Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster SB1 Inshore Range

Sailing Chandlery D-Zero National Championships at Llandudno Sailing Club - Runners and Riders

by David Valentine 13 Jun 2023 18:50 BST 23-25 June 2023
2022 Barracuda Bay D-Zero Nationals at Brixham © Georgie Altham / www.photoboat.co.uk

With the 8th D-Zero National Championships only days away and our great sponsor Sailing Chandlery in place, its time to do the review of who might win, who might not and who might surprise us all at Llandudno Sailing Club. (These are all our opinions and we're sticking to it).

This is a year without multiple nationals/euros/worlds winner, Nick Craig, no Steve Gaffer-Bolland and no Dan, the designer, Holman who liked the D-Zero so much he's won the Champs three times, so the field is wide open, there for the taking, simples.... Or maybe not?..... So, in no particular order here's our take on the form book:

Stork (Alistair McLaughlin to his enemies) flies in in light weather and is no slouch in the big breezes, 80% of the time he flies in the right direction at starts, tends to perch on the pin. For those looking forward, rather than enjoying the view astern you could worse that to take his flight path, only remember the wind is always the same ten minutes later! Remember that he beat the Rooster to win the RS300 Nationals so could be tipped for the top (no pressure there then!)

The Professor (Ian Baillie) like Stork, Ian is a past RS300 champion, was pretty quick in Lasers (ILCAs to the nippers) and can teach us a thing or two about the science of sailing. He'll have everything worked out, his starts will be calculating and his beats bring a degree of speed a lot of us just don't understand. When it's windy he turns the mainsail inside out (not pretty, but fast) and generally heads to the top of the class. Watch him he could be after a championship win, now he's got nothing better to do!

Tin Man, the Dealer, the Chairman (David Valentine) gets faster every year, and he has time to train, 'cos he doesn't have a proper job! If its breezy he could be up there, but never follow him as he doesn't really know where's he's going.... he just gets there quickly! Having forgot to tell Dan, Nick and Steve where and when the championships are he is sure of finishing three places better this year at least!

Bertie Bassett (Jon Bassett) has been showing an assortment of great pace, winning speed and loads of potential, he's always been in the running at Nationals and is winning locally too. Having "given up work" to refine his sailing, spot birds and be a better Dad (he says) this could be a year when Jon jumps onto the podium. All sorts of people think he could do well his year.

The Quiet Man (Scott Munro) let's his sailing do the talking and has given the likes of "BIG" Neil Ritchie a run for his money, but then they're not know for splashing the cash up in Aberdeen. One of the fit big guy's Scott could be a force to be reckoned with if it gets breezy and the Stonehaven guys love big waves too (he'll want a Northerly F5/6)

James Jenkins - another Emsworthian racing against Olympic coaches & multiple Champions, and has challenged and beaten others mentioned here in some good breeze and longer race weeks, age is on his side, and could be right up in the top 5, plus doesn't have his dad to keep him awake this year snoring !!

John Aston - always been right up there, has a No.3 on his sail so the D-Zero itself is keen, and has good form so maybe an each way bet as long as his lovely green/blue teal hull doesn't get spotted on the startline

SLIMB BOY (Simon Limb) - new to the nationals and relatively new to the D-Zero this one mean Yorkshireman who give no free space at a start, a mark or crossing. He has great speed up to 10kts, when he's maxed out!, but he'll give nothing away for free at any time and is gritty to the end. Could be a in the top of the fleet in light to medium winds.

Paul Jefferies, ex and founding chairman - can be quick in the right conditions, the flukey, shifty & weedy stuff, though like Martin Latimer.... Can he last the pace - or will he crash & burn. He's got winning form at his home club.... An outside bet maybe?

GRUMPY (Martin Latimer) - Many, many buckets of talent have been sent his way, and lost by the couriers [so DV says], the potential is good especially if he can string things together and not throw a wobbly, bash his head or knacker his knee. Probably better at 4-wheel drifting or handbrake turning than straight lining! Has been in training with the Stork, but has he learnt anything?

Liz Potter - Lets the boat do the talking (see what we did there) - If the winds light, there is very good potential, as apparently Zippy doesn't like breeze but does like dolphins. Scored a maiden D-Zero win at the Largs One Design so who knows how good Zippy really is?

