Please select your home edition
Edition
Sailingfast 2018 2 728x90

Junior Catamaran Championships at Marconi Sailing Club

by Andrew Dowley 22 Aug 2013 09:01 BST 17-18 August 2013
Junior Catamaran Championships at Marconi © Andrew Dowley

The weekend of the 17th and 18th August marked the second running of the Junior Catamaran Championships hosted again in association with the UKCRA (UK Catamaran Racing Association) by Marconi Sailing Club. This year saw eight teams with ages ranging from 9 to 16 taking part in a hotly contended regatta all sailed in UKCRA owned and borrowed Dart 16 catamarans. Many of the teams this year determined to show the Multihull sailing skills have spent much of the summer brushing up on the extra skills needed compared to sailing a dinghy.

Following the Saturday briefing where teams were allocated boats for the day. They were then faced with a forecast which saw the wind increasing throughout the afternoon from a pleasant force 15 to 20 knots, to a challenging 20 to 30 knots.

The teams ranged from competent club sailors who have done some multihull sailing to top class Topper squad sailors who have done very little multihull sailing. Race 1 started with a pleasant 15 knots of breeze, but by the first windward mark it was possible to see the larger gusts pushing their way across the race course. David Nickalls and Ben Cross took an early lead and held this the whole way round, several other team got to grips with perfecting the technique of right a capsized Dart 16 and how to hand those challenging mark roundings.

The race team quickly got Race 2 underway as the wind was building there were several more capsizes across the fleet, this time the two all-girl teams of Emma Crane, Abbie Wallace and Sophie Savill and Hannah Bard put in a great performance, but team Nickalls / Cross remained untouchable.

With two races under their belt and the wind still increasing, the race team decided to cancel racing for the rest of the day, with the promised forecast for Sunday looking perfect.

Sunday dawned, with near perfect champagne sailing conditions. The race team were quick to get the teams out sailing again swapping the boats around to ensure fairness and were able to complete 3 races in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. Emma Crane and Abbie Wallace quickly showing what she had learnt from the previous day with a very respectable second in race 3. Throughout the day there was some very close racing and all teams and positions changed dramatically right up to the finish lines with several occasions the leaders being pipped over the line, simply by missing a crucial tack in the strong tide.

With the fight for 2nd and 3rd place coming down to the last race, Jack Collis and Becki Chapman only lost out to Daniel Nickalls and William Harrison as Becki lost her footing and was found swimming in the Blackwater, only losing a couple of places, but it was enough to knock them back down to 3rd on count back.

At the prize giving a new perpetual award was presented, the "Dewhirst Award" This was presented in memory of Nick Dewhirst the UKCRA Chainman who sadly passed away in July. Nick's tireless work ensuring that catamaran sailing received the recognition it deserved among the wider sailing community, including the battle to reinstate a Multihull in the Olympics will be remembered for years to come. The boats made available by UKCRA for the event were again only available due to Nick's constant campaigning for the support at grass roots level of the sport to ensure that our up and coming junior sailors have the opportunity to try out the exciting world of catamaran sailing.

Overall Results:

PosHelmCrewTotalCorrected
1David NickallsBen Cross1610
2Daniel NickallsWilliam Harrison1713
3Jack CollisBecki Chapman1913
4Sophie SavillHannah Bard3226
5Emma CraneAbbie Wallace3629
6William SmithJack Chapman3629
7Jemma ClarkeJason Clarke4033
8Olivia DuckmantonJack Wardel5648

For more information on Youth catamaran sailing please visit the website www.youthcat.org.uk or check us out on Facebook www.facebook.com/UkYouthCatSailing

Related Articles

The value of insurance.
Fire and boats are never a good mix. It used to blamed on gas, now it is electricity... Fire and boats are never a good mix. In the old days much of it ended up being blamed on gas, whereas today, electricity is often the route cause. Posted on 3 Jul
Weston Sailing Club Catamaran Open
The 52 sailors were treated to stunning conditions Weston SC attracted 28 catamarans for its annual Catamaran Open Meeting, held this year in June, instead of its September date of previous years. The 52 sailors were treated to stunning conditions, with 30°C temperatures and wall-to-wall sunshine. Posted on 2 Jul
Excess launched the 100th hull of the Excess 14
Behind this hull #100 are more than 70 passionate staff who have put their expertise to work A symbolic milestone for a model that embodies our vision of the catamaran: sharp design, easily gliding through the water, and pleasure at the helm. Posted on 30 Jun
Triple amputee crosses Pacific solo & unsupported
33-year-old former Army rifleman from Doncaster, Craig Wood, has today made history 33-year-old former Army rifleman from Doncaster, Craig Wood, has today made history by becoming the world's first triple amputee to sail solo, non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific. Posted on 24 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality. Posted on 17 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Six
Episode Six is now live - Are boat shows still relevant? Episode Six - asks the question, 'Are boat shows still Relevant?' We also offer some thoughts on changes and updates. The final episode of Series One is now live Posted on 13 Jun
Fountaine Pajot's ODSea+ hybrid electric cats
An environmentally responsible cruising experience without compromising comfort, autonomy or safety Fountaine Pajot has redefined sustainable cruising with the launch of its innovative ODSea+ hybrid electric system across its sailing catamaran range. Posted on 12 Jun
Windies Multihull Trophy winners announced
Thirty multihulls competed across eighteen events from Barbados to the British Virgin Islands. With the conclusion of the 2025 season, the Caribbean Sailing Association's Budget Marine Windies Multihull Trophy results are in! Posted on 6 Jun
Fountaine Pajot New 41 coming to Australia soon
It's already turning heads, recently nominated for 2025 Multihull of the Year We're thrilled to announce that the Fountaine Pajot New 41 will arrive in Australia this August – and it's already turning heads, recently nominated for 2025 Multihull of the Year. Posted on 6 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Five
Episode Five - Shane Subichin, The Boat Works - is now up and running Watch along as we speak with Shane Subichin, GM at The Boat Works about his life from tinnies on Sydney Harbour to leading the team at the premier refit and maintenance yard on the Gold Coast. Posted on 6 Jun