Air Branch News

RNSA (Air) Regatta Results and Report

The RNSA (Air Branch) Regatta, commonly known as the NAC Regatta was held 8-9 Jun at the Culdrose Sailing and Powerboat Centre, Falmouth.

This year’s Naval Air Command Regatta was once again hosted by Culdrose Sailing Centre at Falmouth. On Monday 8th June, the 22 competitors arrived at the centre to be greeted by grey sky and 15 knots of wind which had been forecasted to build throughout the day by the Culdrose Met Team!

Culdrose Sailing Centre Manager Graham Williams and his staff succeeded in running seven good races in trying conditions. With race one beginning at 1300 after a briefing from the Race Officer Patrick Clark, the eleven strong Bosun fleet made their way out into Carrick Roads. The fleet got away with a clean start and headed upwind against the 15 knot wind and the ever growing sea state. First around the windward mark was AB (HM) Natalie Roach with crew Mr Pete Young representing RNAS Culdrose and HMS Heron respectively. Followed closely was the Air Traffic Control Team of Lt Cdr Peter Gardiner with crew Lt Rupert Fisher with 3rd place chasing fast, Lt Cdr Jon Speake with crew Culdrose Cdr Air, Ian Fitter. The fleet stayed unchanged by the finish line.

Race two saw the winds increase to 20 knots with 25 knot gusts. With wind against tide, the waves were still increasing! The experience of Jon Speake and Ian Fitter came to the fore and they led the fleet around the triangle, sausage course from start to finish. 2nd place went to Natalie Roach and Pete Young with 3rd spot going to RNAS Culdrose team Lt Cdr Andy Naylor crewed by Claire Norris.

By race three all crews were battling with the conditions as the winds were now blowing 25 knots with 30 knot gusts. The tiring fleet got underway and fought hard to get the Bosuns through the big swell, it was Andy Naylor and Claire Norris who did so most effectively taking the bullet followed by Jon Speake and Ian Fitter, with Natalie Roach and Pete Young taking 3rd. With some crews swimming in Carrick Roads and a few retiring, the Race Officer took the wise option of abandoning all further racing for the day, so the exhausted fleet retired to the shore.

After a nice hot shower, all crews had just enough energy left to enjoy a BBQ cooked excellently by Jon Speake, Ian Fitter and Graham Williams (plenty of sausages but not many triangles!) and a few drinks in the clubhouse before enjoying a well earned sleep ready for the next days racing.

Tuesday 9th June, day two of the NAC regatta, brought lighter winds to the delight of most competitors. With the first two boats tied on points and 3rd and 4th only 1 point apart, the day was set up to be an intriguing contest.

Race one of the day, race 4 of the series, again saw the in form Andy Naylor with a different crew, Captain John Stratton, take an early lead. Jon Speake and Ian Fitter took 2nd with Natalie Roach and Pete Young taking 3rd.

Race five showed more of Culdrose Sailing Centres growing talent with LA (Metoc) Ross Goldsworthy crewed by Lt Nigel Yarham, getting a great start and leading the fleet around the windward mark. In hot pursuit was Captain Philip Thicknesse crewed by Cdr Richard Buckland with Jon Speake and Ian Fitter pushing hard in third. With the wind ever swinging right on the course, the second beat showed positions changing considerably, with Natalie Roach and Pete Young hitting the right-hand side of the race course to leap frog the fleet into 1st place. Jon Speake and Ian Fitter were hot on their tails with the two boats within a boat length of each other for the majority of the race, even discussing tactics downwind! By the finish line it was Natalie Roach and Pete Young who held on to 1st place with Jon Speake and Ian Fitter 2nd with) Ross Goldsworthy and Nigel Yarham taking a well earned 3rd place.

Race six saw a new race winner with RNAS Culdrose sailors Lt Cdr Geoff Richardson crewed by S/Lt Paddy Myers taking the bullet, from the Air Traffic Control team Peter Gardiner and Rupert Fisher taking 2nd and Jon Speake and Ian Fitter taking 3rd.

This meant that the final race of the day would be the decider for the overall positions for the 2009 Naval Air Command Regatta as 1st and 2nd place Jon Speake and Ian Fitter and Natalie Roach and Pete Young were tied on 10 points each! 3rd and 4th overall, Peter Gardiner and Rupert Fisher and Andy Naylor and John Stratton, were also tied on 14 points each so the stage was set for a very exciting final race.

The fleet got underway with the pressure showing on both the 1st and 2nd placed overall teams, as both boats were too keen to get away and were over the line at the starting gun so had to return to the pre-start side, which was made highly difficult by the rest of the fleet battling to get upwind. It was Natalie Roach and Pete Young who managed to return to the pre-start side sooner and get back on track and were 1st around the windward mark, with Andy Naylor with crew John Stratton 2nd and Geoff Richardson with Paddy Myers 3rd. Results stayed this way until the finish line. Due to the wide range of results put in by all competitors, none

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