Sprint 15 Sport National Championship at North Devon Yacht Club

Forty-Four Sprint 15 sailors registered to race and gathered at the home of the North Devon Yacht Club at Instow on Friday the 30th September for the Sport Nationals - the three day regatta for single-handed Sprint 15 catamarans with main, jib and trapeze.

This was the highest turnout in over 14 years for the Sprint 15 Sport Mode Nationals, with four youth sailors taking part. As the boat is to be rebranded the Dart 15 for 2023, the health and quality of the fleet is in good shape looking forward.

Due to an early tide, the first race was set off promptly just after 9:00am by race officer Jonathan Miles in a blustery force 4-6 westerly, with a 'P' course in a swelling estuary. With most of the sailors half asleep still or wary of the conditions as a squall came through, the race gun went off with three quarters of the racers hanging back off the start line. Paul Grattage (Shanklin) led the first race from start to gun, Sam Heaton (NDYC) and Hector Bunclark (NDYC) were fighting it out for second and third.

Sprint 15 Sport Nationals 2022 - photo © Maria Slough

With more competitors on the line, Sean McKenna (Shanklin) got the best of the starts in the second race and although Grattage lead the majority of the race, McKenna snook past on the last run to take the line honours. Heaton again was in his element taking 3rd place. With over half the fleet capsizing as the wind speed increased and with three masts coming down the race committee decided it was time to head in for the day.

There was an excellent, very well-attended meal on the Saturday night, with a photo slide show on the big screen of the day's carnage. Overnight positions were; Grattage first, McKenna second and Heaton in third, all separated by just 2 points.

Sunday arrived with less wind than forecast, with a north westerly force 2. After an hour's delay caused by lack of and shifting winds, it was McKenna who capitalised on the tricky light winds in race 3 to take the bullet. Richard Chidwick (NYDC) had his best result at a National Championship, finishing 2nd place, showing superb boat speed with Angus Cook (NDYC) finishing 3rd.

Sprint 15 Sport Nationals 2022 - photo © Maria Slough

In race 4, Angus Cook (NDYC) completed the Holy Grail of racing - a port flyer. He lead the first lap, followed by Fraser Manning (NDYC) and Liam Thom (Shanklin), with Manning choosing to go left up the 2nd beat and Cook deciding to cover, Thom sailed over to the right hand side, together with McKenna, and they were never caught. The race finished with Thom 1st, McKenna 2nd and Manning 3rd.

With racing delayed and light winds the race officer sent the competitors ashore. With Grattage having a bad day at the office (8th & 6th), McKenna was now comfortably leading the regatta overnight. Much talking in the bar that night was about who could catch him!

Monday morning was another light wind day with max force 2 winds from the south. Race 5 was where the battle for the title really mounted amongst the top 6 sailors. Manning & Steve Sawford (Rutland SC) built up a big lead by staying in the current, with Sawford delivering under pressure to take the win, Jenny Ball (Marconi SC) comfortable took 3rd place.

In the 6th race, the race committee laid a triangular course. In the light winds, clean air and not falling foul of the current was again the key. Thom got clear and Hector Bunclark continued to be consistent with a well-deserved 2nd place and Sawford was third. After a great start, Charles Watson (Halifax SC) sailed fantastically to finish 4th.

Sprint 15 Sport Nationals 2022 - photo © Maria Slough

Thom was in-tune with his boat and skilfully sailed through the fleet to finish 1st comfortably, to put serious pressure on McKenna's title hopes. McKenna who was licking his wounds from a 14th place in race 5, was one of those to suffer and could only finish 13th place.

The Race Committee changed the course for the final race with an upwind and downwind modern Olympic sausage course with a devilish windward mark in the back eddy of Appledore, which caught almost everyone out with some taking 3 attempts to get round it. Too many tried to find a gap coming in on port and if ever a race mark became Piccadilly Circus, this was it!

Thom shot off from the middle of the line and could not be caught by a frantically chasing McKenna. Manning finished 2nd in the race and for McKenna 3rd place was too little too late.

The last day had shuffled the overall scores, With Thom taking the title, knocking Mckenna into 2nd and Hector Bunclark into 3rd. Grattage just missed out on the podium, finishing fourth.

Having been very ill for a year and still in recovery, previous champion Fraser Manning's fifth place achievement was exceptional and with Liam Thom also winning the Una Rig Nationals, 2022 will certainly be a year to remember for him.

Thom Britton (NDYC) was the new winner of the Youth National title with a creditable 28th place overall, Jenny Ball was first lady and our Chairman Ed Tuite Dalton (Draycote SC) was the first over sixty helmsman. The heavyweight Champion was Paul Grattage. Steve Sawford and Ian Mounce (NDYC) took the Pro-Am trophy.

Sprint 15 Sport Nationals 2022 - photo © Maria Slough

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Sprint 15 Sport nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

Sprint 15 Sport Nationals 2022 - photo © Maria Slough