National 18 English Championships at Bosham Sailing Club
by Jeremy Vines 10 Aug 2021 21:14 BST
10-11 July 2021
Startline action during the National 18 English Championships at Bosham © Greg Grant
When we arrived at Bosham on Saturday (10th July), there was absolutely no wind. A flat calm, and that is the way it stayed all day. No good for sailing but a chance to boat bimble and catch up.
There was Covid in the kitchen, so Club supper was off as well. Nevertheless we gathered on the terrace and shared fish & chips and a few beers. It was a lovely evening in a beautiful place with a very photogenic sunset.
Sunday saw fourteen 18s of various vintages set out from the Quay in a light/moderate Southerly wind for three back-to-back races. There were new Ultras, the older Ultimates, the wonderful Classics and a sprinkling of the Chi Harbour 18s. All racing to established Class handicaps.
Out on Chi Harbour the Race Officer set a bit of a navigation exercise in the first race and the leading visitors failed it by choosing the wrong turning mark, resulting in Bosham Classics taking the first six places.
Races two and three saw the three Ultras out in front, and largely ahead on handicap as well, with Ace having two firsts and the Ulta prototype Odyssey from Lymington a second. A very pleasant day on the water, with thanks to Race Officer David Macfarline and his team.
With no discards allowed, local Classic 18/133 'Theorette' skippered by Tom Reid came out on top with Ultra 18/424 'Ace', Ollie Houseman from Chew Valley in second place. Third was THE Classic Classic 18/15, 'Tinkerbell', Richard Stirrup. She was built in 1938 and still looks a beauty.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat | Type | Sail No | Helm | Crew | PY | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Theorette |
(Classic) | 133 | REID Tom | PHILIPS Nick / REID Will | 1020 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| 2nd | Ace |
(Ultru) | 424 | HOUSEMAN
Oliver | VINES Jeremy /
WATTON Steve | 910 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| 3rd | Tinkerbelle |
(Classic) | 15 | STIRRUP
Richard | PROSSER Jono / HALE
David | 1020 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 14 |
| 4th | Toucou |
(Classic) | 368 | REYNOLDS
Tim | YOUNG Andrew /
WANTNEY Mags | 1020 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 19 |
| 5th | Optimus
Prime |
(Ultru) | 421 | JONES
Matthew | YARGICIL Kaan /
CHAVASSE Marcus | 910 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 19 |
| 6th | Seafire | CHICHESTER
HARBOUR 18 | 7 | KING
William | KERSHAW Rich /
TAVENER Charles | 1045 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 20 |
| 7th | Finola |
(Classic) | 225 | MIRAMS
Paddy | MIRAMS Holly & Lucie | 1020 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 20 |
| 8th | Odyssey |
(Ultru) | 400 | McSTAY
Paul | McGill Joff & Ollie | 915 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 23 |
| 9th | Dandy |
(Classic) | 107 | BAILEY
Robert | MARTELL Michael.
OXLEY Sandy | 1020 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 24 |
| 10th | Red Flight | CHICHESTER
HARBOUR 18 | 8 | STIRRUP
Joe | RADFORD Catherine /
STIRRUP Mandy | 1045 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 24 |
| 11th | Thumbelina |
(Classic) | 253 | FAURE
Adrian | BARNES Richard /
RUSTALL Chris | 1020 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 25 |
| 12th | Gembee |
(Ultimate) | 373 | CHANTER
Trevor | SMITH Lucy & William | 957 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 30 |
| 13th | Bellatrix | CHICHESTER
HARBOUR 18 | 9 | CAMPS
Michael | Mc CORMAK Frank /
BRADLEY Keith | 1045 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 33 |
| 14th | Deja Blue | CHICHESTER
HARBOUR 18 | 10 | HART
Stephen | DAVIS Jen & Owen | 1045 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 41 |
