F18 UK Nationals at the Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

34 teams for the F18 nationals at Weymouth © Steve Bell / www.fotoboat.com

34 teams for the F18 nationals at Weymouth © Steve Bell / www.fotoboat.com

34 teams for the F18 nationals at Weymouth © Steve Bell / www.fotoboat.com

This past bank holiday weekend was the F18 UK Nationals at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy. Saturday dawned a sunny windless day with 34 boats ready to do battle on the race course. The race officer knew his venue and delayed the start by 1 hour to allow the wind to fill in. It was never the awesome 15 knots we were hoping for but we got in 3 races before the wind died altogether.

The first race was raced on the north end of the harbour basin and was won by Weymouth local, Hugh Styles and Cornish Ryan Crawford, 2nd was 2012 Olympic hopeful Chris Rashley and Marcus Lynch, 3rd Drew Tayler and another Weymouth local Richard Glover.

Race 2 and the race course had to move further to the left as the wind was swinging left as the afternoon progressed. So once again we had to re-learn the race course so it cancelled out any tips anyone might have learnt in the first race. The fleet were very much split off the start line and couple James & Gillian Power had the worst start allowing the entire fleet to leave the start line before starting at the committee boat. This paid as they tacked off the line onto port and were paid nicely in being lift on both tacks up to the windward mark and rounded in 4th place. The rest of the race was all about finding every last drop of wind and following every lift. Hugh won race 2 with James 2nd and Toby Orpin and Ben Hinks 3rd.

Race 3 and the wind clocked even further left so the race course moved further south in the harbour. This time it paid to go up the opposite shore and James was first around the windward mark with Hugh hot on his heels and Tom Phipps close behind. James went off on port down the course, Hugh covered soon after and Tom Phipps and the rest of the fleet stayed on Starboard. The wind died in the middle of the course and Hugh and James dropped to the middle of the fleet with Tom taking the lead. James went to the extreme starboard side of the course for the final gybe to the leeward gate and managed to gain back to 3rd in that leg. In the next upwind it paid to tack slightly short of the windward mark layline and James took one more place to 2nd. In the next downwind Hugh caught back up to 3rd and that was how the results finished for the race - Tom Phipps and Chris Tayler 1st, James 2nd and Hugh 3rd. Saturday evening was the F18 AGM and BBQ.

Sunday was a little more cloudy with the sea breeze gone and a light northerly tickling the water. The race officer was on the ball and got 2 races completed before the wind died again. Once again Hugh Styles won both races with James Power finishing 2nd in both.

In race 4, 3rd place went to Dave Bartlett and Mark Robinson, race 5 and 3rd place went to Grant Piggott and Andy Glover. There was no more racing for the day as the wind died completely and did not come up again for the day so some of the sailors and organisers headed off to 'Battle of the Bands' at the local pub.

Bank holiday Monday and the wind had filled in overnight to a fairly strong northerly breeze. By the time racing started at 10am the wind had started dropping and was approx 15 knots. There were a few sore heads on the water but that didn't stop anyone.

The first race of the day was exciting and made more interesting for James & Gillian when their downhaul block broke so they sailed with maximum power without the ability to downhaul and flatten the sail. First through the finish line were Stuart Gummer and Ellen Forshaw enjoying the stronger wind, followed by Hugh Styles and then James Power after switching places continually up the last upwind and the final downwind.

The wind was dropping steadily and race 2 of the day won by Hugh Styles, 2nd went to Stuart Gummer and 3rd to Chris Rashley. Last race of the regatta and wind had returned to its normal 'lightness' and we returned to sitting on the boat trying to keep as still as possible so as not to upset the momentum of the boat. Justin and wife Gwen Heap launched off the startline to gain an early outright lead which they maintained over the course. The wind did its usual switching here and there and places were won and lost. First place went to Justin and Gwen, 2nd to James & Gillian and 3rd to Kevin Cooper and Luke Butler.

Many thanks to Crewsaver, Hobie Cat and OPI Hand Products for the ladies. A few extra prizes went to best placed lady helm - Abby Ledger; youngest sailor, prize by Hobie Cat - Andy Glover; most improved youth, prize by William Sunnucks; a special prize to Drew and Chris Tayler, sponsored by Hobie Cat. 1st, 2nd & 3rd prizes by CrewSaver. Many thanks to all the sponsors and sailors.

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