Mirror UK National Championships 2023 at Brightlingsea Sailing Club
by Martin Egan 12 Jun 2023 11:38 BST
1-4 June 2023
48 boats including the reigning National Champions, Ben & Keira McGrane, ex-World champion Chris Balding, two time GBR Olympic sailor Chris Grube plus a host of other top sailors, gathered at Brightlingsea SC for the UK Mirror Nationals from 1st to 4th June. To add a little International flavour, there were two boats from Ireland, warming up against GBR sailors prior to the Mirror World Championships in Sligo in July.
Great racing in the sheltered, if tidal, waters of the Colne Estuary. Cracking weather, a campervan site right next to the dinghy park, a bar and a galley providing breakfasts, packed lunches and an evening meal kept everyone fuelled up. Great organisation from Marie & Stephen Cross, Carole Heppell and the Brightlingsea SC crew.
Competitors enjoyed great race management with PRO Phil Rust and his team getting all scheduled 8 races in.
With a large area of high pressure firmly established over the UK, racing started on Friday with a gusty and shifty 3-5 from the NE which built as the day went on. The main fleet completing three races, the first one in the last of the flood tide. After a couple of general recalls, the PRO switched to 'U' penalty starts which curbed the over-eager.
There was also a Regatta fleet for those who only wanted to sail one race per day. On Saturday conditions were similar, but with more sun, and an earlier start, so the tide flooding for longer. Once again the main fleet did their three races and the Regatta fleet one. On Sunday conditions again similar. This time the main fleet just had two races to complete while the Regatta fleet did one, so a fairly early finish, allowing everyone time to pack up and enjoy the prize-giving before heading home.
Adult helms with child crews dominated the top end of the fleet. Ben McGrane with 9 year old Keira crewing finished comfortably ahead of Phil & 8 year old Oliver Smith. Chris Balding had 11 year old Adriana crewing to finish in third. Stuart Hudson with daughter Lizzie crewing were fourth, Paul Smalley had 8 year old Peter crewing to finish fifth.
Top U15 helm was Poppy Armstrong with mum, Natasha, crewing who finished 13th. Top Youths (i.e. U19) were Jessica Greer & Myrtle Bamber from Ireland in 24th place, sailing a borrowed boat. The only all-Junior (U15) boat was Willow Cross and Katie Bees from Brightlingsea in 37th.
Youngest crew prize went to Saskia Leonard in 14th who also took the combined youngest helm and crew prize with her very youthful dad. Youngest helm to complete all races was Morgan Cross with dad Steven crewing, in 25th. The best team of three boats was Netley SC ahead of Bassenthwaite SC. The top wooden boat was James & Meris Date from Burghfield SC in seventh. Single-hander Steve Bland retained his title finishing in 34th.
Once again we had What HAppened Today? (WHAT?). After everyone was changed and re-fuelled, a post-racing debrief by Chris Balding with input from Ben McGrane.
Other after sailing activities included a Beach Olympics competition on the sand in front of the club to round off a lovely sunny day.
Thanks again to Brightlingsea Sailing Club and their sponsors, for putting on a great event.
The Mirror Nationals next year is scheduled for Friday 23rd to Bank Holiday Monday 26th August at Itchenor SC.
Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Mirror nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here
| Pos | Boat | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Alna | 71038 | Ben McGrane | Keira McGrane | Netley SC | ‑2 | ‑8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 2nd | Lamborbeanie | 71013 | Phil Smith | Oliver Smith | Bassenthwaite SC | 1 | ‑12 | ‑9 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 |
| 3rd | YOLO | 70810 | Chris Balding | Adriana Balding | Island Barn SC | ‑8 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ‑8 | 4 | 20 |
| 4th | Hypermouse | 70683 | Stuart Hudson | Lizzie Hudson | Royal Lymington SC | 4 | 2 | 3 | ‑9 | 3 | ‑7 | 7 | 7 | 26 |
| 5th | Primary Cru | 70964 | Paul Smalley | Peter Smalley | Chew Valley Lake SC | 3 | 4 | ‑15 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 4 | ‑18 | 34 |
| 6th | Black Pearl | 71039 | Chris Grube | Edward Grube | Netley SC | ‑17 | ‑23 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 38 |
| 7th | Shelly | 70182 | James Date | Meris Date | Burghfield SC | 13 | ‑24 | ‑23 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 42 |
