Ovington Inland Championships at Grafham Water Sailing Club
by Ovington Boats 20 Mar 09:00 GMT
15-16 March 2025
Ovington Inland Championships at Grafham © Paul Sanwell / OPP
It was great to see over 110 sailors spread across 83 boats and six classes for the Ovington Inland championship. This regatta has become a season opener for our classes over the years - a month after the Dinghy Show - and whilst the sun was out, the temperatures stayed down.
GWSC once again laid on two superb race courses limiting interaction between the different fleets (afloat at least!), and off the water laid on the Six Nations rugby, bar and food.
The slow fleet course welcomed the addition of the Firefly for the first time (having recently started production at Ovi's), and it was fitting an Ovington boat builder and his son won, sailing an Ovi Firefly. Sam & Benjamin Pascoe did credit fellow competitor Jono Pank for a huge amount of advice in sailing and setting the boat up - obviously a friendly class!
The OKs had a bumper turnout of 30 boats; Andy Davis had a convincing victory, but there was close racing throughout the fleet and we note that two sailors travelled down from Loch Earn for the weekend.
It was close at the top of the Phantom leaderboard with the top three boats separated by 1 point; Adam Froggatt won the final race to pip Rob Cook and Sam Coxon at the line!
On the fast course, the 505s and Musto Skiffs are awaiting boats back from World Championships in Australia over the new year so fewer competitors attended than in previous years. In the 505s Roger Gilbert & Ian Mitchell just came out ahead of Michael Sims & Carl Gibbon after seven very close races.
The Musto Skiffs were won by another 'furthest travelled' contestant Euan Hurter from Dalgety Bay SC. The majority of the fleet were using the new style square top mainsail which has brought the boat right back up to date.
The Flying 15s are gearing up for a busy season with a UK Worlds this summer in Weymouth & Portland, and another father & son duo of Dave & Harry Lucas claimed top spot.
See Full Results