Europe class National Ranking event 1 at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

Europe class National Ranking event 1 at Weymouth © Nigel Thomas

Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy ordered champagne sailing conditions for the first Europe National Ranking event of 2025.

2025 and 2026 will again be huge years for the Europe Class with the UK hosting major events, the Youth and Masters European Championships this summer, followed by the Word Championships in 2026. There are limited slots for some international events so competition was high to grab those last places and represent the UK at the next World Championships.

The fleet were greeted at the committee boat with a cool7-23 knots and flag O, signifying a change to rule 42 and that an exhausting day was ahead.

The fleet started clean for race and it was Jeremy Hartley and Chris Gill who started strong with a lead around the first mark. With a small tussle it was Gill that got the lead at mark 4 to hold to the finish. With Johno Rees in Third.

Race two saw Rees start strong, collecting the shifts on the right side of the course. He did not look back as he held his lead to the finish. Ben Harris pushed Gill hard on the last leg to take third and second respectively.

PRO relayed the course for race, once under way two packs split the racecourse. It was those who ventured right gained the early advantage. Gill and Hartley relived their battle in race and the youth of Adam Catlow and Ben Harris battled it out for third and fourth.

Overnight it was Chris Gill holding the lead, Jeremy Hartley in second and Ben Harris in third.

The Olympic venue delivered another ideal set of conditions for Sundays racing, this time without flag O. Gill gave charge to an early lead and after one competitor was hit with a R42 penalty from the jury, it settled an eager fleet as the gusts filled Portland Harbour. Sue Ogg showed her excellent downwind speed to sail into the lead in race 4, Gill to follow with Catlow in third.

Race 5 saw those that headed right at the front of the fleet. With a large bunch surrounding the first windward mark, Gill gained the advantage to sustain the lead into the final leg. Sue Ogg continued her success in race 4 to cross the finish line in second, Catlow in third and Lucy Boreham close in fourth.

All was still open for the competitors for the final race. The easterly breeze strengthened, Flag O hoisted and signaled to the competitors that after five hard races it is not over until you cross the finish line...

For Race 6, Sue Ogg showing her consistency, Hartley needing a comeback and Harris and Catlow all able to disrupt the podium; it was all going to come down to the last race to fill the rest of the podium. Shortly after the start some gear failure put Catlow out of race 6 and a great start from Ben Harris gave him a jump on the leaders.

Some dodgy downwind antics from Gill gave hope to the fleet for an overtake but it was not until the last mark where it would be decided, with Sue Ogg flying downwind, crossing the line to win race 6 elevating her to second on top of Hartley in second and Gill in third.

A huge thank you to the fantastic team at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy, not just for the great sailing conditions but for their warm welcome, overwhelming hospitality and event management. Also a thank you to all the competitors and those supporting behind the scenes who helped to make the first National Ranking Series of 2025 a success for the Europe Class.

Overall Results: