A Dark and Stormy win in the RS21 UK and Ireland Nationals at the Royal Dart Yacht Club
by RS21 UK & Ireland Class 27 Aug 16:32 BST
15-18 August 2024
Team Dark and Stormy, helmed by Liam Willis, triumphed at the RS21 UK and Ireland National Championships, hosted by the Royal Dart Yacht Club.
The RS21s gathered for their UK Championships, held over 4 days from 15-18 August in beautiful Dartmouth. After 11 close races, Liam Willis and his Dark and Stormy team of Keith Willis, Will Taylor and Matt Taylor of Lymington Town Sailing Club, emerged victorious, after 6 race wins and 5 seconds.
Team Dark and Stormy did not have things all their own way, however. They were chased hard all the way by Philip Bendon's team Zaddy Racing crew from Royal Southern YC and Eirini Marios' Ares Racing team from Australia, the 2023 SB20 World Champions. Victory for Willis' crew was only secured after the penultimate race, while Zaddy Racing and Ares Racing were only separated by 3 points at the end.
Day 1 of racing saw strong winds and waves delaying the start on Thursday by an hour, and when it started, winds were still over 20 knots with waves of up to 2.5metres. Racing was exciting in testing conditions, with the 3 race wins shared between Dark and Stormy, Ares and Zaddy. Ares had a particularly eventful day, receiving a DNC in race 1 after rounding the leeward gate incorrectly, winning race 2 in their first day's racing in the class, and having to retire from race 3 with damage, for which they received redress. An honourable mention must also go to team Stormfly, helmed by Charles Balmain and his lightweight crew of his teenage sons Rupert and Henry and their friend Jack Wilson, who completed all three races on a day for heavyweights, while more experienced crews retired or stayed at home.
Day 2, and for the rest of the week, saw much more gentle conditions. Racing did not start on Friday until 3pm after very light airs earlier in the day, which filled in late afternoon to around 12 knots. The starts in particular were closely fought throughout the event, although there was only 1 general recall on day 3 when the tide caught the fleet out. Team Zaddy ended the championships with 2 race wins and Ares, showing why they were SB20 world champions, with 3. Although the fleet was small, with a number of regular crews unable to attend due to holiday clashes, racing was closely fought throughout, with the minor places only confirmed in the last race. Russell and June Collister's Skedaddle crew from the Isle of Man, after a 2nd place on the last day held off the Stormfly crew for 4th. Meanwhile Phillip Grannum's Attabuoy crew held off the Ravenhill family crew for 6th place in the final race.
The race officials and course setters did a great job in putting together an enjoyable race series in fluctuating winds. And a final word must go to the Royal Dart Yacht Club for their warm welcome hosting the event in a spectacular surroundings. They even arranged for a fireworks display on the Saturday night over Britannia Royal Naval College (or that might have been because it was passing out day for new officers, but who's splitting hairs about details).
The class look forward to their World championships in near Barcelona, Spain at the end of September where 60 boats are expected. The UK and Ireland class will be back in 2025 with a series of exciting events in some great locations to be announced soon.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat Name | Nat | Sail No | Helm | Crew 1 | Crew 2 | Crew 3 | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Dark &
Stormy | GBR | 252 | Liam Willis | Keith Willis | Will Taylor | Matt Taylor | Lymington Town SC | 1 | (2) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| 2nd | Zaddy Racing | IRL | 290 | Philip Bendon | James Curtis | Harry Phelps | Joel Carey | Royal Southern
YC | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | (5) | 22 |
| 3rd | Ares | AUS | 308 | Eirini Marios | Henry Wetherell | Paige Caldecoat | Will Sargent | Derwent Sailing Squadron | (NSC) | 1 | RDG | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 25 |
| 4th | Skedaddle | GBR | 334 | Russell Collister | June Collister | Flynn Davies | Greg Kelly | Isle of Man YC | 3 | 4 | 3 | (5) | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 38 |
| 5th | Stormfly | GBR | 223 | Charles Balmain | Rupert Balmain | Henry Balmain | Jack Wilson | Hamble | 4 | (5) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 42 |
| 6th | AttaBuoy | GBR | 208 | Philip Grannum | Dom So | Iain Coke | Tim Kendal‑James | Royal Southern YC | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 67 |
| 7th | | GBR | 310 | Paul Ravenhill | Henry Ravenhill | Oliver Ravenhill | George Ravenhill | Hayling Island SC | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 69 |