Victory for Dobson

GP14 World Championship comes out on top at this weekend's RYA National Match Racing qualifier

Two-time GP14 World champion Ian Dobson got the 2009 RYA National Match Racing Series off to a cracking start as he clinched qualifier one victory in thrilling fashion at Queen Mary SC this weekend (25-26 April).

In near perfect conditions of 15-16 knots on Saturday, dropping slightly to 10-12 for Sunday’s deciding contests, 22-year-old Dobson came from a race down in the final showdown against Robbie Allam to book his spot in the Series Grand Final in October.

There was no rest for the wicked over the two days in southwest London as the conditions allowed for the full complement of races to take place from the round-robin to the finals.

Too close to call until the last round robin flight - flight 12 - Dobson actually won through to the semi-finals at the top of the pile, winning seven of his eight races, ironically dropping his only race against Allam.

Allam, 22, qualified for the semis second, with six out eight wins while RYA Keelboat Squad member Dave Newey and Tudur Owen, a regular on the prestigious World Match Racing Tour as part of the Mirsky Racing Team last season, made up the semi-finals contingent with five round-robin wins apiece.

The first semi pitted 25-year-old Newey against Dobson in a best of three, but the contest went to form as Dobson eased past his rival 2-0 to seal his final spot.

Meanwhile a black flag disqualification for Owen, 26, in race one of his semi against Allam left the burly Welshman playing catch up and with Allam also taking race two, it resulted in a Dobson-Allam final.

Allam, who finished sixth at the 2008 Series Grand Final, took the event straight to Dobson claiming race one victory but Team Dobson hit back in style claiming back-to-back race wins to take qualifier one glory. In the Petit Final for third/fourth, Newey beat Owen 2-1.

In total seven qualifying rounds, including the RYA Youth, RYA Women’s and BUSA Match Racing Championship events, will be contested between April and September before the top British crews from each event are invited to go head-to-head at the Series Grand Final over three days at Queen Mary SC between 9-11 October.

The 2009 Championships will be contested in the RYA’s fleet of J/80s with a maximum of 12 skippers accepted for each of the qualifying events.

For more information and to download entry forms visit www.rya.org.uk and click on ‘Yacht Racing’ then follow the Match Racing links to the National Match Racing Series section.

2009 RYA National Match Racing Championships Series Qualifier One results:
1. Ian Dobson, Rick Peacock, Guy Brearey, Holly Scott, Lauren Martel
2. Robbie Allam, Jez Fowke, Tom O’Dell, Connor Myant
3. David Newey, Luke McCarthy, Scott Millar, James Boadle
4. Tudur Owen, Gareth Owen, Roger Lacey, Roddy Lacey
5. Nick Phillips, James Fox, James Boyce, Charlie Montgomery
6. Mary Rook, Nicky Macgregor, Ally Martin, Annie Lush, Bethan Carden
7. Mark Lees, Shane Terry, Scott Terry, Josh Irons
8. Mark Tighe, Tom Whitburn, Simon Everest, Ben Mir
9. Mark Flanders, Dan Howe, Paul Weeden, Steve Rockey

2009 RYA National Match Racing Championships Series event dates:
Qualifier 2 – QMSC - 23/24 May
Qualifier 3 – Port of Plymouth Sailing Association (PPSA) - 19/20 July
RYA Youth National Match Racing Championship – QMSC – 29 - 31 August
RYA Women’s National Match Racing Championship – QMSC – 4 - 6 September
Qualifier 4 – QMSC - 26/27 September
RYA National Match Racing Championship Finals – QMSC – 9 – 11 October (invitation only)