Sandhopper National Championship 2025 at Thorpe Bay Yacht Club
by Clara Mintern 8 Sep 19:21 BST
6-7 September 2025
And the winner is Steve Hopper's 'Sand Swan', expertly helmed by Alex Farrell. Congratulations Alex and Steve, once again! Runner up is Mark Jewell's 'The Dogs... 5', Paul Farrell crewing. Congratulations Mark and Paul!
'Wild Gull' and 'Blue Jacket' won the pairings competition; well done Kevin Whittle, Mat Liss, David Johnson and Penny Allard.
The Barry Duce 'golden anchor' award was resurrected, and won by 'Fanta Sea's' Johnno Gillies & Jojo Gillies, for pulling up their own mooring!
First class racing was provided by Race Officers Allen Burrell and Paul Beasley, previous Sandhopper owners and National champions.
A super turnout of 21 boats, with 5 visiting boats from Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club and Harlow & Blackwater Sailing Club providing plenty of action to be enjoyed by our supporters on the balcony and a great spectacle for our seafront. What a great weekend, with superb breakfasts, and an excellent Saturday evening meal, enjoying the camaraderie of old Sandhopper friends and new. Superb service provided by Kerry, Chef Jack and team in the club house.
Thank you to Beverly Warrington and Howard Warrington for their assistance to the race officers, and to the support teams Scott Weller (providing personal RIB), Mike Floyd, Martin Swindon, Adrian Bunting, Sue Bunting and David Maynard (photographer).
We are most grateful to our class chairman Kevin Whittle, and committee members Mark Robinson and Harrison Floyd for coordinating the event and organising sponsorship for the class this year.
Many thanks to our very generous sponsors; Tempus, Woodbridge & Waldringfield Boatyard and Hunter's Solicitors.
Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Sandhopper nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here
| Pos | Sail No | Boat Name | Helm | Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 35 | Sand Swan | Alex Farrall | Steve Hopper | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ‑3 | 6 |
| 2 | 156 | The Dogs 5 | Mark Jewell | Paul Farrall | 3 | 3 | ‑6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| 3 | 33 | Sea Phantom | Peter Thompson | Clara Hunter | ‑4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
| 4 | 162 | Disco Inferno | Paul Graves | Rob Graves | ‑9 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 21 |
| 5 | 28 | Wightstand | Paul Gray | Julia Batchelor | 2 | 5 | 5 | ‑6 | 5 | 5 | 22 |
| 6 | 154 | Bluejacket | David Johnson | Penny Allard | 8 | 6 | (OCS) | 3 | 6 | 6 | 29 |
| 7 | 150 | Little Wing | Dominic Speller | Pippa Mintern | 10 | ‑11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 44 |
| 8 | 27 | Remedy | Chas Gibson | Sean Harman | 12 | 8 | (RET) | 10 | 7 | 8 | 45 |
| 9 | 29 | Wild Gull | Kevin Whittle | Matt Lis | ‑17 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 46 |
| 10 | 152 | Sand Spirit | Ron Suffield | Neil Clark | 7 | 12 | 13 | (RET) | 10 | 7 | 49 |
| 11 | 26 | Cracker | Mark Robinson | Janet Wilsmer | 5 | ‑13 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 50 |
| 12 | 40 | Whisper | Paul Wilkinson | Craig Beech | ‑15 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 56 |
| 13 | 14 | Zeus | Harrison Floyd | Gary Levy | ‑13 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 56 |
| 14 | 12 | Sandstorm | Howard Warrington | Mark Mawditt / Alex Warrington | 6 | 7 | 3 | (RET) | DNC | DNC | 60 |
| 15 | 11 | Scruffy | Andrew Hannah | Simon Robinson | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 14 | (DNC) | 73 |
| 16 | 43 | Range Life | Steve Taylor | Pete Brenchley & Martin Cutmore | 18 | ‑20 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 80 |
| 17 | 23 | Fanta Sea | Johnno Gillies | JoJo Gillies | 11 | 19 | 9 | (RET) | DNC | DNC | 83 |
| 18 | 57 | Primo | Mark Harman | Team Primo | 16 | 17 | 16 | 12 | (RET) | DNC | 83 |
| 19 | 41 | Squiffy | James Reid | Kai Zhao | 19 | 18 | 17 | 14 | (RET) | DNC | 90 |
| 20 | 157 | Obsession | Neil Hurrell | Jeremy Sandford | 20 | 16 | 15 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 95 |
| 21 | 10 | True Blue | Phil Carr | Daisy Floyd | 21 | 21 | 19 | 17 | (DNC) | DNC | 100 |
