Challenger UK National Championship at Rutland Sailing Club

Challenger UK Nationals at Rutland © Jon William

Challenger UK Nationals at Rutland © Jon William

The 2014 Challenger UK Championships took place at Rutland Sailing Club on 26th-28th September with an entry of 18 boats and a schedule of eight races.

Friday afternoon was good but, because of the fickle weather, Saturday morning was lost and racing on Sunday was cancelled altogether.

We will soon have to call the Championships "European" because there is growing Continental interest. Both Zoltan Pegan, from Budapest and Jean Claude Loiseau from France have stated their intentions to come again and perhaps bring some friends.

The racing began well for Zoltan, who led from the start of Race 1 and was still leading at the end of the first lap but eventually came second. Burghfield's John Draper, baulked at the start and last away, was second at the windward mark and third at the end, due to clever use of windshifts but it was Graham Hall who led the fleet home for his first of four wins out of five races.

Race 2 was almost a replica of Race 1 except that Zoltan faded to 5th and Papercourt's Alex Hovden showed his true potential by leading the fleet until overhauled by Graham "Steamroller" Hall, looking unbeatable. Meanwhile, Jean Claude, racing a Challengers for the first time, had come from the back of the fleet in race 1 to mid fleet in race 2. With a best result of thrid in Race 5 and sixth overall, the chances of a future Champion from France look very high indeed.

On Saturday morning it was impossible to set a course so the fleet waited until after lunch when a steady Force 2 kicked in. The first race was again won by Hall with last year's Champion Val Millward second and Zoltan third. The next race was won brilliantly by John Draper, hitting the right side of the beat early and sailing fast to gain a big lead. Alex Hovden was again a good second and Jean claude was now up to fifth.

For the final race, the wind dropped and swung so far right that the old windward mark became the wing mark of the triangle so, once a new windward buoy was in place, the fleet gently coasted off. The race was shortened at the second windward mark, with Graham Hall dominating the Championship to win by a big points margin. Val Millward was just getting into her stride with a second but slipped to third overall on a tie break. Jean Claude had a best result of third, showing what might have been if all eight races had been sailed.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Challenger nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

Graham Hall wins the Challenger UK Nationals at Rutland - photo © Richard Johnson