Contender Northern Championship 2026 at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club

Contender Northern Championship at Yorkshire Dales © Chris Hore

Sailors travelled up from as far as the south coast to be met by warm, sunny conditions which belied Grimwith's reputation. The forecast was for light and variable winds on Saturday but picking up on Sunday.

After a friendly welcome and pizza on Friday evening for the early arrivers and a relaxed morning in the sunshine as the remainder prepared their boats, the first of three back-to-back races started after lunch in warm, sunny conditions and light, variable breezes. James Spikesley made the best of the breeze, followed by Peter Snowden, establishing the pattern for the weekend. The Hooton followed them to the finish with Tom coming in third followed by dad, Bill, in fourth.

Contender Northern Championship at Yorkshire Dales - photo © Chris Hore

The second race got away promptly in similar conditions. Local Neil Ferguson and Dick Buttner made it first to the windward mark, but they were overhauled by Spikesley and Snowden, with Michael Pullen, another local, pulling through to third followed by Simon Mussell.

The breeze filled in for the final race of the day. Snowden and Martin Metcalfe read the breeze right to get to the first mark and get away from the fleet, Spikesley worked his way through to take second and Tom Hooton took Metcalfe with a gust on the final reach. With Spikesley and Snowden sharing out the first two positions they were strong overnight leaders with Chris Howe, their nearest competitor with two fifths and seventh.

Contender Northern Championship at Yorkshire Dales - photo © Chris Hore

Sunday woke to cool, overcast conditions, a less optimistic forecast and more uncertain winds which made more testing conditions for the race officer, Stewart Walker. The first race led to a change in order, with Metcalfe reading the tricky breeze to get first to the windward mark and extend a good lead. He was followed by Snowden who gradually worked the breezes and caught Metcalfe round the final mark as he tried to navigate the Phantoms who were sharing the open meeting with the Contenders. Simon Mussel finished in third with Spikesley scoring his worst result of fourth.

With the winds shifting around, both Phantoms and Contenders had general recalls in race 5 but got away at second attempt with two boats being over the line, one being Snowden. Spikesley once again hit the front with Tom Hooton just making it to the windward mark from the left side of the course as Howe and Metcalfe followed in from the right, finishing in that order with Snowden close behind after his restart.

For the final race and a further change of course as the wind swung, the wind died on the start line, with most of the fleet at the port end. Eventually, the port end seemed to pay and Spikesley once again made the best of it, to secure the overall win. Rodger White finally showed his light wind form to take second followed by Snowden, giving him second overall, and local Nick Arran took fourth.

Contender Northern Championship at Yorkshire Dales - photo © Chris Hore

Overall Results:

Contender Northern Championship at Yorkshire Dales - photo © Chris Hore