Please select your home edition
Edition
Ocean Safety 2023 - New Identity - LEADERBOARD

Sprint 15 Sport National Championship at Yaverland Sailing & Boat Club

by Keith Newnham 27 May 2017 11:09 BST 19-21 May 2017

The 2017 Sprint 15 Sports National Championships, sponsored by Wightlink Ferries and Spinlock were held at the Yaverland Sailing and Boating Club, under the organisation of Shanklin Sailing Club on the Isle of Wight on the 19th to 21st May. With a total of 32 boats taking part, racing took place in the English Channel just south of the Isle of Wight.

Friday's first race got away on time featuring an inverted P course, set parallel to the shore in a force 5, south-western direction wind. Sam Heaton was first around the windward mark, closely followed by Paul Grattage, Sean and Sophia McKenna and Ed Dalton. They were closely pursued by Andrew Jefferies and Fraser Manning. With positions constantly changing in the freshening breeze the finishing order was Grattage, Heaton, and the McKenna duo.

Friday's second race saw Grattage, Heaton, and the McKennas leading the fleet at the end of the first lap with the very dynamic (as he likes to be known) Liam Thom snapping at their heels like a demented Jack Russell, once again conditions played havoc with the fleet in the ensuing laps keeping the rescue boats busy. Finishing order was first Heaton, second Grattage and third Manning.

Saturday saw an increase in wind speed; it was now up to "a strong breeze", force 6 with 27 knots recorded at the Shanklin weather station. 32 boats started on the box configuration course but were very spread out by the time they reached the windward mark. With several capsizes the rescue facilities were keep on their toes but the classic capsize, and with no rescue boat around, was Grattage, well in the lead and with only one more buoy to round, he pitch poled, and although he managed to right the thing in quick time, he was overtaken by the McKennas. Finishing order this time being, the McKennas, Grattage and Heaton.

Race two on Saturday saw 25 boats start, and with one so eager that they started 55 seconds before any of the others, at the end of the first lap Manning was in the lead with the dynamic duo about 50 metres behind, and once again Heaton hovering like a vulture behind them. At the end of the second lap and with just one tack to make, Manning capsized allowing Heaton to take the win with the McKennas second and Grattage third.

Only 17 boats ventured out for the afternoon race, North Devon Yacht Club's Keith Heason and David Grant were well placed along with John Manning from Beaver Sailing Club. Once again there were numerous capsizes and a few retirements. Grattage won with Heaton second with Frazer Manning third.

Sunday saw a complete change in wind conditions, a very balmy force 2 to 3, initially from the south-east. With a strong ebb tide flowing setting the course proved challenging as the wind direction was constantly shifting, eventually settling from the east. With the old Olympic course configuration set up, 31 boats started and mainly headed along the shore to escape the tide. It was only possible to complete one round of the course in the recommended time, Grattage crossed the line first, Manning second and Jefferies third.

The final race of the weekend started with some match racing tactics between Heaton and Grattage with Fraser Manning also getting caught up in the antics. Heaton managed to push Grattage and Manning over the line before the start but was himself then forced over, Manning redeemed himself perfectly and broke free from warring pair. At the finish it was the McKenna pair first, Manning second and Mark Pritchard from Shanklin third.

Overall results saw first Paul Grattage, second Sam Heaton, third Sophia and Sean McKenna. The Junior Cup went to Hector Bunclark of North Devon Yacht Club, the Ladies Trophy to Yvonne Pike of Shanklin Sailing Club, the Sixty Plus Cup to John Manning, Erling Holmberg from Shanklin Sailing Club won the Heavyweights Cup and Andrew Jefferies and Chris Murphy the Pro/Am Trophy.

Overall Results:

