Fowler 8192 'Grand Turino' in third just ahead of Barney Harris and Mike Banner in 8133 'Avatar'. Harris, the current International Champion, had flown in especially for the event from Washington DC!

In Race 2 the wind held steady and enabled the plastic boats to recover with another husband and wife team Judy & Paul Armstrong 8209 'Slightly Ratty' taking the bullet followed by Harris and Banner with local boys Edd and James Whitehead third in 1781 'Blue Streak' another wooden boat just ahead of Herbert and Fowler. With beer and food calling, plus a favourable flood tide, the fleet took the assisted ride back into the harbour.

On Saturday there were no problems with wind and as the fleet rigged a steady F5 was recorded in the bay. Three races to beat Bertha were agreed and Race 3 saw a fast and furious triangular course with very wet reaches plenty of smiles and a few retirements plus one boat that remained turtled on the race course. The Armstrong's took their second bullet ahead of Herbert and Fowler with Harris and Banner third and Hartley and Owen smoking into forth

Race 4 quickly followed and ended just as quick when after one lap and a big shift the PRO shortened although with a snagged flag and some confusion it took a while for the leading boats who had carried on racing to be overhauled by the safety ribs with the news. When the spray had settled it was Harris and Banner taking the win from Herbert and Fowler followed by the Armstrong's with Crispin Read-Wilson and Peter Morton 6849 'Ruined Dude' forth.

Race 5, which turned out to be the final race of the Championships, started in the strongest wind with Herbert and Fowler chased by Harris and Banner taking a big lead after the first beat where it quickly became a two boat race. On the last reach which turned into more of a run Harris and Banner took the better pressure on the left to just overtake Herbert and Fowler in the final surf to the line, taking the bullet and with it the overall championship. Read-Wilson and Morton continued their late surge to claim third. The now weary fleet had a bumpy ride back in for the AGM and a well-earned curry supper (plus a few beers!)

With racing wisely canned early on Sunday the prize giving was brought forward to allow the glittering array of silverware to be dished out by local long-time Albacore sailors Peter and Judy Fontes with support from Parkstone Commodore Dick Linford. The prizes included vouchers for the yacht club chandlery, wine and beer for the silver fleet plus a Noble Marine Insurance drink bottle for everyone. Overall winner Barney Harris spoke about how much he enjoyed racing in the UK despite having to fly 3,000 miles to get here whilst his crew Mike Banner thanked fellow competitors and the Parkstone YC team for a great event.

Special Awards included:

  • Under 21 Mathew Metcalfe-Smith and Lewis Brailsford 8158 'It wasn't me'
  • Silver fleet Winner: Tim Coleman and Jo Sankey 6812 'Acushia'
  • First Scottish boat: Paul Sleeman and Finlay Clark 1924 'Bumbletoo'
  • Team Trophy: Tewkesbury Cruising & SC
There are plenty of Albacore events left this year and excitement is starting to build as the 2015 Internationals in Florida get ever closer. Further details on the class web site www.albacore.org.uk/alb

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

PosSail NoBoat NameHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5Pts
1st8133AvatarBarney HarrisMike BannerLeigh and Lowton SC‑423117
2nd8209Slightly RattyJudy ArmstrongPaul ArmstrongScaling Dam SC‑611349
3rd8192Gran TorinoNev HerbertMark FowlerTewkesbury Cruising & SC3‑42229
4th818Castor and PolloxMike HartleyOctavia OwenWest Kirby SC174‑9820
5th1781Blue StreakEdd WhiteheadJames WhiteheadParkstone YC‑243661227
6th8158It wasn't meMatthew Metclafe SmithLewis BrailsfordSutton in Ashfield SC‑195751027
7th8152AlbaholicPhil SmithTom WilliamsRYA‑14697527
8th8128Running on EmptyJ.T. RookD. StubbsLyme Regis SC10(OCS)510732
9th6649Ruined DudeCrispin Read WilsonPeter MortonLyme Regis SC & Parkstone YC‑1615134335
10th8126Who Ate all the PiesJohn WoffindenJanet WoffindenMaidenhead SC29(DNF)111739
11th8129Te Wero GalPhilip TindallTom TindallMaidenhead SC12812‑131345
12th8211Snake EyesPeter LawrenceJessie LawrenceTewkesbury Cruising & SC‑18168121147
13th8151Maybe AngelsChris SomnerMartin HaywardMaidenhead SC710‑24192157
14th6812AcushlaTim ColemanJo SankeyMidland SC20‑261122659
15th7504ByjingoPaul GimsonAmy SandersonRudyard Lake SC1114‑21142059
16th7987Another Madman Across the WaterHoward WittDavid YoungMaidenhead SC‑32251481663
17th8155Gran TurismoMatthew ThompsonHeather ThompsonTewkesbury Cruising & SC8‑2419231464
18th6959Acolian IIRichard SmithGeorge SmithBenfleet YC25‑271615965
19th8208La Dolce VitaGraham SharlandJosh SharlandLyme Regis SC‑262210201567
20th8135AlbethereinaminuteSimon LawJoy MappOgston SC51115(DNC)DNS68
21st8000Ozily EmiverTrevor SmithAnn SmithParkstone YC913‑25252370
22nd6504NemesisSteve BaileyClive GimsonNottingham SC21122216‑2471
23rd8182Lake SafariThomas TeubnerRuth HaecklWest Kirby SC‑221917171972
24th6918DaedulusJohnnie DellowJason PhillipsWeston SC Southampton17211818(DNS)74
25th7988CurvaceousVictoria McCabeMagnus McCabeParkstone YC13‑2823242282
26th8130Shady NookMark CalvertBrendan CorriganParkstone YC‑282326211888
27th7416Fade to BlackGraham DarvillMyke BowersBroadwater SC151720(DNS)DNS89
28th7508BlaecDavid WhittleChristine KeeneSouth Cerney SC & Parkstone YC2318(DNS)DNSDNS115
29th1924BumbletooPaul SleemanFinlay ClarkInvergordon BC/Lochcarron SC2920(DNF)DNSDNS123
30th6922ANYJesper ToffAmber RiggWest Kirby SC3129(DNF)DNSDNS134
31st6917StratosphereAndy PearceIan SimpsonHawley Lake SC3030(DNS)DNSDNS134
32nd7917In a PickleMichael ScottNed ScottRudyard Lake SC27(OCS)DNFDNSDNS138
33rd8154Stab in the DarkHazel SmithAndrew SmithTewkesbury Cruising & SC3332(DNS)DNSDNS139
34th8063Red HerringSandy LavellePat JonesShearwater SC3433(DNF)DNSDNS141
35th6810Quality StreetNigel BarfootClare BarfootParkstone YC(OCS)31DNFDNSDNS142
36th7986Dancing DudeRobin BrooksMichael BrooksMaidenhead SC(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC148

