British Moth National Champs at Northampton Sailing Club

by Mark Collyer 19 Aug 2007 23:58 BST 15-18 August 2007

Race 4 at the National Champs © Karen Collyer

Rob Wilder at the National Champs © Karen Collyer

Another windy National Championship and another tremendous event at Northampton Sailing Club. For a class that has a reputation for be most at home on small rivers in light airs, the British Moths seem remarkably happy in strong breezes on the 600 acres of the Pitsford Reservoir. Forty-two boats entered and despite two of the juniors opting out there was still a very healthy fleet contesting the honours.

The normal quandary as to whether to win the practice race or not was solved by the race committee sensibly abandoning the race when the number of capsized boats outnumber the number still standing. Two hours later there was not such problem when racing started for real. The 2006 Champion Rob Wilder (Tamesis Club) made pace with Tim Davison (Medley), Roger Witts (Frampton on Severn) and local hero John Wayling in close attendance. This turned out to be the trend for the whole week with these four sharing the podium places between them.

Wilder won the Teddy Hicks Trophy and the Coupe de Leon, before John Wayling won the Marlow Ropes. Friday was Witts turn to shine and he duly won the Amethyst and the Thompson. This set up a three way showdown in the final race. Wayling made the best of the start followed closely by Davison and these two battled right though to the line. Wilder meantime had to play catch-up after a first lap capsize and fought his way through to the third place he needed to retain the championship, once he had the place in his grasp he sailed a conservative race and the championship was his.

The Veterans Trophy returned to the safe keeping of Ian Haywood (Evesham) and the Ladies Trophy was duly returned to the trophy cabinet of Tina Hardyment (Medley), the Pope boys (Severn) Ed and Jack fought out the Junior Trophy with Ed getting the nod. Mark Wiltshire (Chippenham) won the Endeavour Trophy for the most promising new-comer with a fine 15th overall.

Stefan Gerrard (Medley) piloted 242 to the old boat prize, closely followed by Morris Metcalf (Rye Harbour) in 245 which is an amazing all metal hull that Morris has been sailing since he was left her by the builder Ken Hunt who built her in the mid ‘50s.

Deserving special mention must be Evesham Sailing Club who turned out nine boats, which is truly amazing as three weeks ago their boat park was under seven foot of water.

As always Northampton Sailing Club were great hosts, with Bruce Merry as PRO once again, the courses were varied, interesting and sometimes downright challenging. Chris Harris lead a very hard working rescue team with skill and no small amount of humour.

Elaine and Vicky did wonders with the catering, especially the Anniversary Supper on Friday evening. Commodore John Wayling did not let his sailing get in the way of his hosting duties and was always there with a smile and the keys to the bar.

Overall Results: (Click here to fill in Gear Guide information)

Position	Helm	Number	Name	Teddy Hicks	Coupe de leon	Marlow ropes	Amethyst	Thompson	Solent	Points
1	Rob Wilder	846	Proper Job	0.75	0.75	2	2	5	3	8.5
2	John Wayling	824	Mirth	3	3	0.75	4	2	0.75	9.5
3	Tim Davison	834	Moonlight Mouse	2	2	6	3	3	2	12
4	Roger Witts	859	Ruffian	5	4	3	0.75	0.75	17	13.5
5	David Eales	730	Moneybox	7	5	4	6	4	5	24
6	Colin Hall	856	Ockhams Razor	8	6	7	5	37	4	30
7	Graham Pope	853	Ghost	11	43	5	7	7	6	36
8	Tim Hogan	757	Lilac Beauty	6	7	8	9	6	43	36
9	Rick Benson	781	No Hassle	9	8	10	12	9	7	43
10	Stephen Seargeant	865	Parsnip	13	9	9	8	11	43	50
11	Ian Hanson	844	70plus	12	12	11	10	8	43	53
12	Ian Edwards	854	Nonconformist	4	14	12	13	15	43	58
13	Barry Pleasants	807	Tinkerbelle	43	11	13	17	10	8	59
14	Ian Miller	791	MR	17	13	17	11	12	10	63
15	Mark Wiltshire	817	Painted Lady	16	10	32	15	13	9	63
16	Rupert Whelan	797	Doh-Nut	10	19	16	14	18	43	77
17	Ian Haywood	815	Whynot	14	15	20	18	16	43	83
18	John Pickford	836	Fidget	19	18	14	16	17	43	84
19	David Cannon	830	Thera	20	16	18	21	14	43	89
20	Tina Hardyment	852	Gypsy	15	17	15	19	23	43	89
21	Jeremy Higson	861	MOG	21	22	19	41	24	12	98
22	Gary Tompkins	862	Vapourer	18	25	32	20	25	11	99
23	David Taylor	756	Oak Beauty	23	22	43	23	21	17	106
24	Tony Jacks	731		27	30	22	33	32	17	128
25	Stefan Gerrard	242	Simplicity	32	32	23	32	30	13	130
26	Stuart Bonham	849		28	29	21	29	27	43	134
27	Barry Graver	850	Fli-bi-nite	22	21	32	41	22	43	138
28	Elaine Gillingham	504	Hawkmoth	32	20	43	26	19	43	140
29	Richard Jones	351	Zyg	25	24	43	25	28	43	145
30	Ashley Smith	758	Flutterby	24	39	32	30	29	43	154
31	Abby Freeley	783	Lappit	43	28	32	27	26	43	156
32	Peter Ledwith	793	Behemoth	43	27	32	24	37	43	163
33	Roli Huggins	823	Wraith	43	43	43	22	20	43	171
34	Morris Metcalf	245	Aeolus	26	39	43	28	37	43	173
35	Edward Pope	838	Atlantic Bonus	43	31	32	43	31	43	180
36	Paul Lohr	506	Emilia	29	39	43	41	43	43	195
37	Laura Honey	700	Tabatha Twichit	43	26	43	41	43	43	196
38	Wendy Pope	828	Gromit	43	33	43	34	43	43	196
39	Jack Pope	840	Gao	43	39	43	41	33	43	199
40	Mark Collyer	750	Heart of glass	43	43	43	31	43	43	203
41	Imogen Higson	837		43	43	43	43	43	43	215
41	Edward Higson	837		43	43	43	43	43	43	215