Lowrider International Moth UK National Championship 2024 at Weymouth - Preview

Back in the day the Duflos was a world beater and in lighter, fluky conditions can be hard to hold on PY, but a bit of breeze can have predictable results! © Dougal Henshall

Sometimes life is so unfair! Last year the Academy at Portland hosted the Moth Worlds, which ended up being a non-event with day after windless day precluding any racing. What they would have given for the merest sniff of the conditions being enjoyed here today, warm sunshine and a rock steady westerly that is holding at around 20kt - perfect.

A year on from the Worlds that never were and the Harbour will once again be welcoming the International Moths, though this time it will be the non-foiling Lowriders (along with the Bytes) for their Nationals.

If this were to kick off today then the Hungry Tigers would be purring (and sharpening their claws on the furniture), the Magnums would be popping their corks, but the older boats, including the near semi-circular hull formed Duflos (including some entries from France) would be wondering not if they would swim, but how many laps around the boat they would have to do.

But no matter, as looking ahead the forecasters are predicting a day of rain to greet the arriving fleet, then the sun will take his hat off, with the risk then being that once again the wind won't come out to play. A day or so of light airs could really shuffle the results, bringing into play not only the Duflos but those otherwise wobbly boats like the Skols.

By the weekend it could be a sun cream Sunday, the media boat will be well stocked with cold drinks (your scribe is on site already, grabbing the best of the spots and running up a bar bill....) so expect more reports as Race 1 draws near.

There's still time to enter!