Europe class UK National Championships 2024 at Hayling Island Sailing Club - Runners and Riders

HISC Europe Open © Peter Hickson

Sponsored by Allen Brothers, Synergy Marine and Suntouched

Plans are moving on at HISC, an impressive race team lined up, storms all blown out and the temperature has now normalised we have ordered sea breeze, and sunshine.

With only a couple of weeks to go, and with the second guillotine about to descend on the second early entry discount over the coming weekend, time to have a look at who has thrown their hats in the ring.

First off the French, nice to see a group from the Le Harve area making the trip, led by Daniel a stalwart of UK championships, what they may lack on the water will certainly be made up by enthusiasm off the water.

Stokes Bay, lacking an entry from last year's winner, and a couple of other names still missing, still two of last year's top 4 entered. From the opening skirmish at Chichester last weekend dominated by Jason Belben, who, much to the disappointment of the following pack, seems to have spent the winter learning how to stay in the boat.

Followed in by Jeremy Hartley, this pair are going to be hard to beat.

Of course there is Emma Pearson the light wind rocket ship, and not to be discounted in a breeze either. Lots more women buying boats at Stokes so time to join in the fun at the Nationals, HISC is just around the corner!

The Grafham team making the trip, Mandy certainly more than capable of a string of top 10 results, but for form this year we will have to wait until after Pevensey Bay. Of course no championship would be complete with Richard Majors dry humour and a podium finish at Grafham will buoy him up.

There are others at Grafham with speed they just need to realsie there is sea breeze on the coast not just at Grafham!

From CYC, almost a local, Lucy Boreham certainly in with a challenge if the wind gets up, supported by a fine performance at the home club last week, one to watch.With a number of other Europes at Chi, hopefully the class chair can encourage them along, so close it would be rude not to.

Lurking somewhere between Stokes Bay and Hayling, Ross Harvey, a blast from the past in the class, sailing "The Synergy Boat". But will his coaching hat come off, or will he follow the fleet proffering advice?

There are the Hill Head bover boys of Simon Jones and Nigel Thomas always quick in Solent chop, so they will be praying to the sea breeze gods. Simon just needs to remember he isnt in a wasps and Nigel in an unmentionable!

Overy Staithe boasts a huge fleet of Europes but not a dicky bird from ex Chair Malcolm Morley or his clan, Alex Scholes has been seen earnestly training with new sails surely there is a reason for that, will his boat last the 3 days if it does he will be up at the front.

Of the home crowd at Hayling, quite a number still sitting on the entrance fee, but almost certainly going to be the largest club represented. Of those with a ticket to the game, Jason Russell, Rob Wilder and John Mckelvie more than capable of making an impact.

Then there is 431, strong at the end of last season, but lacking shine on the spring tour, but will familiarity with the venue coupled with the proximity of the bar to the dinghy park, leave him lost somewhere on the second windward work?

Will Tim Laws follow on from his great results in Spain and France and join us parochials, or will the fish on the dogger bank keep him away? Tim!

Chris Gill always likes to enter last minute must be something in his genes but no doubt will be on the money and with his new protege James Clements as training partner he may have gain the just needed edge.

The youths are going to be a battle with all capable of winning Ben Harris will Nacra sailing full time give him the edge or will Adam Catlow take the chocolates, these two will be brimming but they have no idea of the form James Clements has created and of course the unknown speed of Hannah Carruthers in her super splodge.

Hot on the press is Georgia Booth just aceing the die hard men with multiple world and national championships on their shelves at the Fireball Spring championships in Hayling Bay!!! This is my prediction of the dark horse no one knows. She loves colourful boats her lime green Fireball clearly a breath of fresh air. Will her Shocking Pink Europe find the breeze?

In the wings at HISC, Hector Cisneros, second last year, sure to make an appearance. Then there is Tom Morris, new to class, so new that his boat may still be in cans on a shelf in Essex, but a string of RS800 Titles, 200s, the small matter of an Endeavour win, but will it convert to an eleven foot boat, or have well chosen crews dragged him to the front?

We clearly have some wild cards and to boot five continental adventurers that us islanders have no idea how hot they are, but, Jason, Tom, Ross, Lucy, Hector, Georgia,Emma, John why would they travel such long distances?

There is of course Vincent Pham second in 2022 just behind the 10 time champion who must now with Jason up to full speed in his new boat, Hector fully tuned, Ross super quick downwind, Tom knowing Hayling Bay like the back of his hand must have a serious bit of FOMO.

Great to see some ex Europe sailors coming back after a long hiatus,Guy Revil down in the west Country prepared to make the trip. There are quite few others with boats that just seem a bit shy, Guy has shown you the way. From Warsash and Netley we have a group of young Nacra 15 rock stars preparing to press the enter button and some youth spot prizes up for grabs.

Notable absentees so far the Cudmore team from Hamble way, Johnny Sargeant who showed so much promise at a recent Nationals and Graham Hutchings from Belgium.

To take part, you are going to need a ticket, so why not sign up over the weekend and save a few quid, nothing else to do while this rain is blowing through.

Schedule:

• Thursday 29th - informal Hayling Bay familiarisation with RIBsupport 1 till 3 weather dependent.
• BYO food bbq on the beach late afternoon/evening HISC members provide the heat and logistics.
• Friday racing as NOR.
• Friday evening welcome reception with complimentary drinks and nibbles supplied by Synergy Marine and HISC members with spot prizes based on the days sailing.
• Saturday racing as NOR with the addition of the Pip Eagleton long distance trophy being the race back to the bar.
• Saturday evening galley food with long tables in the dining room and with spot prizes and and a talk from our very own local Americas cup guru, and tech dinghy sailing wizard Mr. Tom 'Mozzy' Morris.

As the final carrot, a warm welcome guaranteed from our 14 strong local sailors.

Event support morning briefing and on the water from one female and one male, with multiple championships with specific Europe accolades and ex Olympic coaching experience to their names. This is provided by the class association and is open to the less experienced. Direct message the UK Europe Facebook page for more details.

Of course no championship would be complete without George Crammond now in his shiny almost new boat sticking protein bars all over his boat and entertaining the fleet in many ways. Ahoy George!

Find out more and enter now: www.hisc.co.uk/sailing/2024-open-event-pages/europe-uk-nationals-2024

HISC Europe Open - photo © Peter Hickson