National 18 Inland Championship at Tamesis Club

National 18s at Tamesis Club © Susan Green

National 18s at Tamesis Club © Susan Green

An excellent day's sailing was held in bright sunshine and fickle, light wind when an almost-record of eleven N18s took part in the 2018 Inlands at Tamesis.

Race Officer Peter Mason set in front of the clubhouse two short courses that needed no dog-legs to provide at random beats, reaches and runs (with flat bits in between). Yet despite the challenges the fleet coped well with few boats parked other than momentarily.

Some great new Morrison hardware graced the proceedings, 400 Odyssey (Tamesis club boat sailed by David and Max Vines), 401 Hurricane (Ollie Houseman, Anne Bayne) and 421 Optimus Prime (Kaan Yargivi and Matt P-J) always in the top five except in race one when Prime was delayed and missed the start. But Prime in her first season looked splendid and pulled up to second in race 2 showing promise for her planned touring race season.

Big surprise (not of course to those sailing her) was Barney Smith's 369 Goose that had laid static ashore for a year and generously loaned to expert Merlin sailors John Adams and Rupert Fletcher. Goose shot almost to the front of the fleet, often with 348 Antedote (Chris Pollard, Caroline Stilwell) on her heels keeping close company with the new Morrisons.

Welcome new owners in established Tamesis boats were Henry Defries with Chris Taggart in former N18 class captain Ian Burnett's 374 Zephyr, and Garrie Mallen who with Jeremy Vines in 375 Rhapsody placed 5th and 6th in races 1 and 2 steered by Garrie on his first outing at the helm – high quality guidance makes a difference. One over the Eight returned to play, turning in a competent performance with Merlin sailors Ken Duffel (who won the Adelaide Cup in the N18 Orion) and Joe Woods, plus Ken's grandson Matt Valentine (also an Adelaide Cup winner).

The day was rounded off with an early supper and prizegiving, dinner laid on by the house catering team under R/C House Nicky Johnson and team leader Jo Carstens.

A great effort by Tammy member Ollie Houseman to trail 401 Hurricane all the way over from Bristol for the event and we now expect this re-established event to bring back next year more of the class from other clubs. We will be ready!

Race Results:

Race 1
Open: 1 Goose, 2 Hurricane, 3 Odyssey, 4 Antedote, 5 Rhapsody
Handicap: 1 Goose, 2 Antedote, 3 Rhapsody, 4 Zephyr

Race 2
Open: 1 Odyssey, 2 Optimus Prime, 3 Hurricane, 4 Goose, 5 1/8
Handicap: 1 Goose, 2 1/8, 3 Odyssey, 4 Antedote

Maddison Trophy - Odyssey (David Vines, Max Vines)
18 Cup - The Goose drank Murphy's (John Adams, Rupert Fletcher)

Entry list: