Ben & Keira win the Vaikobi 2022 National Championships at Hayling Island Sailing Club

37 boats including the reigning National Champions, Ben & Keira McGrane, ex-World champion Chris Balding, ex-National Champion Chris Fuller plus a host of other top sailors, gathered at Hayling Island SC for the Vaikobi UK Mirror Nationals, also sponsored by P&B, from 23rd to 26th July.

Great racing in Bracklesham Bay and the more sheltered waters in Chichester Harbour. Cracking weather, on-site accommodation, a restaurant & beach bar to keep everyone fuelled up, lots of sand, great organisation from Chris & Emma Fuller and the HISC crew.

Competitors enjoyed great race management with PRO David Nicholls and his team working hard to get as many of the scheduled 8 races in, given the tidal & wind conditions that confronted them over the championship.

Racing started on Sunday with a solid 4-5 and the fleet completing three races in the waves of Bracklesham Bay. Monday was windier, force 5-6 so it was decided to make an early start and race inside the harbour while there was enough water over Pilsey Sands. Conditions were full-on, very choppy and with the wind forecast to increase and a growing number of retirements, the PRO decided to stop after two races. With a ridge of high pressure moving in, Tuesday’s forecast was for a lot less wind, with significant shifts in direction and that’s what happened. The first attempt at running Race 6 was abandoned after the breeze collapsed before anyone had got to the windward mark. This was followed by a long wait for the breeze to pick up and then settle. Eventually race 6 was successfully re-run. This was followed by another wait for the breeze to settle, eventually, with time and water running out, AP over A was signalled and the fleet headed in to pack up and enjoy the prizegiving with tea and cakes.

Adult helms with child crews dominated the top end of the fleet with one notable exception. Having collected their P&B Early Entry draw prize of a new spinnaker, Max Phypers, age 13 & Emma Sellwood, age 14, from Restronguet SC, sailed the regatta of their lives, winning one race, finishing third overall and winning the under 15 category. Ben McGrane with 8 year old Keira crewing, dominated but racing for places second to sixth was close. Chris Balding had 10 year old Adriana crewing to finish in second, Paul Smalley had 7 year old Peter crewing to finish 4th, David Edwards had 11 year old Hattie crewing and Phil Smith finished in 6^th sailing with 8 year old son Oliver. Top Youths (i.e. U19) were Max Sydenham & Finn Ramus from Hayling Island in 15^th place, sailing a Class Association demo boat.

A special prize, for smiling in the face of adversity, went to 16 year old Poppy Luxton & crew Lottie Tregaskes who led around the first windward mark in race 1, subsequently broke their rudder downhaul and sailed the majority of the third lap without a rudder to finish 7^th. The rudder could not be repaired afloat, so they missed races 2 & 3. They capsized in race 4 and again in 5, this time breaking their gaff, and were BFD in race 6. They were worthy winners of a P&B voucher and class trophy

Best U13 boat was Tristan Sellwood & Sam Davies from Restronguet. Youngest crew prize went to 7 year old Peter Smalley in 4th. Youngest helm to complete all races was Torrun Brown age 13 who also won the combined youngest helm and crew prize with 13 year old Murray Oakes. The best team of three boats was very close with Restronguet SC Pirates just edging out Chew Valley Lake SC. Once again top wooden boat (sporting a gaff rig) was Barney & Willow Smith sailing 69020 'Ida' in 17th and Single hander Steve Bland retained his title finishing in 25^th. Winner of the bronze fleet, the category to allow older unmeasured boats to compete, went to Richard and Sophie Trevithick from Whitefriers SC.

A  photo of each boat in ranking order - photos, apart from 70743 - Yeti, kindly taken by Peter Hickson.

You can view all Peter Hickson's day 1 photos, also all Kyle Brown's day 2, day 3 & prizegiving photos

Once again we had What HAppened Today? (WHAT?). After everyone was changed and re-fuelled, a post-racing debrief by Chris Balding with input from other sailors.

Other after sailing activities included a sandcastle competition – won by a combination team of West Kirby, Leigh Lowton and Whitefriars SC, a BBQ on the balcony and a Mexican theme night with some impressive fancy dress outfits.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Mirror nationals then enter your Gear Guide information to Yachts & Yachting here

Thanks to our headline sponsors Vaikobi and Early Entry Draw sponsors P&B, there were an impressive range of prizes including vouchers, smartphone cases and caps, that were presented by HISC Commodore Andy Partington along with the glassware and class trophies. The ‘early entry’ draw winners got a spinnaker provided by P&B at the start of the event.

Trophy Winners

Trophies in strikethrough text were not returned. The Abersoch Trophy, 40th Anniversary Trophy, the Mylor Yacht Harbour Trophy, the Roger Graffy Trophy, the Western Trust & Savings Trophy and the Navigators & General Trophy were not awarded.

The Nationals next year is scheduled for 1^st to 4^th June at Brightlingsea SC.

(Editors note: more details, photos, list of trophy winners will be added to this article as time allows)