Andy Oddie, Gareth Edwards and\u00a0Rob Greenhalgh take\u00a0victory at Stormforce Coaching SB20 National\u00a0Championships<\/p>\n
Skipper Andy Oddie,\u00a0and his crew of Gareth Edwards and\u00a0Rob Greenhalgh,\u00a0are the 2015 SB20 National Champions, after winning three of the six-race series at the Royal Southern YC in Hamble on \u2018Underground Toys\u2019.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Stormforce Coaching UK National Championships were held from Saturday September 5th to Sunday 6th, 2015 in a mix of conditions that included overcast and shifty winds on the first day, and a building sea breeze with sunshine on Day 2. Unfortunately the Indian summer temperatures and sunshine on Monday 7th also brought zephyr-light conditions which led to racing being cancelled for the day, but six good races had been completed for the 25-boat nationals fleet.<\/p>\n
Andy Oddie and team laid down an impressive challenge from the outset, winning the first three races in a row. Second place honours were shared by Class President Ed Russo on \u2018Black Magic\u2019, who was runner-up in the first and third races, and Pieter Heyn on \u2018F5 Synthesis Team Gul\u2019 in the second.<\/p>\n
In Race 4 \u2018Black Magic\u2019 took the win from \u2018F5 Synthesis Team Gul\u2019, while \u2018Underground Toys\u2019 slipped to eighth in the variable winds and highly tidal conditions. \u2018F5 Synthesis Team Gul\u2019 then finished strongly to take the next two race wins, but \u2018Underground Toys\u2019 posted two more solid results with a third and second to hold on to take the overall win by two points from \u2018F5 Synthesis Team Gul\u2019. Third overall went to \u2018Black Magic\u2019, while Adrian Peach, the UK Class Chairman on \u2018Uber\u2019, followed up his Cowes Grand Slam win with a strong fourth place.<\/p>\n
For Andy Oddie and Gareth Edwards the National Championships were a chance to revisit unfinished business \u2013 the pair nearly won the UK Nationals back in 2010, only losing the title on the final race.<\/p>\n
Tactician and trimmer Rob Greenhalgh is no stranger to the SB20 class either. Rob won the first ever National Championships back in 2002, crewing for Mike Budd, and has scored podium finishes at many UK Nationals and World Championships. This latest title adds to another successful season for the pro sailor, which included winning the European Championship in the foiling Moth class just a week previously, having spent much of the previous year circumnavigating the globe in the Volvo Ocean Race, as Watch Captain on \u2018Mapfre\u2019.<\/p>\n
Preceding the Nationals, the Sportsboat World\/Spinlock Sprint Series was held on Friday, September 4th, with six back-to-back quick-fire races held over a windward-leeward course. Joe Llewellyn with \u2018Forelle Estates\u2019 won two races and counted all top three places to win, two points ahead of Tom Clay\u2019s \u2018Whyaduck\u2019 who also won two races. Pieter Heyn\u2019s \u2018F5 Synthesis Team Gul\u2019 won the remaining two races to finish third overall.<\/p>\n
There was a special prize, sponsored by Harken, awarded to the top Youth team at the Nationals, which went to \u2018Striptease\u2019, skippered by Rebecca Anthony. The Masters prize, sponsored by Hyde Sails, was awarded to Tich Summers and the \u2018Chill Pill\u2019 team. The fleet also welcomed some new faces, including two boats from Poole Harbour where a new fleet is gaining momentum.<\/p>\n
For many teams the 2015 Nationals gave a taste of what to expect for the 2017 SB20 World Championships, which will be hosted by the prestigious Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes with racing on the Solent.<\/p>\n
Ed Russo, President of the UK World Council, commented: \u201cThe Nationals saw tough competition with leading competitors including the top British boat at this year\u2019s Worlds (\u2018Forelle Estates\u2019), and Rob Greenhalgh calling the shots on \u2018Underground Toys\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe well known tidal flow puzzle of the Solent, coupled with particularly shifty northerly breezes, confirmed that sailing here requires crews to keep their heads! The 2017 Worlds, run by the RYS, will mark the SB20 class\u2019s 15th anniversary and it is a perfect time to come back to the founding waters of the class for some enjoyable and challenging racing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Results:<\/p>\n
Stormforce Coaching 2015 SB20 UK National Championships<\/p>\n
1st \u2018Underground Toys\u2019 Andy Oddie GBR 3366 Itchenor S.C. 8.0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2018F5 Synthesis Team Gul\u2019 Pieter Heyn 3047 Warsash 10.0<\/p>\n
3rd \u2018Black Magic\u2019 Ed Russo FRA 3706 Club Nautique Valeriquais 13.0<\/p>\n
4th \u2018Uber\u2019 Adrian Peach GBR 3720 Royal Torbay YC 21.0<\/p>\n
5th Forelle Estates Joe Llewellyn GBR 3732 Wessex Exiles 27.0<\/p>\n
Youth Category, sponsored by Harken<\/p>\n
1st \u2018Striptease\u2019 Rebecca Anthony 3075 RSrnYC 104.0<\/p>\n
Masters Category, sponsored by Hyde Sails<\/p>\n
1st \u2018Chill Pill+\u2019 Tich Summers GBR 3710 Royal Tay Yacht Club 29.0<\/p>\n
Full results available here http:\/\/www.royal-southern.co.uk\/Portals\/0\/Results\/2K15\/1_Overall%20Results%20Day%202.pdf<\/p>\n
Sportsboat World\/Spinlock SB20 Sprint Series<\/p>\n
1st \u2018Forelle Estates\u2019 Joe Llewellyn GBR 3732 Wessex Exiles 10.0<\/p>\n
2nd \u2018Whyaduck\u2019 Tom Clay 3106 Royal Southern 12.0<\/p>\n
3rd \u2018F5 Synthesis Team Gul\u2019 Pieter Heyn 3047 Warsash 14.0<\/p>\n
4th \u2018Chill Pill +\u2019 Tich Summers GBR 3710 Royal Tay Yacht Club 15.0<\/p>\n
5th \u2018Black Magic\u2019 Ed Russo FRA 3706 Club Nautique Valeriquais 20.0<\/p>\n
Full results available here http:\/\/www.royal-southern.co.uk\/Portals\/0\/Results\/2K15\/4_Overall%20Results%20-%20Sprint%20Series.pdf<\/p>\n
via Oddie, Edwards and Greenhalgh crowned UK National Champions | Sportsboat World<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Andy Oddie, Gareth Edwards and\u00a0Rob Greenhalgh take\u00a0victory at Stormforce Coaching SB20 National\u00a0Championships Skipper Andy Oddie,\u00a0and his crew of Gareth Edwards and\u00a0Rob Greenhalgh,\u00a0are the 2015 SB20 National Champions, after winning three of the six-race series at the Royal Southern YC in … Continue reading