Hornet National Championship 2024 at Dabchicks Yacht Club - Day 2

Hornet Nationals at Dabchicks day 2 © Will Russell

Expecting lighter winds on Sunday, small Full English breakfasts were enjoyed in the local cafe, the lightweights were smiling and the rarely seen lesser spotted exercising crew even made an appearance!

Weaving in and out of the moorings at low water on the way out to the race course proved to be the least stressful part of the day for most.

Race 1 was started and all was clear for a change. With the breeze dropping and shifts of up to 40 degrees, to say the first beat was tricky would be an understatement and every beat after that. Unless, of course, your name is Michael McNamara! With a commanding lead at the windward mark, McNamara/Chatterton lead the race for the full 4 laps and although the pack behind made progress towards the leaders, they kept a substantial lead to the finish. Behind them, however, it was a bun fight. Jones/Anderson went to round second but unfortunately deployed his sea anchor onto the windward mark and let several boats through. Father & Son team of Gareth & Will Russell actually rounded second, followed by Curtis/Poulloin, Jones/Anderson and Garry/Woolner.

The lead boats tussled upwind and downwind with multiple place changes until the final run where, with a marginal split left and right, Curtis/Poulloin kept their second, followed by surprise Strangler & Pippa Rogers who played the run perfectly. The Russel boys followed closely in 4th and there was a tussle at the last minute at the give mark between Garry & Jones forcing Dick to fly the kite while his poor crew held the pole out (with his hand trapped between the pole and the pole ring on the mast) to the finish, just hanging onto 5th.

Race 2 was much the same. McNamara flew out into the lead and this was his only place for the race, showing a masterclass in fickle winds. The rest of the fleet, bar Skudder/Hills who were nipping but not biting at McNamaras heels, spent 3 laps of shifts changing places like members of parliament after a general election.....

Strangler/Rogers had an expectional final beat to sail them into third place again, followed by a real race between the Saxton boys, Coombe, Garry and Eric Styles crewed by Catherine Westbrook.

Garry pulled out the downwind afterburner again to slip through Styles and Coombe but the Saxtons wouldn't let him have his way into 4th.

A special mention must go to the crews. It was a real day of in and out, up and down and the chairman in particular couldn't even face the stairs after crawling round on the raised crew deck.

Hornet Nationals at Dabchicks day 2 - photo © Pippa Rogers

A BBQ hosted by the club proved most popular and Justin Jones took the first opportunity to take the first plate!

Hornet Nationals at Dabchicks day 2 - photo © Pippa Rogers

Monday is looking light so for now we're going to watch the football...

Results after Day 2: