VRsport.tv International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA - Overall

Robert Greenhalgh wins the VRsport.tv International Moth UK Nationals in Weymouth © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK

Penny Clark, 1st Lady in the VRsport.tv International Moth UK Nationals in Weymouth © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK

The wind just didn't play ball on the final day, with the odd gust reaching 7 knots across Portland Harbour, but more commonly 3-4 knots and much less. At 1pm the race team called time and raised AP over A to abandon racing for the day. This means the results at the end of Monday stand and Robert Greenhalgh has been crowned the UK International Moth class champion for 2016.

At the prize giving Robert thanked the Race Team, all the staff at the WPNSA, the UK Moth Class Association for putting all the work in ahead of the event and the sponsors; VRsport.tv, blueteq, Brand Identity, Ronstan and Noble Marine.

We spoke to Robert after the racing about his championship, "It's fantastic to have won. Post the World Championship this was the next big event on my radar as I couldn't do the Europeans, so I came here with the aim of winning and I'm pleased to have achieved that.

"Bermuda is the next Moth event on my radar now and the Worlds next year is the long-term goal, depending on whether I can fit it into my calendar. Bermuda is going to be a big event as everyone's going to be there so I'll be trying pretty hard for that."

On whether he'd have any new developments for the Bermuda event Robert said, "We have a new sail coming out in the next month, a 3Di sail. Whether that'll be ready for Bermuda remains to be seen. Otherwise it'll be just small refinements to the boat."

We asked Robert about the health of the Moth class in the UK after seeing a superb 73 entries for the 2016 Nationals, "The Moths in the UK have been fantastic for a few years. There must be 150 active boats in the UK, with many happy staying at their own club and racing, or just sailing around - we probably have a lower turnout at some events because people don't need to go racing. Moths are a great boat, I've always said if you can sail a Laser then you can sail a Moth, you shouldn't be put off by the look of it as it's actually a relatively easy boat to sail."

With the class having so many active sailors, we asked what would encourage more people to attend open events and the nationals, "It's just having the confidence to come and realising that we're a friendly bunch of people. It's not about winning, it's about getting round and having fun."

The podium was completed by David Hivey in second and Dylan Fletcher in third. David Hivey, being a school teacher, has managed to spend a fair amount of time during the holidays sailing his Moth and we asked him if he was happy with his 2nd overall in the championship, "Going from 12th (in last year's championship) to 2nd, I couldn't really ask for anything more, I was secretly aiming for a podium but I'd have been happy with a top five. I thought I was fast enough to challenge Rob but I was pretty certain that I'd do something stupid and it turned out that way in the end!"

David Hivey, 2nd overall in the VRsport.tv International Moth UK Nationals in Weymouth - photo © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK

On whether he's be able to get more time off to compete in next year's Nationals and the Bermuda Regatta David said, "I'm going to struggle for the nationals as I won't have the advantage of a summer holiday beforehand, I think I'll be a bit of a weekend warrior between now and the Worlds in Italy. I'm going to ask my headmaster nicely about Bermuda and hopefully he won't read this before I get to speak to him!"

Dylan Fletcher said about the championship, "Rob's put together a really good campaign and was always at least equal fastest with the next boat and he was arguably the fastest boat downwind which actually won him the regatta. He sailed well, he sailed smart, and kept himself out of trouble with his boat speed and was pretty hard to beat."

Dylan Fletcher, 3rd overall in the VRsport.tv International Moth UK Nationals in Weymouth - photo © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK

Dylan has very much been focused on his Rio 2016 49er campaign for the past 2 years so hasn't had much time to commit to the Moth so we asked him if he can now spend more time in the boat, "Yes, I've sold this boat and I've got another one coming in a couple of weeks. The main focus now is on Bermuda where we'll introduce some new developments and I'll try and campaign it quite hard for the next couple of months. I'm doing another 49er campaign as well so will be out in Japan in October (the Sailing World Cup is there in 2017) and my Moth sailing will be fitting around that, but it's definitely much higher up the priority list over the next year or so. With what we've got planned on development, even if I can get level on pace with Rob then I think I'll give him a bit of a headache."

As mentioned above, the next major event for the International Moth Class is the MS Amlin Moth Regatta in Bermuda from 2-9 December. In 2017 the World Championships are being held in Malcesine on Lake Garda from 23-29 July.

Photo Galleries:

• Day 1: www.flickr.com/photos/134386166@N03/albums/72157672059500671
• Day 2: www.flickr.com/photos/134386166@N03/albums/72157673096555195
• Day 3: www.flickr.com/photos/134386166@N03/albums/72157673050825736
• Prize Giving: www.flickr.com/photos/134386166@N03/albums/72157673186929645

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