North Devon Yacht Club: Sport Nationals
Saturday 15th - Sunday 16th September 2018

Thirty-nine Sprint 15 sailors gathered at the home of the North Devon Yacht Club at Instow on Friday the 14th September for the Sport Nationals – the two day regatta for single-handed Sprint 15 catamarans with main, jib and trapeze. This was the highest turnout in almost 10 years, with a record 8 youth sailors!

Due to an early tide, the first race was set off promptly 8.30am by race officer Jonathan Miles in a force 3-4 south westerly with triangular courses in challenging tides.  Local NDYC sailor, Anthony Gray, led the first race from start to gun, giving local fans much encouragement.  Sam Heaton (NDYC), David Grant (NDYC) and Liam Thom (Shanklin SC ) were fighting it out for second.

Thom got ahead on the final leg to take second with David Grant finishing third.

Sam Heaton got the best of the starts in the second race and was unlucky to be passed by Tom Gall (Warsash SC in the last minute who took the honours on the line.

The third and final race of the day was sailed with a strong outgoing tide. Reigning Youth National Champion Hector Bunclark (NDYC) led most of the race, at one point with dad Liam making it a 1-2 Bunclark,  only to be defeated by the tide at the last leeward mark.  The race was taken by Fraser Manning (NDYC) from Paul Grattage and Steve Sawford to ensure honours were well spread around the fleet at the end of day 1.

There was an excellent, very well-attended barbecue on the Saturday night, with most stocking up for the predicted high winds on Sunday. Overnight positions were; Thom first, Manning second and Heaton in third, all separated by just 3 points.

Sunday arrived with less wind than forecast, with a southerly force 4.

In race 4, after a general recall caused by a strong incoming tide, Grattage got away well and led from start to finish ahead of Thom and Gray. Many were wondering if this was going to be a great Grattage comeback.

Race 5 was where the battle for the title really mounted. Manning was led by Thom, who couldn’t be caught. Manning fought off Grattage to come home in second place with Grattage in third.

In the final race, Manning again led, knowing a win would give him the title. Thom skilfully passed Manning but Manning took back the lead on the beat.  Thom passed again and with that took the win and with it the National Championship. Manning finished second with Gray third.

The last day had shuffled the overall scores, knocking Sam Heaton into sixth behind Steve Sawford (in fifth) and Paul Grattage into third. Anthony Gray just missed out on the podium, finishing fourth.

Hector Bunclark retained the Youth National title with a creditable 8th place overall being in the top 10 in every race, Yvonne Pike (Shanklin SC) was first lady and George Love was the first over sixty helmsman. Anthony Gray and Aaron Kirby (Royal Western Sailing Club) took the Pro-Am trophy. 

The event was supported by several sponsors of the event, including Windsport and The Commodore Hotel. 

Report by Fraser Manning.  Pictures by Martin Penny

Race 5

Race 5

Race 4

Race 4

Race 6

Race 6




Results:

Click for: Full Results with all Sub-Competitions

OVERALL RESULTS
Competitors Races - 6 of 6 Sailed (No. of Discards: 2) Event Placings
Name Sail ClubRace 1Race 2Race 3Race 4Race 5Race 6Points Place
Liam Thom2018Shanklin Sailing Club2 4 7 2 1 1 61
Fraser Manning1977North Devon Yacht Club11 3 1 7 2 2 82
Paul Grattage1957Shanklin Sailing Club39 DNF5 2 1 3 10 113
Anthony Gray1893North Devon Yacht Club1 7 20 3 7 3 144
Tom Gall19Warsash Sailing Club8 1 15 11 4 4 175 ¹
Sam Heaton1972North Devon Yacht Club4 2 10 5 14 6 176 ¹
Steve Sawford1989Rutland Water Sailing Club9 8 3 4 6 5 187
Hector Bunclark1906North Devon Yacht Club10 6 6 6 8 9 268
Mark Aldridge2027Grafham Water Sailing Club5 12 24 8 10 7 309
David Grant1943North Devon Yacht Club3 13 4 17 16 12 3210 ¹
George Love2019Carsington Sailing Club14 9 9 9 5 11 3211 ¹
Ed Tuite Dalton2023Draycote Water Sailing Club7 18 5 13 9 38 DNF3412
Jon Pearse1339Marconi Sailing Club23 10 12 10 12 19 4413
Erling Holmberg1981Shanklin Sailing Club19 11 8 15 17 40 DNC5114
Charles Watson1237Halifax Sailing Club12 19 11 12 21 38 DNF5415
Alex Raymont525North Devon Yacht Club13 23 13 16 19 13 5516
Richard Chidwick1545North Devon Yacht Club6 15 14 21 22 22 5617
Aaron Kirby638Royal Western Yacht Club25 36 DSQ25 20 11 8 6418
Jeremy Rowe1500North Devon Yacht Club15 16 23 18 23 17 6619
John Manning1955Beaver Sailing Club16 21 22 23 13 29 7220
Daniel Craner685North Devon Yacht Club18 40 DNC16 28 27 14 7521
Ian Mounce1908North Devon Yacht Club20 29 26 14 31 16 7622
Eamonn Browne1861Creeksea Sailing Club22 14 19 32 26 23 7823
Chris Murphy17Shanklin Sailing Club26 20 27 25 18 18 8124
Ray Gall1914Carsington Sailing Club17 30 28 22 39 DNF15 8225 ¹
Liam Bunclark1951North Devon Yacht Club28 17 17 24 24 34 8226 ¹
Keith Heason1424North Devon Yacht Club21 25 30 19 29 21 8627
Yvonne Pike1220Shanklin Sailing Club29 22 18 29 28 26 9428
Simon Hare2026Oxford Sailing Club17 31 29 33 32 20 9729
Amy Barker1936North Devon Yacht Club33 27 32 31 15 25 9830 ¹
Derek James1744Draycote Water Sailing Club24 24 40 DNC26 30 24 9831 ¹
Daniel Drew1540Royal Western Yacht Club39 DNF40 DNC21 30 20 28 9932
Tom Gurney1643Royal Western Yacht Club39 DNF26 35 39 DNF25 27 11333
Nick Day1888North Devon Yacht Club32 40 DNC33 27 33 32 12434
Joe Talbot Adams1485North Devon Yacht Club30 36 DNF31 35 34 30 12535
Harry Gale1849North Devon Yacht Club31 36 DSQ34 37 35 31 13136
Ben Penny1200North Devon Yacht Club34 33 38 DSQ34 36 33 13437
Ben Duhig1681North Devon Yacht Club39 DSQ32 36 36 37 38 DNF14138
Keith Chidwick2016Queen Mary Sailing Club40 DNC40 DNC40 DNC40 DNC40 DNC40 DNC16039