British Moth National Championship 2025 a Hollowell Sailing Club
by Elaine Laverty 11 Aug 16:15 BST
7-9 August 2025
The British Moth Fleet once again visited Hollowell Sailing Club in Northamptonshire for their National Championship. There were 15 entrants from 11 different clubs, unfortunately due to illness reigning champion Tim Davison from Medley Sailing Club was unable to attend & defend his title leaving things a bit more open as multiple winner Toby Cooper from Broxbourne Sailing Club was attending but carrying an injury.
The forecast for the three days of the event was looking good with the promise of wind, sunshine & perfect temperatures.
After a briefing from John Burford who had travelled all the way from Fowey in Cornwall to be Race Officer for the event & a light lunch it was all systems go.
Race 1 saw the fleet head off from the club site in what seem benign conditions only to find it somewhat windier away from the shore. First victim of the strong winds was Gavin Goodall (Telford) who capsized & had to come ashore as his mast had nearly unstepped itself. Once the course had been set & the fleet got away it was clear to see where the battle for the championship was going to be as Toby Cooper, Andy Matthews (Fowey Gallants) & Toby Smith (Medley) all broke away from the front of the fleet & stayed away to finish in that order. The rest of the fleet battled it out for the minor places & unusually there was a tie for 7th place between Steve Baker (Leamington Spa) & Peter Angwin (Severn).
Race 2 was sailed 'back to back' with the first race, there was a slight change to the course as the wind had shifted slightly. The main protagonists got away cleanly followed by the trio of Colin Hall (Hunts), Gary Hogan (Emberton Park) & Gary Tompkins (Hunts) but due to a 'navigational error' leading to them all retiring it meant Elaine Laverty (Leamington Spa), Steve Baker & Gavin Goodall were able to mop up the minor places & pretty much everyone else either didn't start or retired due to the strong winds.
After Race 2 boats were quickly packed away, cake was eaten & everyone gathered for the AGM. Andrew Parsons (Medley) agreed to stay on as Chairman for another year assisted by Ian Edwards as Treasurer & Gavin Goodall as Secretary. Colin Hall stood down from his role as technical advisor & was duly thanked.
Friday morning saw the arrival of several sailors who had not been able to attend the first day. The forecast of lighter winds was only slightly correct as it was still fairly breezy
Race 3 was the first race that saw the whole fleet of 15 on the start line, most of the boats made a clean start but Gavin who got involved in a collision & Elaine who got stuck in irons on the line watched the fleet sail into the distance, when they eventually got away they sailed a different line to the mark & passed most of the fleet to find themselves just behind the 3 leaders. At the front of the fleet there was a real battle brewing between Toby Cooper & Andy with some good tacking duels upwind & fast planing reaches with Andy eventually taking the win, Elaine held on for 4th place & Gary Tompkins came though fast for 5th. This was one of only two races where the whole fleet finished.
Race 4 was held after lunch, this was perhaps the only race where it looked like it might not go to form with Toby Cooper only just off the front of the fleet & Toby Smith & Andy Matthews having to battle through the fleet to eventually take 2nd & 3rd place. Daniel Rings (Medley) showed some really good form with a 4th place finish & some excellent boat speed, Jeremy Gorbold (Burghfield) would have finished further up the fleet if he hadn't had a late capsize.
Race 5 was held straight after race 4 & it was back to normal service at the front of the fleet & Elaine & Gary Tompkins were 4th & 5th respectively both showing good boat speed in some challenging conditions. Bob Bourne (Up River) had his best race of the series in 6th place.
The last 2 races of the Championship were scheduled for Saturday morning, Toby Cooper had already got things tied up so decided to celebrate his 60th Birthday from the shore!
Race 6 saw almost 'Champagne' conditions with a good breeze & beautiful sunshine. Andy made the most of Toby Cooper's absence & led pretty much from the start with Toby Smith in hot pursuit & Gary Tompkins having an excellent start. Colin Hall was also going well in his pursuit of the Veterans trophy & Elaine was once again in the mix. Things began to unravel for Toby Smith on the second lap when he sailed towards the wrong mark & only realised when he had sailed into a wind shadow. This left Gary Tompkins in second place & looking good until Elaine overhauled him on the upwind leg to take 2nd place & Toby Smith also passed him for 3rd. Gary Hogan scored his best result so far with a 6th place.
Race 7 saw only 8 boats competing, Andy had another excellent race to take the win with Toby Smith not far behind. Jeremy sailed a strong race to take 4th place & prove that even old boats with older style masts & sails can be competitive in the right hands & that we should all be scared if he decided to invest in a modern boat!
After the racing had finished boats were quickly packed away, prizes were presented & thanks given once again to Hollowell Sailing Club for looking after us so well.
Overall Results:
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| Pos | Fleet | Boat Name | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Senior | There is No
Spoon | 887 | Toby
Cooper | Broxbourne | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | (DNS) | (DNS) | 6 |
| 2nd | Senior | X Moth | 881 | Andy
Mathews | Fowey
Gallants | (2) | 2 | 1 | (3) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 3rd | Senior | Blue One | 888 | Toby Smith | Medley | (3) | (3) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
| 4th | Senior | Wobbiley Bob | 898 | Elaine
Laverty | Leamington
Spa | (4) | 4 | 4 | (5) | 4 | 2 | 3 | 17 |
| 5th | Senior | Lapwing | 883 | Gary
Tomkins | Hunts | (6) | (NSC) | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 25 |
| 6th | Senior | | 890 | Steve
Baker | Leamington
Spa | 7.5 | 5 | (12) | (10) | 8 | 8 | 7 | 35.5 |
| 7th | Veteran | Ockhams
Razor | 856 | Colin Hall | Hunts | 5 | (NSC) | 7 | 8 | 11 | 5 | (RET) | 36 |
| 8th | Senior | Northern Soul | 894 | Gary
Hogan | Emberton
Park | 9 | (NSC) | 9 | 9 | (10) | 6 | 6 | 39 |
| 9th | | | 336 | Jeremy
Gorbold | Burghfield | (DNS) | (DNS) | 13 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 42 |
| 10th | Senior | Shwarzeneggar | 812 | Gavin
Goodall | Telford | (DNS) | 6 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7 | (RET) | 51 |
| 11th | Senior | | 859 | Peter
Angwin | Servern | 7.5 | (RET) | 14 | 13 | 7 | 10 | (RET) | 51.5 |
| 12th | | | 897 | Daniel
Rings | Medley | (DNS) | (DNS) | 11 | 4 | 12 | 11 | RET | 54 |
| 13th | Veteran | | 896 | Bob
Bourne | | (RET) | (DNS) | 8 | 12 | 6 | RET | DNS | 58 |
| 14th | | | 817 | Sam
Mason | | (DNS) | (DNS) | 6 | 11 | RET | DNS | DNS | 65 |
| 15th | Senior | Fidgit | 836 | Andrew
Parsons | Medley | (RET) | (RET) | 15 | 15 | 13 | RET | DNS | 75 |
1st Veteran - Colin Hall
1st Lady - Elaine Laverty
1st Vintage Boat - Jeremy Gorbold
Endeavour Trophy - Steve Baker
Tom Copper Memorial Trophy (personal handicap) - Elaine Laverty
Team Trophy - Toby Cooper, Gary Tompkins & Jeremy Gorbold