National 18 English Championship at Bosham Sailing Club

National 18 English Championship © Andrew Young

National 18 English Championship © Andrew Young

A fleet of eleven 18s participated in the one day National Championship held at Bosham Sailing Club. In a turnout which exemplified the Class's ability to provide good competitive racing between the wide range of 18's designed and constructed over the 75 years since its inception, the fleet consisted of three Chichester Harbour 18s, 3 Classic Wooden 18s, a penultimate, three ultimate's and Odyssey, the latest and very exciting Morrison Designed 18 formally adopted by the Class at the AGM in Abersoch in July of this year.

Ably managed on the water by Race Officer David McFarlane and his Team, light winds obliged a general postponement until, against the odds, a light South Westerly filled in allowing three quick races to be sailed on a windward/leeward course within Chichester Harbour.

Despite the absence of a number of Bosham boats whose crews were engaged elsewhere in the University run, a total of 7 Bosham boats took part, with welcome visitors Heatwave, Antidote and the Morrison prototype Odyssey joining from Tamesis, and Max and Jeremy Vine's Rhapsody sailing under the Burgee of Blackwater Sailing Club with Julian Berney at the helm.

Another welcome and familiar face from the National 18 family was that of Dom Long, president of the Class over from Cork on Class business, and Shanghaied to crew for Dick Pratt on Andrew Young's Chichester 18 Seafire.

With all boats starting off a single line, and handicapped to reflect their design and performance, the local boats anticipated that knowledge of the tidal runs would be a unique advantage. However a number of locals, including Theorette (helmed by Nick Phillips) had gone off down tide during the postponements before the first race, and struggled to get back, so started half a leg behind.

The first race quickly showed that the Tamesis visitors had plenty of experience, with all 3 ultimates and Odyssey leading their way to the windward mark, and across the line in a shortened finish. Heatwave won, Antidote came second and Toucou, the last timber 18 built, picked up enough time to come in 3rd.

The second race was a re-run of the first, with all 4 modern boats arriving at the windward mark together, and sailing the angles across the falling tide to the lee mark with much tactical Gybing and covering. This left Toucou trying to outrun Theorette (a 1957 wooden Classic 18) so to avoid getting blanketed by her monster kite. Theorette passed Toucou at the leeward mark when she briefly grounded. On handicap, Theorette won, Toucou came second and Heatwave and Antidote were respectively third and fourth.

In a final race, the strengthening wind enabled a longer leg course to be set, and it was all about sailing the angles. The three ultimate's and Odyssey arrived together at the windward mark and proceeded to cover each other downwind, the increasing breeze allowing Odyssey to really show off her speed potential on the reaches, but Toucou, also enjoying the conditions, was close behind and snatched the race by 16 seconds on elapsed time from Heatwave, following by Antidote.

In the final analysis, Toucou and Heatwave finished even on points, but Toucou won overall on count back and were duly awarded the beautiful 'National 18 English Trophy' given to the National 18 Class Association by Jeremy Vines and the late Richard Howells.

Heatwave and Antidote were second and third respectively. Toucou was helmed by Brian Hoolahan and crewed by Co-Owner Tim Reynolds and Brian's son Harry. Heatwave was helmed by Rob Wilder and crewed by Jo McLaughlin and Jo Gerber. Antidote was helmed by Kaan Yargici and crewed by James Fox and Dana Church.

As ever with any National 18 events, prize giving was followed by an excellent evening with some visiting boats choosing to stay on to participate in the Barts Bash event run the following day.

Overall Results:

For more information about the class and its exciting developments see www.national18.com