PosHelmSail NoClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7Pts
1Paul Grattage1944Shanklin Sailing Club12231187
2Sam Heaton1972North Devon Yacht Club21312679
3Sean McKenna & Sophia McKenna2018Shanklin Sailing Club3412DNC4111
4Fraser Manning1977North Devon Yacht Club4341032214
5Ed Tuite Dalton1940Draycote Water Sailing Club55754122426
6Chris Murphy1770Shanklin Sailing Club18176859432
7Liam Thom1957Shanklin Sailing Club6657DNF101034
8Andrew Jefferies1952Shanklin Sailing Club721156632237
9Mark Pritchard1979Shanklin Sailing Club16111012DNC5341
10Anthony Gray1893North Devon Yacht Club9894DNF151745
11Stuart Pierce642Shanklin Sailing Club14121115911548
12John Manning1955Beaver Sailing Club10713910141449
13David Grant1943North Devon Yacht Club15925147221358
14Erling Holmberg1211Shanklin Sailing Club17101216DNC81258
15Keith Heason1424North Devon Yacht Club141417118162063
16David Groom1714Christchurch Sailing Club81314DNCDNC181164
17Wayne Silver1841North Devon Yacht Club2215813DNC302381
18Jeremy Rowe1500North Devon Yacht Club1918DNF19DSQ17982
19Liam Bunclark1849North Devon Yacht Club1222201713202182
20Ian Wilkinson1862Shanklin Sailing Club201619RAF12191682
21Tony Murrant1970Shanklin Sailing Club21DNF211811251586
22John Shenton1956Shanklin Sailing Club28DNC2722DNC13696
23Hector Bunclark1906North Devon Yacht Club242022DNFDNC731101
24Mark Randerson94Shanklin Sailing Club23191821DNF2625102
25Ian Mounce1951North Devon Yacht Club11DNF28DNCDNC2118108
26Keith Chidwick1840Queen Mary Sailing Club27DNF2420142828113
27Nick Day1888North Devon Yacht Club29DNF2623152329116
28Brandon Holmberg1636Shanklin Sailing Club25DNF23DNFDNC2919124
29Bob Baker1926Shanklin Sailing ClubDNCDNC16DNCDNFDNCDNC136
30Harry Vernon1907Shanklin Sailing ClubDSQ232924DNC3130137
31Richard Beasley1843Shanklin Sailing Club26DNF31DNCDNC2727141
32Yvonne Pike1220Shanklin Sailing Club30DNC30DNCDNC2426143

Related Articles

Dart 15 TT & Northern Championship at Carsington
It was hard to imagine the change in weather fortunes over the course of the regatta Ten Dart 15 travellers were welcomed by three home sailors to Carsington Sailing Club on a glorious autumn day and with the sun shining, warm temperatures and moderate breeze, the Derbyshire Dales / reservoir vista was looking superb. Posted on 24 Sep
Dart 15 Summer TT Draycote Water
A fresh westerly force four greeted the sailors On Saturday Draycote Water SC welcomed 17 Dart 15 sailors to the club. Special mention goes to Liam Thom and Yvonne Pike, who crossed the Solent to join us from Shanklin Sailing Club, and Ian Mounce and Keith Heason, who traveled up from Instow. Posted on 9 Jul
Noble Marine Dart 15 Nationals at the WPNSA
A stellar weekend of champagne sailing at the home of British Olympic sailing A stellar weekend of champagne sailing at the home of British Olympic sailing - the 2024 Dart 15 Nationals sponsored by Noble Marine insurance really were a weekend to remember! Posted on 12 Jun
Dart 15 Southern Championship at Shanklin
A game of two halves 29 boats entered the second of the Dart 15 Summer Series events with six sailors coming from across the Solent. Posted on 22 May
Dart 15 Summer TT at Marconi
Racing on the beautiful River Blackwater on the Essex East Coast Having concluded a successful Winter Series, the Dart 15s held their first Summer TT at Marconi Sailing Club on the beautiful River Blackwater on the Essex East Coast. Posted on 24 Apr
Oldest videos of racing catamarans
We start in 1965, covering Hobie, Shearwater, Prindle and C Class, then the Worrell 1000 We delve into the past, and round-up all the videos which show racing catamarans, including Hobie cats, Shearwaters, Prindles and C Class, from the 1960s to the 90s. Plus some Worrell 1000 history. Posted on 7 Apr
Dart 15 Winter TT at Grafham
Fifth and final TT of the series, racing for the Chris Black Icicle The fifth and final TT of the Dart 15 Winter Series for 2023/4 was held at Grafham Water on Sunday 3rd March. Posted on 8 Mar
Dart 15 Winter TT at Datchet
Competitors delighted to arrive to a decent breeze and mild temperatures The Dart 15 Winter Series continued with its fourth Winter TT at Datchet Water Sailing Club. The February TT does not have a great track record - with several years lost to either Covid or storm force winds. Posted on 23 Feb
Dart 15 Winter TT at Rutland
A weather window in the forecast for Sunday The second event of the Dart 15 Winter Series took place at Rutland Water on Sunday. Despite the 50 knot winds on the Saturday, there was a weather window in the forecast for Sunday which encouraged ten competitors to turn up and take part in the event. Posted on 13 Dec 2023
Dart 15 Winter TT at Stewartby
Hot competition in the variable conditions shakes up the status quo With a forecast of variable (5-10 mph) winds and sunshine, a pleasant day was on the cards for the nineteen entries to the first Dart 15 TT of the Winter Series. Posted on 12 Nov 2023