Belben maintains lead

Moth Nationals at Weymouth now three days in reports Mike Cooke, with photos from Helena Darvelid

Some large holes in the shadow of Portland made for some entertaining sailing and some interesting tactical choices on the second day (Sunday) of the Moth Nationals. Pilots had to decide whether to avoid the light patches or take the direct routes giving plenty of overtaking options. Jason Belben had a storming start to the day winning the first two races from Sam Pascoe with Adam May taking third in both. Adam however returned to form for the final race taking first from Jason in an ever lightening breeze Sam came in third nearly losing out to the lighter Alex Adams and Mike Cooke who were still foiling up the last beat. Russ Wheeler was king of the low riders today with an 8th in the light airs of the final race.

On Monday poor visibility and 20 knots on the harbour wall caused a short delay, allowing hangovers to be cured, (It was Sam Pascoe's birthday bash). Once out on the water however it was a different story with 15 knots blowing, which slowly died off throughout the day. Jason continued his fine form taking the first race from Sam with Adam in third. Adam then took the second race from Jason then Sam with Alex Adams fourth in both. The final race saw some big lulls making continuous foiling the key and finding the breeze. Jason again came out on top with Adam again in second and a close fought battle for third between Alex and Mike saw Alex come out on top on the final reach of the course.

The racing for the top three is extremely close with the smallest mistakes being penalised in this fast paced racing.

Tuesday sees only one race, with a foil school being run in the afternoon. Should be good!

Rank	Helm	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	Total	Nett
1st	Jason Belben	2	-3	1	1	1	2	1	2	1	14	11
2nd	Adam May	1	2	-3	3	3	1	3	1	2	19	16
3rd	Sam Pascoe	3	1	2	2	2	3	2	3	-5	23	18
4th	Alex Adams	4	(23.0 DNS)	4	4	4	4	4	4	3	54	31
5th	Ricky Tagg	6	4	5	5	5	6	5	-7	6	49	42
6th	Mike Cooke	7	7	(23.0 DNS)	6	6	5	6	5	4	69	46
7th	Rod Harris	-11	8	7	10	8	7	10	6	8	75	64
8th	Paul Hayden	9	9	-10	9	7	10	7	9	9	79	69
9th	Tim Boon	5	5	6	8	9	8	(23.0 DNS)	23.0 DNS	7	94	71
10th	Russell Wheeler	-16	13	12	12	12	9	12	11	11	108	92
11th	Alan Watson	10	12	8	15.0 DNF	(23.0 DNS)	23.0 DNS	9	8	10	118	95
12th	Colin Newman	13	10	11	(15.0 DNF)	14	12	13	13	15	116	101
13th	Rob Campbell	-17	15	14	13	13	11	11	12	12	118	101
14th	James Roche	14	(23.0 DNS)	13	23.0 DNS	11	13	8	10	13	128	105
15th	Tom Ollerenshaw	8	6	9	7	10	(23.0 DNS)	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	132	109
16th	Clare Dallimore	-18	16	15	14	15	14	14	14	14	134	116
17th	David Ellis	12	11	16.0 DNF	15.0 DNF	16	(23.0 DNS)	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	162	139
18th	James Mackenzie	15	14	(23.0 DNS)	11	17	15	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	164	141
19th	Douglas Imrie	(23.0 DNS)	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	15	15	23.0 DNS	191	168
20th	Alan Campbell	19	(23.0 DNS)	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	203	180
21st	Graham Vials	(23.0 DNS)	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	207	184
21st	Toby Heppell	(23.0 DNS)	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	23.0 DNS	207	184