Please select your home edition
Edition
Musto 2023 Hikers LEADERBOARD

Europe UK Nationals - Runners & Riders

by Lucy Boreham 29 May 2022 14:47 BST 3-5 June 2022
HISC Europe Open © Peter Hickson

The Europe fleet are returning to WPNSA for the 2022 National Championship over the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend. As a fleet, it's all about inclusion and enjoyment sailing these fab little boats, but there are also some rather lovely trophies up for grabs.

A few names to keep an eye out for over the long weekend of sailing:

Steve Cockerill, looking to make it back-to-back championship wins, and can he make it to 9 in total?

Chris Gill, having missed out last year is back, he's already got 10 titles under his belt, could this be the 11th? We're all sure a good battle between these two will be great to watch.

Ben Harris, fresh from his win at Hayling, with youth on his side and a training camp with Dad Ollie Harris in Rock this week he will be ready to fight it out at the front of the fleet.

Gareth Tweedle is certainly enjoying his new boat, now having tasted winning races at HISC he will be hoping to continue to build on his recent success.

If the wind is light, then newcomer Jonny Sargent will be flying and could mix it up at the front, his Dad, Matt Sargent, was so impressed with the boat, he's bought a 2nd one and will be on the starting line. It might to a bit too soon for these 2 to dominate at the front the whole time, but they have lots of experience in other boats and it won't take long for them to get up to speed.

Both Rob Wilder & John McKelvie, forming part of the growing fleet at Hayling, have shown some impressive speed and will be in the mix.

With Laura Baldwin unable to make it this year, one thing is certain that a new Ladies champion will be crowned.

Lucy Boreham, Emma Pearson & Mandy Horton are all going to the Worlds later this year, so the nationals is a great opportunity to get in some race practice in a big fleet.

Whilst Sarah Cockerill is more usually seen at the front end of an RS400, the windier it gets the faster she goes.

There are 6 family pairs racing, Fathers & Sons, Brothers, Husband and Wives, creating some inter-family rivalry thought out the fleet.

It's great to be welcoming some overseas visitors, with 4 boats making the trip over, it will be great to welcome them to the UK fleet.

Its not all about brand new boats, with a prize up for grabs for the more classic rigs, the eldest boat so far entered is No60, sailed by Timothy Simmons.

Trophies are also presented at both ends of the age ranges, class veteran Richard Eagleton, boat restorer extraordinaire Steve Whitby and Richard Major will be in the mix to claim top master. At the other end of the age scale, Adam Catlow, taking a break from A levels revision and Jonny Sargent will be leading the charge for the youth trophy.

Its still not too late to enter, it doesn't matter if you are at the front of the fleet or just starting out sailing the boat, whilst the class cant guarantee what wind we'll get, what is guaranteed is a friendly welcome, a lot of support and help to set boats up, some great racing, the now famous bring your own BBQ at the Tweedle's, a social every evening, snacks after racing, the chance of a brand new sail in the raffle courtesy of UK Sails Denmark and a prize for everyone thanks to Rooster Sailing and Kingfisher Ropes, with all three companies supporting the event. The Europe fleet are returning to WPNSA for the National Championship over the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend.

Related Articles

Europe Masters & Youth Europeans Days 2 & 3
Hayling Bay didn't fail to deliver on Thursday and Friday The forecast for both Thursday & Friday looked perfect - 10-12 knots from the SW with the likelihood of a sea breeze and Hayling Bay didn't fail to deliver. Posted on 5 Jul
Europe Masters Championships at Hayling Day 1
The Brits showed the fleet their experience in Hayling Bay It was with some relief that the rain came overnight and the morning of the 2nd July was showery, grey but importantly much cooler, a big change to the last few days. Posted on 2 Jul
Europe Masters & Youth Championships Preview
Racing starts tomorrow at Haying Island Sailing Club Sitting in the sunshine at Haying Island Sailing Club - a perfect 13 knot sea breeze kicking in and 130 Europe's getting ready for a week of racing - what more could a sailor want? Posted on 1 Jul
Europe class UK Nationals at Stokes Bay
Steve Cockerill wins with five bullets The UK Europe class enjoyed three days of fantastic conditions at Stokes Bay SC last weekend, treated to great breeze and sunshine across the weekend! The club's excellent organisation and hospitality ensured every aspect of the event ran smoothly! Posted on 6 Jun
Europe class UK Nationals runners and riders
Some big names are in the mix this weekend at Stokes Bay As the 2025 UK Europe National Championships approach, anticipation is building for what promises to be one of the most competitive events in recent memory. With a stacked fleet of seasoned champions, fresh talent, and local heroes all eyeing the title. Posted on 28 May
Singlehanded Regatta at Hayling Island
Finns, Europes and Solos don't let the forecast put them off a glorious weekend Day one Charlie Bradshaw held the fleets on shore for an hour on Saturday morning, a fair amount of hope but an early strong easterly can have a detrimental effect on a sea breeze here so there was certainly a little trepidation in the fleet. Posted on 26 May
Out to play this weekend
Fair winds are forecast, the P&B team is heading to the coast Fair winds are forecast, the team's heading to the coast. We're back on the road, maximising time on the water this bank holiday with Scorpion, Europe and Lark events at Rock and the Flying Fifteens at Hayling Island. Posted on 3 May
Europe Open at Chichester
A day of training followed by racing on Sunday A glorious weekend of sunshine awaited the Europe class at Chichester, but with not much wind forecast there was a concern it would become a bit of a drifter. Posted on 30 Apr
Ron Beasley obituary
A seven-year joinery apprenticeship lead to being a world champion dinghy builder Ronald William Beasley was born on the 31st January 1931 and grew up in Bradley, Bilston in the Black Country. He left school at age fourteen. He then completed a seven-year joinery apprenticeship at 'Wilcocks' in Wolverhampton. Posted on 16 Apr
Europe class ranking event at Weymouth
There are limited slots for some international events so competition was high Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy ordered champagne sailing conditions for the first Europe National Ranking event of 2025. Posted on 8 Apr