National 18 Championships at Royal Findhorn Yacht Club
by David Morgan 29 Aug 2004 15:34 BST
National 18 fever gripped the Moray Firth in the first week of August when the UK championship fleet descended on Findhorn.
It was one of the annual event’s best turnouts with 30 crews from Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man and England mustering for a week’s racing in glorious sunshine but having to contend with fickle winds.
The opening event produced some reasonable winds with two races run. Both were won by RFYC boat ‘Jafiica’ (337) helmed by Findhorn boatbuilder Martin Cruden. The second day’s programme was dogged by frustratingly light winds. Only five boats managed to finish the first race and the decision was taken by the event’s Royal Findhorn Yacht Club hosts to abandon the rest of the day’s sailing.
By midweek crews were happier with a lifting wind giving some brisk racing off Findhorn. Two races were completed and the fleet enjoyed the traditional Class Dinner at Forres Town Hall before turning in to prepare for a busy Day 4 when four races were planned.
In the event only three were sailed because of a dying wind and all hopes were pinned on the final day.
August 6 dawned with a strong wind. But the promise of some furious downwind racing was knocked flat when a 45 degree windshift, just 20 seconds shy of the start gun, forced a postponement. By the time a new course was ready to be run the wind had eased to 15 knots and crews ended the week on a high note with some close tactical racing.
The event attracted a mixed bag of National 18s from the latest composites to traditional wooden class hulls like RFYC-based Donald Watson’s Nat 18 (248) ‘Timber’
RFYC commodore Kevin Davidson said: “It was a great week. The wind wasn’t all it might have been but the sailing and atmosphere were great and everybody seemed to enjoy social side as well as getting on the water.”
Race officer David Horn said: “We saw some good competitive racing in the Moray Firth and the weather was good throughout the week.”
The top boat came as no surprise – previous champion Coin Chapman of Royal Cork. He and his crew in ‘Aquaholics’ (370) not only took the Cork Harbour Trophy but also the Cock ‘o the North trophy, Whitford Cup, the Yachting World Trophy and the Medway Bowl. In second place was Isle of Man helm Mick Kneale with ‘Gorrum’ (332) who took the Hurricane Cup.
Host club RFYC did well too. Martin Cruden picked up the Sterling Trophy, the Overland Trophy, the Foden Cup and the Swansea Bay Trophy – he and his crew Phil Hermiston and Ali Davis were loaded down with silverware. The sailing Urquharts did well too with twins Richard and Stuart allowing father David to join them in ‘Don’t Worry’. The local father and son crew turned in a great performance despite David being still on the recovery following a heart bypass operation less than a year ago.
The 2005 National 18 meeting will be held at Weymouth.
Overall Results:
Cork Harbour Trophy, Whitford Cup, Yachting World Trophy, Medway Bowl, Cock ‘o the North Trophy – Colin Chapman, ‘Aquaholics’ (370) Royal Cork
Uffa Ace Trophy – Nick Walsh, ‘Three Blind Mice’ (372) Royal Cork
Overland Trophy, Sterling Trophy, Foden Cup and Swansea Bay Trophy – Martin Cruden, ‘Jafiica’ (337) Royal Findhorn
Hurricane Cup – Mick Kneale, ‘Gorrum’ (332) Isle of Man
Orion Trophy – Donald Watson, ‘Timber’ (248) RFYC
Thames Trophy – Tommy Dwyer, ‘Das Boot’ (347) Royal Cork