Hadron H2 National Championships at Herne Bay Sailing Club - Day 1

by Keith Callaghan 4 Sep 2021 06:34 BST 3-5 September 2021

It will come as no surprise to hear that Nick Craig stamped his authority on the fleet from the first gun.

Nick made the best of every ounce of energy that each wave had to offer and in each race was soon leading by a significant margin, treating the rest of the fleet to a masterclass demonstration of sailing skill. Nick won all three races but behind him competition was fierce.

However, it was not the previously on-form Richard Leftley who led the rest of the field but Richard Le Mare, a newcomer to the H2 fleet this year. One of the heavier helms in the fleet, Le Mare revelled in the conditions and showed that weight was no impediment in an H2 by registering 3 second places.

Richard Leftley had an off day, coming ashore with symptoms that resembled those of Covid-19, though several PCR tests proved negative. In spite of his ill health, Leftley is in third place after day 1, with the ever-consistent Andrew McGaw in fourth.