Mirror Northern Championship 2025 at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club

Mirror Northern Championship at Derwent © David Coady

12 Mirrors ventured North over the weekend of 7/8 June to Derwent Reservoir SC for the Mirror Northern Area Championships. Sailors came from as far as the Midlands and North Wales as well as a few more local boats.

Light winds greeted the fleet, although once launched a rain squall went through before the wind dropping for a light and shifty day of racing.

Phil Smith and super crew Lucy had a challenge in race 1 with their main halyard snapping and had to head back to shore to repair and just made it out for the second race, so Becky and Ella took the first bullet of the weekend followed by Tim and Benji Hall.

Mirror Northern Championship at Derwent - photo © David Coady

This obviously didn't phase Phil and Lucy as they dominated the rest of the day only being beaten by Mirror legend Dave Gebhard and grandson Edward who won race 3 in Mirror number 319 which was saved from the bonfire and restored last winter.

So after five races the fleet headed in for a BBQ and much needed rest. I think it is safe to say that most Mirror sailors did not join the Newcastle and Durham varsity social which went on until around 3am, although we did hear that Phil was drinking tequila with some of the students. Maybe this is the secret to his success...?

Mirror Northern Championship at Derwent - photo © David Coady

Sunday brought a gusty and windy day, still with plenty of shifts to play with.

Phil and Lucy were a bit punchy on the start of the first race, which was a joined start with the club race resulting in lots of boats to dodge. They did port tack the whole fleet, but were called OCS, leaving the win to Jethro Gebhard taking over helm duty from his Dad with his son, Edward crewing.

Winners Phil and Lucy Smith with DRSC Commodore David Coady - Mirror Northern Championship at Derwent - photo © David Coady

Phil and Lucy then showed they are just as good in the breeze by winning the next 3 races. So Phil and Lucy comfortably won the event, but the next 3 places were only separated by 3 points. Consistency of Tim and Benji Hall gave them second, followed by Oliver Smith, crewed by Mum, Naomi and then Becky and Ella.

Special mentions go to:
Rose Versey and Alex Welfare, both junior sailors, sailing a borrowed Mirror without spinnaker and holding their own amongst the much newer Winder boats.
Matt Rhodes and son Zack had a slight coming together with a club racer resulting in lots of duct tape needed to cover a hole.
Mark Crabtree in his first ever race event took the single handed honours for the weekend beating his brother Dave.
PRO, Callum did an exceptional job all weekend setting good courses and keeping the races rolling quickly.

Thanks to all the volunteers who made the event happen and to Trident UK for prizes .

Matt Rhodes and Zack - Mirror Northern Championship at Derwent - photo © David Coady

Overall Results:

Mark Crabtree - Mirror Northern Championship at Derwent - photo © David Coady