Related Articles

The oldest footage of Albacore sailing
A look back into our video archive, which reveals some great 1960s material Here we look at early racing and cruising in the Albacore class. We have footage from 1958 to 1977 for you to enjoy looking back at the old technology, wonderful clothing, and excellent haircuts. Posted on 17 Nov
Albacore UK Nationals and Europeans
A generally sunny 4 days at picturesque Tynemouth SC 21 Albacores entered the Noble Marine National and European Championships held at the picturesque Tynemouth SC. The teams enjoyed a generally sunny four days of well organised sailing and socials with close racing throughout the fleet. Posted on 12 Sep
62nd Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy
Excellent event included fund raising for the Great North Air Ambulance Service Over its 62 years, the Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy run by Ullswater Yacht Club, has evolved into a 3 day festival of sailing, centred on an unique pair of all class handicap races in breath-taking scenery, for dinghies, keelboats and yachts. Posted on 18 Jul
62nd Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy Preview
One month to go, 160 entries have already been received The 62nd running of the Lord Birkett Trophy, which commemorates the saviour of Ullswater, is now less than a month away on 6th and 7th July. Posted on 10 Jun
Albacore Inlands at Bartley
Visitors travelled from as far as Scaling Dam in the north-east and Lyme Regis in the south-west On 5th and 6th May, Bartley Sailing Club in south-west Birmingham hosted the Albacore class Inland Championship. Visitors travelled from as far as Scaling Dam in the north-east and Lyme Regis in the south-west. Posted on 8 May
Sailing World Regatta Series at Annapolis
Knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay and its light, shifty winds paid off for local sailors Knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay and its light, shifty winds paid off for local sailors this weekend in the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series - Annapolis, as winners in 15 classes call the area home. Posted on 6 May
Book review: Uffa
Yachting's eccentric genius I wasn't expecting to be particularly interested in a biography just because it covered the designer of famous dinghies. But one of the delights of reviewing books is the unexpected gem that grips you. This is one such book! Posted on 3 Mar
A is for Albacore on stand A10
At the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show this weekend The Albacore Sailing Dinghy is once again on show at the RYA Dinghy Show taking place at Farnborough this weekend. Enthusiastic members of the Class Association will be on hand throughout the weekend to show the latest demo boat and answer any questions. Posted on 24 Feb
Justin Ahearn on the 2024 Albacore Midwinters
A Q&A with Justin Ahearn on the 2024 Albacore Midwinters Championship Sail-World checked in with Justin Ahearn, who serves as sailing director of the Clearwater Community Sailing Center, which is hosting the 2024 Albacore Midwinters Championship, via email, to learn more. Posted on 16 Jan
2023 Albacore Canadian Championship
Shift Happens at Thornbury Yacht Club As usual, the 2023 season in Canada culminated with the Canadian Championships on September 15-17, which took place for the first time ever out of the charming little town of Thornbury, Ontario, located on the shore of Georgian Bay. Posted on 27 Sep 2023
Maritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTERTrinidad and Tobago - Sail Service Stay