The RYA National Match Racing Grand Finals 2023 saw eleven teams battling it out in RS21 keelboats over a weekend of variable conditions at London's Queen Mary Sailing Club.
Competition was close with teams qualifying for the invitational event (27-29 October) following results in the RYA Match Racing Series or gaining selection with a wild card.
Racing in everything from 5 knots and sunshine to squally gusts into the high teens under rain showers - including lots of rain on the Sunday! - resilience, teamwork and tactical awareness were essential for navigating the shifty conditions at Queen Mary reservoir to gain the advantage.
The results at the end of the initial round robin saw Ted Blowers and his Team Absolute topping the leaderboard with nine wins from their 10 races closely followed by Patrick Croghan with 7 wins.
The quarter finals saw a 2-0 win for Hamilton over Tylecote; Cropley winning 2-0 from Colquitt; Croghan taking 2-0 from Morson; and Blowers scoring 2-1 from Oli Hale.
With good progress through the round robin and quarter finals, the last day was dedicated to the semis and finals. Blowers dispatched Hamilton 2-1 in their semi with Croghan seeing off Cropley 2-0.
Hamilton in the petit final then secured third overall with 2-0 over Cropley.
Blowers' Team Absolute - with Will Birch-Tomlinson, Robby Boyd, Amy Sparks - were then victorious with a 3-0 scoreline in the final against Croghan, Alice Bradford, Toby Atherton and Dominic Lewis.
Find out more about RYA Match Racing and all upcoming events - including the start of the RYA Winter Match Racing Series in January 2024 - at www.ryamatchracing.co.uk
Overall placings:
1. Ted Blowers, Will Birch-Tomlinson, Robby Boyd, Amy Sparks
2. Patrick Croghan, Alice Bradford, Toby Atherton, Dominic Lewis
3. Christian Hamilton, David Sweete, Peter Greenhalgh, Deborah Blair
4. Jenny Cropley, Madeleine Watkins, Pippa Cropley, Alicia Biggs/Helena Watkins/Victoria Hinkovska
5. Ben Tylecote, Jamie Tylecote, Finian Morris, Freya Pembery, Steve Tylecote
6. Alex Colquitt, Harriet Watkins, Jamie Harris, Rhys Lewis
7. James Morson, Richard Thomas, Harry Frith, Jenny Smallwood
8. Oli Hale, Amber Hale, Dave Hale, Lily Ayre, Jackie Hale/Tom Cluett
9. Cossie Lewis, Paddy Jeffries, Colette Bacon, Sophie Holloway
10. Rebecca Coles, Juliet Costanzo, Bella Fellows, Rosie Rowell, Faye Caswell
11. GBR Heather Quinn, George Sellwood, Ben Paling, Ellie Thomas
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