National 18 Inland Championship 2022 at Tamesis Club
by Alastair Banks 6 Sep 2022 08:39 BST
3 September 2022
Five National 18s attended Tamesis Club on Sunday 4 September to take part in the annual N18 Inland Championship. The fleet saw a mixture of different generations of 18s ranging from Genevieve, the first Proctor designed 18 built, through to the Phil Morrison designed Ultras in the form of Ace and Optimus Prime. The fleet were treated to sun, wind, and bacon butties upon arrival.
Race 1 saw the fleet sent on a long beat up to the windward mark which had been set just below Kingston bridge. The bottom mark had been laid just above Lensbury club. This enabled Ace and Optimus Prime to make use of their spinnakers, to good effect as they left the rest of the fleet, comprising of the older generations of 18s which included Genevieve, Zephyr and Antedote, behind them. Ace, helmed by Ollie Houseman, mastered the conditions quickly and took the bullet.
Race 2 saw the fleet on the same course, where conditions proved to be lively at times. As per Race 1, Ace took the bullet with Optimus Prime (helmed by Kaan Yargici) in hot pursuit behind. The rest of the fleet followed behind.
During lunch, Kaan Yargichi paid a moving tribute to Henry Defries, the previous class captain, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Henry's boat, Zephyr, was helmed by Peter Impey and crewed by Caroline Vines. Peter sailed Zephyr to a very respectable 3rd overall for both trophies - proving that Zephyr is still a quick boat.
Races 3 and 4 were held after lunch. The conditions remaining broadly like Races 1 and 2. Race 3 was a repeat of Races 1 and 2. Race 4 saw a shorter course laid by the Race Officer, Joe McLaughlin. Ace took Races 3 and 4 to complete a clean sweep and take home the Maddison Cup and N18 Trophy.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat Name | Helm | Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|
| Inlands |
|---|
| 1 | Ace | Ollie Houseman | E Tumosa | ‑1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | Optimus Prime | Kaan Yargichi | Matt PJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | (RET) | 6 |
| 3 | Zephyr | Peter Impey | Carolyne Vines | ‑3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 4 | Genevive | Charles Fox | Rob & Ron | ‑5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| 5 | Antedote | Chris Pollard | Alastair Banks | 4 | 5 | 5 | (RET) | 14 |
| Maddison Cup |
|---|
| 1 | Ace | Ollie Houseman | E Tumosa | ‑1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | Optimus Prime | Kaan Yargichi | Matt PJ | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | (RET) | 6.5 |
| 3 | Zephyr | Peter Impey | Carolyne Vines | 2.5 | ‑4 | 4 | 2 | 8.5 |
| 4 | Genevive | Charles Fox | Rob & Ron | ‑4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| 5 | Antedote | Chris Pollard | Alastair Banks | 5 | 5 | 5 | (RET) | 15 |