Please select your home edition
Edition
Trinidad and Tobago - Sail Service Stay

Albacore Northern Championship at Scaling Dam Sailing Club

by Peter Snowdon 18 Sep 2023 07:49 PDT 16-17 September 2023
Albacore Northerns at Scaling Dam © SDSC

The Albacore Northern Area Championship was held at Scaling Dam SC over the weekend of 16/17th September. Autumn had definitely arrived on Saturday, with low cloud clearing by 10am, a gusty shifty northerly breeze and rain in the air.

The first race set the pattern for the weekend with the first three places being hotly contested by Mike MacNamara and Colin Gardiner from Covenham SC, Nathan Batchelor and Richard Watson from Tynemouth SC and Judy and Paul Armstrong from Scaling Dam SC. The slightest error was causing instant place changes, right throughout the fleet, it was Armstrong's taking the win with Mike Mac second and Nathan third.

After a short break for lunch it was more of the same. This time Nathan taking the win in style with Mike Mac second and Judy third.

Race three saw a slight change in course and a fresh face in the top three. Mike Mac took the win having sailed a faultless race with Peter Snowdon, crewed by Lewis Fowler, just hanging on to take second from Judy and Paul in third.

So, after three it was the ever consistent Mike Mac with the overnight lead, Armstrong's second and Nathan third.

A great BBQ and an evening of World Cup Rugby finished the day off perfectly. Massive thanks to Judy and Paul for the catering...

Sunday morning saw a change in wind direction, to the east, making longer beats possible. A trapezoid course was set and, as hard as we might try, the same three boats battled for the top places.

This time Nathan got the win with Judy and Paul second and Mike Mac picking up his discard in third place! With one race to go the top three were all tied on 9 points.......

A course change for the last race brought a couple more reaches into play, with the same result at the front. Mike Mac first, Judy second and Nathan third.

So the Master did it again, Mike and Colin Northern Area Champions, Nathan and Richard second and Judy and Paul third.

A huge thank-you to Andy and Sam Young and their team for running the racing.

Special mention to Matt and Heather Thompson who spent the weekend destroying their adjustable rigging and claiming the only DNC of the weekend.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5Pts
1st8225Michael McNamaraColin GardinerGrimsby&CleethorpesYC Covenham SC221‑316
2nd8229Nathan BatchelorRichard WatsonTynemouth SC31‑4138
3rd8228Judy ArmstrongPaul ArmstrongScaling Dam SC1‑33228
4th7920Peter SnowdonLewis FowlerScaling Dam SC4‑525516
5th8254Tim ColemanEmma ColemanLeigh & Lowton SC‑5454417
6th8152Phil SmithSteve CarrRYA676‑9625
7th8237Matthew Metcalfe‑SmithJason UptonOgston SC / Scaling Dam SC7676‑926
8th8255Matthew ThompsonHeather ThompsonTewkesbury Cruising & Sailing Club88(DNC)8731
9th8233Mike BannerChris ArmstrongRYA‑9987832
10th6504Steve BaileyJess PoundNottingham SC/SDSC1010910‑1139
11th8189Phil SheppardKirsten SheppardNottingham SC‑111110111042

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
Trinidad and Tobago - Sail Service StayMaritimo 2023 M600 FOOTER