Hurricane 5.9 Nationals at Minnis Bay Sailing Club

The jubilee weekend of 1st to the 4th June saw a record entry of 50 boats attend the 16th National Championships. This record, not achieved since 1995 before the introduction of the Formula 18 fleet, was testament to the design of the boat and that there is still the requirement of simple one design performance racing.

The event was to be hosted by Minnis Bay Sailing Club, a club not renowned for hosting major National championships, but by the end of the week all competitors agreed the organisation and the race management would rival any major commercial yacht club more associated with hosting these type of events. In fact, it is a wonder that no other fleet have discovered the club. It was the small details, which made all the difference, such as turning up with on Friday to find a space had been allocated to each boat, and the grass marked with the sail number.

Day one saw the fleet launch for an12.00 start in bright sunshine and a force 4; classic Hurricane conditions. The race officer had opted for shorter legs with many rounding so the first windward mark would be where the race was won or lost. First blood would be to Jason Smith and Julia Plumstead from Stokes Bay; Duncan Ward and Mike Yates second and Ben Goodland and Mat Young third. The second race would be much of the same but with an early lead taken by Russell Clark and Penny Mountford, however they were slowly reeled in by Will Sunnocks and Mark Self to be passed on the last leg with Ben Goodland and Mat Young to post another third.

Day two and Race 3 saw the leaders coming from those who had headed out to sea for breeze. Jason Smith led from start to finish with Will Sunnocks second and Dave and Jo Bartlett third. Race 4 and with an ebb tide the tactics were to tack inshore, however it was the boats that went out to sea for the stronger breeze who came off best. The Bartletts came first, another second for Will Sunnocks and Jason Smith coming in third. With Race 5 the tactics were to tack off early to get inshore and out of the tide. A first Nationals win for Neil Connelly and Richard Hanmore from Stone followed by local favourites Simon Northrop and Sandy Jordan with Will Sunnocks third.

Day three and again another three races scheduled. The forecast was for the wind to build later on in the day but at 11.00 there was very little breeze. The fleet eventually got away only after a general recall and the black flag. Once again it was Jason and Julia who posted their third first. Race 7 and with the expected wind starting to fill in the fleet were eager to get started, and they did after two recalls and one black flag. Lee Morgan and Dan Tinsdale were first into the stronger breeze ensuring that they were first to the windward mark. However the finishing order was William Sunnocks, Jason Smith and Russell Clark with Morgan 5th. With 3 firsts, Jason and Julia had moved into 1st place by one point at the end of Monday.

Last day and 3 races were scheduled. With little or no wind and a strong ebb tide, racing would prove to be interesting. At 10.30 the race officer decided the wind had settled sufficiently for a start. Jason Smith made his way up the middle of the course, unfortunately he hit the windward mark therefore attempting to complete his turns against the tide. It was a valiant effort but it allowed Will Sunnocks and Duncan Ward through, finishing in that order. Due to the lack of wind the remainder of the days racing was cancelled.

Will Sunnocks and Mark Self had won the 2002 Hurricane National championships on the last buoy of the last race, further more they had won by just one point from Jason Smith and Julia Plumstead; a worthy winner by one of the UK top cat crews.

This was a very memorable event. A big thanks must go to the club. In addition thanks to the class sponsors Crewsaver and Bolle Sunglasses for supplying the prizes, to Red Insurance the class insurer, to Andy Webb of A W Sailboats and Simon Northropt of Northropt Sails.

The Hurricane fleet will now go off to continue to dominate the many long distance races around the country.

Overall Results:

Results generated and submitted using Sailwave - completely free Windows sailing scoring software