Folkboat National Championship hosted by the Royal Lymington Yacht Club

Gybe'n wins the 2025 Folkboat Nationals at Lymington © Folkboat class

So here I sit Monday afternoon reflecting on a fantastic weekend of racing at the Folkboat National Championship hosted by the Royal Lymington Yacht Club and sponsored by North Sails. 15 boats on the start line from 6 clubs across the Solent, many with dreams of the title.

What an excellent championship it was, Saturday started with a flooding tide and 15 to 18 knots of breeze from the SW, Mike our race officer set a windward leeward course with the first beat taking us up to hurst castle and mark A. A real dog fight up the first beat saw multiple position changes between the top 6 boats Svane, Otter, Mistral, Crakerjack, Tarka and Gybe n' all swopping places up the shore. At the first mark Svane followed by Otter and the Gybe n' rounded in that order closely followed by Mistral and Crakerjack. By the leeward Mark Gybe n' had pushed into 2nd and up the second beat Crackerjack and Mistral had managed to pass Otter so at the finish it was Svane, Gybe n', Crackerjack, Mistral and Otter.

Race two saw the tide start to change and the wind increase, this caught a few out on the line and three boats were called OCS, Svane GBR 702, Crackerjack GBR718 and Tarka GBR 690. All three went back but then needed to work hard to get back into contact with the leaders.

The tide was away and Otter GBR729 judge the lay line to the first mark best of all to round in the lead, followed by Eala GBR754, Riot GBR 695 and Gybe n' GBR 669. Navigational issue for Valhalla meant they lost time having over laid the mark and slipped from 3rd to 6th.

Despite only using white sail on the run Riot maintained her 4th spot at the leeward mark. However, it was Gybe n' who was quickest down the run and pulled through to round 2nd at the leeward mark hot on the heels of Otter.

Up the next beat the sea state increased considerable and it became quite challenging. This gave plenty of opportunities for place changes and so at the finish it was Gybe n' that work forward finishing first followed by Mistral and the Eala with Otter coming home 4th.

Mike Cowan the race officer at this point called time on the day as the sea state with wind over tide and guests at 26 knots had become extremely difficult. Everyone was happy with this decision, and we all beat a retreat to the Club for a BBQ, much chat about the day and a few give aways from our kind Sponsor North Sails.

Day two dawned and the winds had erased considerably with a WNW of 8 to 11 knots, the race team set up only to have a 40 degree shift just before the sequence was to start. So, a short delay while the reset set the course gave everyone time to get out to the start area.

Race 3 got under way with Otter carrying off a perfect PTF (port tack flyer) and crossed the fleet however, at the windward mark it was Tak who reached the windward mark first closely followed by Crackerjack, Otter and Gybe n'

Just after the leeward mark there was a huge wind hole and with Otter opting to tack and Tak opting to foot away inshore Crackerjack and Gybe n' waited for their moment and saw a new breeze line coming. The new breeze came to Gybe n' first and she managed to work round Crackjack and slipped into the lead. At the finish it was Gybe n' followed by Crackerjack then Tak with Mistral moving through to 4th.

Race 4 saw Svane get away from the start and show a clean set of heals to the entire fleet. They lead from start to finish and just kept extending. Valhalla also had a stella start and with the wind now up at 18 knots used their natural assets to go effect keeping the boat bolt upright and get great boat speed. The held off a determined Gybe n' crew who were closing the gap slowly but couldn't quite get there by the line. An excellent job by team Valhalla. At the finish it was Svane followed by Valhalla then Gybe n' and Tarka in 4th.

By race 5 the tide was fully away and the whole fleet was a bit premature to reach the line, so a general recall meant Mike had to increase the penalty for the fleet. This had the desire effect and all, but one was clean away. Svane pick up their 3rd OCS of the regatta but with the Uniform flying this meant a 20% penalty. They retired having secure 2nd place overall already.

The fleet continued on and Mistral, Tak, Crackerjack and Gybe n' enjoyed some close racing. Mistral led round the first leeward mark but Gybe n' slowly overhauled them and it finished Gybe n', Mistral, Cidron too and Otter.

Gybe n' took the championship having never been out of the top 3, Svane was 2nd overall and Mistral 3rd. Some great racing was enjoyed by all and there were battles and stores up and down the whole fleet.

Many thanks go to Mike and his race team from once again delivering some fantastic championship courses, too North Sails for their sponsorship and to the Royal Lymington for hosting the Nordic Folkboat fleet.

Now look forward to the Taittinger and 60th Folkboat week at Royal Solent YC in Yarmouth and Battle of Britain Regatta at Royal Airforce YC in Hamble after a great start to the Regatta Season.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Folkboat nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here