Nordic Folkboat National Championship at Royal Lymington Yacht Club

Ado Jardine (left) helms Jeremy Austin's Tak to victory in the Nordic Folkboat Nationals © Chris Baldwick

Royal Lymington Yacht Club was the host for this year's Nordic Folkboat Nationals Championship. 17 boats entered with the prospect of racing in the Western Solent, and it was good to see entries from Emsworth SC and the Royal Southern YC venturing into the Western Solent!

Saturday dawned with the forecast wind of 18 knots gusting to 30 with heavy rain. The Race Officer, John Whyte, set up a windward-leeward course and managed to get 2 races in before the wind built up to gusts of 30 knots, when he sensibly abandoned further racing for the day. Jeremy Austin's Tak helmed by Ado Jardine won the first race and Padfoot, entered by Simon Evans and helmed by Cy Grisley, won the second. The fleet was then very happy to come home with the rain pouring down and the wind picking up.

The Championship dinner that evening was enjoyed by all and Sunday morning saw completely opposite conditions with warm sunshine and no wind! All the competitors moored behind the Committee Boat, and after a delay until late morning, an 8 knot breeze came up from the South. A course was then set and the Race Officer managed to run 2 further races before the cut off time. Ed Donald's Madelaine won the first race and Tak the second race.

In some very varied and testing conditions, the overall winner was Tak, followed by Madelaine second and Padfoot third.

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