Gordon Stewart - always in the mix and always 'avin a larf is fitter and faster being another one who's given up working and is living life to the full. Watch him on boat to boat! Could be further up the ladder this year and ahead of the Zippy, Mick Green, Grumpy quartet.

And was mentioned in the first draft but a late withdrawal due to a cub camp (I'm sure that's what he said) - Andy McIvor - has piloted a few decent boats (though not as good as the DZ obviously) including those foily thingys, though was challenged in the breeze - needs more purchase maybe or to purchase more [Ed. add] !

We can't mention everyone (though open to drinks, free food etc to add for next year) but loads of people are improving and while the so-called Top Cats are away (did they choose to or was it an error) who knows how the Nationals will play out? Watch social media and Y&Y for news.

Roll of Honour - D-Zero National Champions:

Dan Holman - 2015
Ian Morgan - 2016
George Cousins - 2017
Steve Bolland - 2018
Dan Holman - 2019
[No Event] - 2020
Dan Holman - 2021
Nick Craig - 2022
Who ? - 2023

Related Articles

D-Zero Traveller Series at Dalgety Bay
Insufficient beer leads to rounding the windward mark first A couple of months ago I made a decision to do the Dalgety Bay Regatta on the 28th and 29th September, turning this trip in to a mini holiday. Posted on 8 Oct
D-Zeros at Grafham
Mandy Horton stays upright to emerge victorious Fifteen D-Zeros entered the Open Meeting hosted at Grafham on Sunday 29th September 2024. Ultimately, with the forecast showing a degree of danger of very strong breeze, twelve boats took part with five visitors joining the Grafham-based boats. Posted on 1 Oct
D-Zero Open at Chase
A highly competitive six-race series The Chase Sailing Club hosted the D-Zero Open meeting over the weekend of the 14th and 15th of September 2024, drawing seven entries for a highly competitive six-race series. Posted on 15 Sep
Chase SC to host Lightning National Championships
Alongside D-Zero open meeting in September On the weekend of September 14th and 15th 2024, The Chase Sailing Club will become a bustling hub of competitive sailing as it hosts the Lightning National Championships and Devoti D-Zero Sailing Open. Posted on 2 Aug
Sailing Chandlery Devoti Sailing D-Zero Europeans
Including the 10th UK Nationals at the WPNSA To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Devoti Sailing D-Zero, the class held its first European Championship, combined with their 10th National Championship at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy from the 27th to the 30th June. Posted on 3 Jul
D-Zero Europeans and UK Nationals Runners & Riders
Over 40 boats have registered to compete at the WPNSA The Sailing Chandlery D-Zero championships takes place over four days from 27th- 30th June at WPNSA, Weymouth. This is the 10th anniversary of the D-Zero UK Nationals and the inaugural European Championship. Posted on 21 Jun
D-Zeros in the Harken One Design Regatta at Largs
17 boats converging from as far away as Emsworth and Aberdeen The weekend brought the Largs Harken One Design Regatta, with 17 D Zeros converging from as far away as Emsworth to Aberdeen to be the largest class in the regatta's 48 strong fleet. Posted on 24 May
Harken One Design Regatta at Largs
Sun, sea and a wee bit o' wind! A 50 boat entry from Aberdeen to Southampton across the D-Zero, ILCA, RS200, RS400 and Aero classes turned out for the Harken sponsored One Design Regatta at Largs Sailing Club on the Clyde. Posted on 21 May
D-Zero Northern Championships at Annandale
Zippy Zero reports, "Life sucks, folks" It's a big hello from Zippy the D-Zero in my first report of this year. The event was the D-Zero Northern Championships, held at a new venue for us at Annandale Sailing Club, 4 miles West of Lockerbie in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Posted on 2 May
D-Zero Open at Bough Beech
Second event of the national traveller series in sunny Kent Saturday 13th April saw the second event of the D-Zero national traveller series held at Bough Beech SC in sunny Kent. Eight visiting & two home D-Zeros were greeted by a freshening SW from the dam wall with the sun threatening an appearance. Posted on 23 Apr