English Braids Mirror Nationals @ Brightlingsea Sailing Club

Sunshine in Brightlingsea for the Mirror nationals © Tim Bees / www.fotoboat.com

Sunshine in Brightlingsea for the Mirror nationals © Tim Bees / www.fotoboat.com

For many years Brightlingsea SC has been an active and leading Mirror Club, producing many top sailors including World Champions in the class, so it was fitting that the Club hosted what many of the competitors have commented on the best Championship they have attended. The four day championships attracted 72 boats in total.

The 2007 Mirror Nationals were sponsored by English Braids, whose generous support allowed some great features to be organised.

The Mirror is a fantastic boat to learn to sail in, first as a beginner and then sharpening one’s racing skills in a world class fleet. The Class Association organises many training events for all levels, so it was no surprise that the two days of training organised before the Nationals proved very popular with thirty boats attending, led by RYA National Squad Coach Peter Aitken, assisted by locals Craig Bond and Dave Saker. As has been the pattern this summer the weather for the training was typically wet and often windy, nevertheless the sixty sailors came away improving their sailing and learning a bit more about racing at Brightlingsea.

With the start of the August Bank Holiday Weekend, it was a pleasant surprise to see that summer had arrived, and Brightlingsea was living up to its billing as the Sunshine Coast. Perhaps for the first time in months we managed to see four days of consecutive warm sunshine, although with a stubborn land breeze it took some time for the sea breeze to build on each day, giving rise to light winds and plenty of shifts.

Mirror sailors are a helpful and friendly bunch and it was great to see the majority of the fleet entering into the spirit of the Buddy System. For some of the youngsters competing in their first championship there was the delight at being teamed with World, European and National Champions. The first challenge was to shuffle the dinghy park so buddies were parked next to each other.

Race 1 saw an eager fleet pushing the line, and with the tide under them it was not surprising that it took two general recalls and the black flag to get the Nationals under way. At the finish it was the Grey family showing the way home, with Ed Grey and Hannah Mitchell winning from David and Beth Grey, with local sisters Emma and Martina Barry third.

The end of Day 1 saw the Barry sisters heading the leader board. The competitors and their families enjoyed a superb Commodore’s Reception and Buffet, with the Brightlingsea Mayor as guest of honour.

The Chairman of English Braids, Peter Earp visited the National Championship, flying over the racing in his helicopter and was very impressed by the standard of sailing throughout the fleet.

Day 2 saw more warm weather and a similar pattern of the first races held in a light land breeze, followed by a light sea breeze, with some shifty conditions. After a relatively slow start on Day 1 (10th and 6th), defending champions Hector and son Ben Cisneros, stepped up a gear with two bullets and a 5th, making it clear that they were looking to make it a hat trick of National titles.

The first two days were also designated as the Mirror Youth and Junior Championships, this saw local girls teams walk away with both titles with Emma and Martina Barry crowned Youth Champions from fellow Brightlingsea members, Chris Rust and Oliver Newman. Millie Newman and Sarah Bines won the Junior Championships from Tom and James Lovesey.

The evening entertainments started with an excellent hog roast followed by games on the beach, including tug of war for the more energetic.

Day 3 again bought similar weather conditions, starting with a light land breeze followed by a sea breeze setting in mid afternoon. The first race of the day saw locals, David Conlon and Mitchell Bond, win from father Craig Bond and daughter Charlotte, with the Barry sisters completing the local trio on the podium. Hector and Ben again had another good day at the office, with a first and second to put them on top of the leader board going into the final day of the Championships.

Again the final day, bought light shifty winds and plenty of sunshine. 2005 world Champion, Ross Kearney sailing with Katy Jones made a strong effort to add the National Championship title to their growing list of wins, and despite winning the penultimate race by some margin, Hector and Ben’s second place was sufficient to give them their third National Championships.

The final race saw a fantastic win for RYA Zone Squad members Charlotte Fitzgerald (13 years old) and Tara Bottomley, from fellow squad members Hugo Sloper and Aidan McCarthy.

Hector and Ben Cisneros were crowned 2008 National Champions, making it a hat trick of wins, a feat only surpassed by double Olympic medallist Ian Walker, with four straight Championship wins. Hector is off to represent the Mirror Class at the Endeavour Trophy, to find the champion of champions, looking to improve on his third place in 2006. Ben will next be competing at the RYA Zone Championships at Weymouth. 2005 World Champion, Ross Kearney, sailing P+B with Katy Jones, secured second place, with Emma and Martina Barry, third overall. The Barry sisters were also ladies champions and top youths.

Hugo Sloper and Aidan McCarthy in seventh place were top juniors in their first National Championships. With so many prize winners, it was no surprise that Brightlingsea won the top club trophy.

This year the Mirror Class introduced a new Classic Trophy for Mirrors built before 1990 with gaff rigs, this fine trophy was won by the Read family, with Dad Stewart on the helm, crewed by different children at various times.

Special praise must go to Phil Rust and his Race Team who managed to complete all tens races on schedule, despite the challenge of light sea breezes fighting a stubborn land breeze during the whole of the Championships. The ability to re-align the course quickly certainly helped.

Whilst the main fleet were battling it out, a small group of single handers were competing to find their National Champion. The fleet contained a mixture of fathers who didn’t want to be left ashore whilst their offspring were enjoying themselves, and those who enjoy the delights of sailing a Mirror on ones own. Class Secretary Simon Lovesey and Single Handed Rep, Angus Carlisle enjoyed a very close battle, separated by one point after ten races, with Angus taking the Championships.

In addition to title sponsorship from English Braid’s, support from the following companies : P&B , Speed , Z Spars ,Mersea trailers , Tesco ,Morgan Marine and French Marine allowed a daily prize draw to be run. With free competitors meals and evening socials all adding to the atmosphere of a memorable championships.

Despite the light fickle winds, many of the competitors have ranked the 2007 Mirror Nationals as the best they have attended ever, attributing the warm friendly welcome from all the Brightlingsea members as a key factor. The Mirror class is very friendly and family orientated which all helps to make the class championships a thoroughly enjoyable affair.

English Braids were very pleased with their involvement with the 2007 Mirror Championships, and the Mirror Class Association is pleased to announce they have committed to long term support, including the 2009 World Championships which the UK are hosting.

Overall Results: (Click here to fill in Gear Guide information)