| 8th | Wave Catcher Too | 70922 | Toby Wincer | Molly Wincer | Netley SC | 7 | 1 | 10 | ‑13 | 8 | ‑17 | 6 | 12 | 44 |
| 9th | | 70668 | Andy Smith | Lily Smith | Bassenthwaite SC | 12 | 7 | 6 | 4 | ‑14 | 5 | ‑14 | 10 | 44 |
| 10th | Real Deal | 70971 | Peter Kyne | Zoe Goodwin | BSC | ‑33 | 6 | 1 | 16 | 12 | 6 | (OCS) | 8 | 49 |
| 11th | Renaissance | 69659 | Thomax Chaix | Ben Chaix | Tralee Bay SC | 5 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 10 | ‑15 | ‑20 | 53 |
| 12th | BSC | 70625 | Mary Henderson White | Jenson White | BSC | ‑25 | 13 | ‑17 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 60 |
| 13th | Sea Glass | 70499 | Poppy Armstrong | Natasha Armstrong | West Kirby SC | 11 | 14 | 11 | ‑17 | ‑22 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 67 |
| 14th | Let it Blow | 71035 | Alex Leonard | Saskia Leonard | Bassenthwaite SC | 6 | 9 | ‑20 | 8 | ‑20 | 15 | 18 | 15 | 71 |
| 15th | Bluebell | 70650 | Angus Armstrong | Isla Armstrong | West Kirby SC | ‑23 | 3 | 14 | ‑21 | 16 | 21 | 10 | 16 | 80 |
| 16th | Bamm‑Bamm | 71014 | Adam Broughton | Max Broughton | Chew Valley Lake SC | 9 | ‑21 | 13 | (OCS) | 15 | 9 | 19 | 17 | 82 |
| 17th | Revenge of the smurfs | 70832 | Heather Ross | Henry Ross | Netley SC | 10 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 11 | ‑20 | ‑22 | 13 | 82 |
| 18th | Blue | 70852 | Alex Knight | Harrison Smalley | Chew Valley Lake SC | 15 | ‑31 | 8 | 15 | 17 | 11 | ‑21 | 19 | 85 |
| 19th | The Chief | 71028 | Sarah Conlon | Lucy Eeles | BSC | 19 | ‑26 | 21 | 18 | 13 | ‑35 | 9 | 14 | 94 |
| 20th | Toothless | 70538 | Andy Pickering | Florence Pickering | Blackwater SC | 14 | 18 | ‑27 | 6 | 27 | 18 | ‑31 | 24 | 107 |
| 21st | Ida | 69020 | Barnaby Smith | Josie Rist‑Heppell | BSC/HRSC | 18 | 17 | ‑26 | 23 | 24 | 16 | 17 | ‑26 | 115 |
| 22nd | Fred the Red | 70989 | Terry Hunt | Charlie Hunt | Netley SC | 26 | 11 | (DNC) | (OCS) | 29 | 24 | 16 | 11 | 117 |
| 23rd | Bede3 | 71011 | Jarrod Simpson | Finn Simpson | Hayling Island SC | ‑30 | 25 | 12 | 24 | ‑35 | 25 | 13 | 22 | 121 |
| 24th | Ready or not | 70646 | Jessica Greer | Myrtle Bamber | Sliga Yacht Club Ireland | 16 | 22 | (DNF) | 26 | 19 | 19 | ‑35 | 30 | 132 |
| 25th | Oarsome | 70945 | Morgan Cross | Stephen Cross | BSC | 22 | 15 | 29 | ‑30 | ‑32 | 29 | 23 | 25 | 143 |
| 26th | Wood stock | 70351 | Becky Priest | Ella Saunders | Staunton Harold SC | ‑37 | 27 | 16 | ‑33 | 25 | 28 | 26 | 21 | 143 |
| 27th | Hummingbird | 70587 | Leighton King | Penny King | Netley SC | 21 | 20 | ‑28 | 27 | 28 | 22 | ‑32 | 27 | 145 |
| 28th | Twinkle Toes | 70739 | Toby Heppell | Elodie Heppell | BSC | 29 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 20 | 21 | 23 | 27 | 32 | 152 |
| 29th | | 70636 | Alex Balding | Priti Verma | Island Barn SC | 28 | ‑35 | 24 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 30 | ‑31 | 156 |
| 30th | Blyskawica | 15563 | Martin Egan | Felix Heffernan | Restronguet SC | 24 | 30 | (DNF) | 28 | 18 | (DNF) | 29 | 29 | 158 |
| 31st | MCA Demo Boat | 70905 | Derian Scott | Arabella Broughton | Chew Valley Lake SC | 31 | 19 | 22 | 29 | ‑38 | 32 | 33 | ‑34 | 166 |
| 32nd | Clewless | 70998 | Finlay Appleton | Emma Appleton | BSC | 20 | ‑34 | 30 | 25 | 33 | 30 | ‑34 | 28 | 166 |
| 33rd | Get Real | 70959 | Anna Goodwin | Clive Goodwin | Burghfield SC | ‑38 | 28 | 19 | 31 | 34 | 34 | 25 | ‑39 | 171 |
| 34th | Peer Pressure | 70714 | Steven Balnd | | The Poole Yacht Club | 32 | ‑33 | 25 | (OCS) | 23 | 33 | 28 | 33 | 174 |
| 35th | Crimson Thunder | 70534 | Robert Forbes | Veronica Forges | Island Barn SC | 36 | 29 | (DNC) | (OCS) | 30 | DNC | 20 | 23 | 180 |
| 36th | Surfs UP | 70972 | Jewels Vass | Shiloh Woodroffe‑Vass | Reading SC | 27 | 39 | (DNC) | 19 | 31 | 27 | (DNC) | DNC | 185 |
| 37th | Yeti | 70743 | Willow Cross | Katie Bees | BSC | 34 | 32 | (DNC) | 34 | ‑37 | 31 | 24 | 36 | 191 |
| 38th | Dipperforce | 71007 | Paul Nichols | Gabe Nichols | Chew Valley Lake SC | 35 | 36 | 31 | 35 | 39 | 36 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 212 |
| 39th | Squirt | 70513 | Ronald Vass | | Reading SC | ‑40 | 37 | 32 | 36 | ‑40 | 37 | 37 | 38 | 217 |
| 40th | Jaws | 65160 | Keela Tudor | Brett Tudor | BSC | (DNF) | 38 | (DNC) | 32 | 36 | DNC | 36 | 37 | 221 |
| 41st | Halcyon Days | 71029 | Micheal Gear | Matilde Gear | Maldon Yacht Club | 39 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 38 | 35 | 238 |