VR Sport Media UK Moth Nationals in Weymouth - Inside Track

Racing on the final day of the CST Composites 2008 Moth World Championships at Weymouth © Ingrid Abery / www.hotcapers.com

The International Moths are descending on Weymouth at the end of August for their gladiatorial champs – the VRsport.tv UK International Moth Nationals 2016. A great descriptive article was written by Neil Baker describing The Types of Mothie which includes The Pro, The Weekend Warrior, The Semi, The Homebuilder, The Girls and not forgetting The Die Hard Mothie. Many of the America's Cup sailors consider the boat as a great way to let off some steam when not racing the World Series too.

It takes all sorts to tame the flying machines and the UK certainly has one of the most prolific fleets in the world. The Brits have ruled the waves this year with a full podium at the 2016 Worlds and Europeans. We thought it would be useful for everyone to give a VRsport.tv "Inside Track", ably assisted by a few of the fleet, to some of the 'pilots' who will (or may be) racing at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy for the crown.

As the International Moth is a development class, everyone is chasing the best equipment to fly the fastest – it's an 'arms race' to get the next widget to achieve a millisecond faster upwind or downwind than your competitors. The main boat builder of choice is steering towards the Maguire Exocet but a few of the Pros are using the McDougall McConaghy Mach2, the Aardvark Rocket or solid winged 'Raccoon'. Sail makers, Lennon alongside North Sails One Design and KA are the three main designers of choice. So let's introduce you to the Mothie's competing at the UK Nationals:

The Pros

Mike Lennon – Exocet/ Lennon Sails

Current 2016 European Champion with lightning upwind speed especially in light winds. He seems to have a sixth sense on where to steer and should be full of confidence following the Euros.

2015 Nationals – 5th
2016 Ranking: Podium

Chris Rashley – Exocet/ Lennon Sails

Rumour is that Chris is currently in Poland sailing an A-Class and may not be taking part... If he is does start then everyone knows he is nearly unbeatable in windy conditions.

2015 Nationals – 1st
2016 Ranking: Podium

Rob Greenhalgh – Exocet/ North Sails OD

Winner of 2016 Foiling Week and Amlin Invitational Moth Regatta (Bermuda) and can be seen racing on the Fast40 + Circuit in Cowes – a total all rounder and is on fire at the moment.

2015 Nationals – N/A
2016 Ranking: Hot Favourite To Win

Ben Paton – Exocet/ Lennon Sails

Hasn't raced since the Europeans but could be a 'LastMinute.com' challenger.

2015 Nationals – N/A
2016 Ranking: Podium

The Semis

Dave Hivey – Exocet/ North Sails OD

Is he a Pro or just a lucky teacher as he seems to spend more time in the boat than Chris Rashley? Close 2nd to Rob Greenhalgh at 2016 Foiling Week and is training hard in Weymouth.

2015 Nationals – 12th
2016 Ranking: Dark Horse for Podium

Simon Hiscocks – Mach2/ KA

Simon should feel at home at Weymouth – he opened the WPNSA and has a plaque on the wall too! Double Olympic medallist in the 49er and is very fast in the Moth – the "go-to" person when anything goes wrong too!

2015 Nationals – N/A
2016 Ranking: Top Ten

The Olympic Squadder

Dylan Fletcher – Rocket/ Lennon Sails

Currently in Rio competing in the 49er Class but the gossip is that he wouldn't miss an opportunity to make an appearance on his home water. He would be racing the solid wing Rocket "Raccoon" which hasn't yet won a major event – will this be the first?

2015 Nationals – 4th
2016 Ranking: Podium

Stuart Bithell – Mach2/ North Sails OD

Olympic Silver medallist in the 470 and has been putting in a lot of hours on the water training getting faster all the time. One to watch for climbing up the fleet.

2015 Nationals – N/A
2016 Ranking: Top Ten

The Weekend Warriors

Jim McMillan – Exocet/ Lennon Sails

'Wily fox' in most conditions and holds a near impossible amount of windward heel on the upwind legs. He achieved three bullets in a row at the 2016 Europeans so could be an outside chance of upsetting the formbook.

2015 Nationals – 7th
2016 Ranking: Top Five

The Girls

Penny Clark – Exocet/ KA

Not confirmed as yet but it would great to see Penny repeat the awesome "Port Flyer" crossing the whole fleet as she did last year.

2015 Nationals – 15th
2016 Ranking: Top 10

The Die Hard Mothie

Jason Belben – Exocet/ Lennon Sails

Godfather of the modern class and has been racing the Moth probably before many of the current sailors were out of their nappies. Experience counts and Jason knows how to make his Exocet as fast as any heat-seeker.

2015 Nationals – 3rd
2016 Ranking: Podium

Ricky Tagg – Exocet/ Lennon Sails

Senior partner of the Moth firm! Passionate and devoted to racing with consistent results challenging many of the "Pros" and "Semis".

2015 Nationals – 11th
2016 Ranking: Top 10

The Homebuilder

James Sainsbury – Self Build/ Lennon Sails

James is still wondering if he will get back his rudder gantry after he left it attached to the windward mark at the Grafham Grand Prix recently. If not will someone lend him one for the week?

2015 Nationals – 54th
2016 Ranking: 1000/1 but loving every minute!

Long list of sailors that could win or take a podium place but we all know it could be a complete 'rank outsider' that takes the glory, well maybe for one race!

VRsport.tv will be bringing you all the action each day with interviews, tech reports with everyone in Weymouth as well as on and off the water footage showcasing these flying machines. Best of luck to everyone!