Sailing Chandlery Devoti Sailing D-Zero Europeans & 10th UK Nationals at the WPNSA

Sailing Chandlery Devoti Sailing D-Zero Europeans and UK Nationals at the WPNSA © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Devoti Sailing D-Zero, the class held its first European Championship, combined with their 10th National Championship at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy from the 27th to the 30th June.

The Europeans were held over four days with the Nationals counting the final three days races.

Day 1

Race conditions for Day 1 and it was the sun and wind that had been promised by the D-Zero organising committee for the past year, champagne sailing. We were out in the bay, except, so were the Navy, which meant we were moved a further two miles east but on the plus side, that meant more waves.

Race one got under way into 20 knots and a steep lumpy sea and it was great to see fleet favourite Tom Southwell first to the windward mark, pursued by 2023 National Champion Ian Baillie, then Ben Flower and Roo Purves. The reaches were full on blast off with spray everywhere, Ben sailed very well to overtake both Tom and Ian by the finish, showing great speed, particularly upwind.

Sailing Chandlery Devoti Sailing D-Zero Europeans and UK Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

The next two races followed similar patterns, with Ben winning both and Ian second in both, Adam Cockerill scored a third then a fourth, Tom a fourth, then fifth, Roo, a fifth then third.

The fleet was then faced with a five mile upwind sail into an increasing wind across the bay, then back through the harbour, which took upwards of an hour and fifteen to complete. Comments on the day varied from "brutal" to "the best day ever", but it had certainly sorted out the best in terms of boat handling and fitness.

Sailing Chandlery Devoti Sailing D-Zero Europeans and UK Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

Day 2

A bit less wind, 15 or so knots, a bit less sun but just as competitive throughout the fleet as race four got under way. We were out in the bay again but much closer to the harbour, so the waves were less challenging but the shifts more so. We still had the screaming reaches but control was easier and the lower wind strength meant that the bigger, stronger sailors were able to keep the power in better.

Ben Flower again showed the fleet the way to go in all three races, winning them in style. Behind, Adam Cockerill was finding his speed, likewise Roo Purves, with these two battling over second and third places, Adam scoring two, three, two, Roo with three, two, three. Ian Baillie and Tom Southwell were close behind and John Emmett, although struggling a bit upwind was showing impressive speed down the waves. Also beginning to show up near the top of the fleet were Scott Munro, scoring a six, then five before VAR caught him with an OCS. James Jenkins was also consistently quick with a couple of sevenths.

Sailing Chandlery Devoti Sailing D-Zero Europeans and UK Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

That evening was barbeque night and spot prizes, supplied by sponsors dzero.co.uk, Harken and Sailing Chandlery were awarded for various deeds and misdeeds but included top European, Stefan Halberstadt from Dortmund and "Dummy of the Day" Martin Latimer for falling out of his boat just before the finish line in two races, aswell as most improved going to Adam Cockerill.

Day 3

Much lighter wind but the sun was back at full strength. We were worried that we might not get any wind but after a short postponement, we were off, into the harbour this time because the Navy had booked the bay, with the light wind specialists itching to get at the big boys.

But at the top, not much had changed. Roo led at the top mark and this time he stayed there to win from Ben, with Jon Emmett third. Ian Baillie, although fourth on the water was OCS, as was David Bartlet in fifth. These places went to Tom Southwell and Rohan Daniels. Race eight and this time Ben was able to hold off Roo to record another win. Ian was third, Jon fourth. There were many sailors benefiting from the lighter, shiftier conditions, including Ellie Craig, Ben Hodges, Jon Bassett, Niel Ritchie and Max Jones, who all scored their best results so far.

Sailing Chandlery Devoti Sailing D-Zero Europeans and UK Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

Onwards with race nine and Roo, continuing to start well, go the right way and sail very fast, won again from Ben, Jon was third and Adam fourth. The race officer decided to bring the schedule forward and give us a fourth race, so the tired bodies went again and despite quite a large right shift near the end of the first upwind leg, it was the same sailors in the top positions but now Ben won from Roo, then Adam with Colin Glover in fourth.

A short sail back this time was appreciated by many and even without the aid of a calculator, it was worked out that Ben Flower had won both the D-Zero Euros and Nationals with a day to spare. A very worthy champion. Chilli night quickly followed, then the delights of the class AGM, where new chairman Gordon Stewart and Co-Chair Tom Southwell were elected, along with Rohan Daniels offering to manage the PR and social media. Much more important was the draw to win a new sail provided by North Sails. This was won by Martin Latimer but with huge generosity, he put it back to be redrawn, where it was won by Colin Clasper. Further spot day prizes were awarded to Ben Hodges for capsizing on the start line, Mike Grant for "resting" on the finish line, Colin Clasper for the most supported (aka strapped up) sailor, and the Race Officer Ian Bullock for working magic to get 4 races in.

Day 4

The concerns that there may be no wind at all were put to rest when a good dose of Scottish style rain brought along a light northerly, which allowed us to complete the final two races in challenging shifty conditions with some odd currents from the harbour mouth. Ian Baillie led at the windward mark from Adam Cockerill, who used the shifts better on lap two to record a popular win, Ian just managing to hold off Ben Hodges and Jon Emmett.

The final race and once again a clean start, with only the individual recall flag used. Roo showed his class again to lead from the first mark. Behind him, there was a great deal of place changing as the wind became a bit unstable. Jon Emmett scored his best result with a second, Adam third and Gareth Tweedle gaining his best result of the week in fourth.

There are many people to thank for making the Devoti Sailing D-Zero European and National Championships such a success, plus the D-Zero Class Association organising committee of David Valentine and Martin Latimer, main sponsor Sailing Chandlery, with thanks to Andrew Dowley, Harken for numerous prizes and vouchers, Charlie Cumbley at North Sails for the new sail for the raffle and Devoti Sailing for waiving the button fees plus other support, Phoenix Marine for the superb hand crafted trophies and dzero.co.uk for various spot prizes, spares support and assistance throughout the event.

Sailing Chandlery Devoti Sailing D-Zero Europeans and UK Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

Sailing Chandlery Devoti Sailing D-Zero Europeans and UK Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

The race team of Ian Bullock deserve a very special thank you for running a superb race series for us, for listening to feedback and making sure we had exactly what we needed to make our championship a success, aswell as his drone/video footage of the starts. Also, thanks to Richard Bowers and the administration and catering teams at WPNSA. And last but not least, the photos, video, and drone coverage from Lotte Johnson Film, who collaborated with Jon Emmett for some post-race interviews and media.

Finally, thanks to all the competitors who took part in the Championships. The racing was intensely competitive and close but there were no disputes that went to protest, penalties were accepted and turns were done, and we had no general recalls.

European Championship Overall Results:

UK National Championship Overall Results: