National Eighteen Class

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The National 18 was originally an Uffa Fox design from 1936, which was christened the ‘Uffa Ace’.  It was tough, with a heavy metal plate, an excellent racer-cruiser on the sea, and fleets sprang up soon after the war at several locations around the coast.  There were 18s at Tamesis by the early 1950s, and, largely because of the tall rig, large mainsail and good manoeuvrability, they also proved to be good river boats.

It is a restricted class, thus allowing development as new ideas and materials emerge.  It was in 1970 that the first GRP boat emerged, to a design by Ian Proctor, and built for Murray Vines at Tamesis.  New hulls are now built on the west coast of Ireland using the Class mould, and are generally equipped with Proctor masts and McWilliam sails.  Thus new boats have become virtual one-designs. The new boat hull weight is 200kg, and, equipped with a trapeze, it provides exciting rides.

The Tamesis fleet of 16 boats - the largest in the UK - is a mix of wood and GRP.  The oldest dates from 1938 and the newest was launched in 2004.  Each boat has a character of its own.  Racing at the Club recognises both first past the post and handicap – giving everyone a chance to win the numerous Class trophies.

The annual championship rotates between Cork, Findhorn (near Inverness), the Isle of Man and Tamesis, and attracts about 30 entries.  The river is not an ideal venue, so we have to organise it elsewhere e.g. St Mawes in 2001 and Portland in 2005.  

Tangerine Dream beating downstream in November 2007 (Photo:  Richard Howells)

National 18s reaching down river on a windy day (Photo: Richards Howells)

One over the Eight sailing upstream (Photo:  Richard Howells)

National 18 Results for 2007

Summer Series - 12 participants with 6 qualifiers.

Peter Fayers Cup – Handicap Results (* Last Race RYA Tie-break)

                                                                                                                                            Points

1st         316            Ocatillo                         Charles Fox                  Hugh McLaughlin       12

2nd        333            Red Dragon                 Richard Howells            Ralph Griffiths           13 *

3rd        374            Zephyr                          Ian Burnett                      Simon Gunn             13 *

 Langdon Down Challenge Cup – On-the-Water Results

1st         375            Rhapsody                    Jeremy Vines                 Anne Bayne                8

2nd        374            Zephyr                          Ian Burnett                    Simon Gunn               10

3rd        349            One over the Eight        Doug Pope                   Debbie Pope/Monica Bandhu            14

National Eighteen Open Meeting – 9 Entrants

Maddison Cup - On-the-Water Results – 3 Races, 1 Discard

1st         375           Rhapsody                     Jeremy Vines            Anne Bayne

2nd        374            Zephyr                            Ian Burnett                  Simon Gunn

3rd        266            Geniveve                         Barney Smith/Max Webb/Paul Jamieson/

                                                                       Peter Johnson

The National 18 Trophy - Overall Handicap Results – 3 Races, 1 Discard

1st         375             Rhapsody                     Jeremy Vines                 Anne Bayne

2nd        316             Ocatillo                         Charles Fox                   Hugh McLaughlin

3rd         374             Zephyr                          Ian Burnett                     Simon Gunn

Claude Russell Cup - Handicap Results - 1 Long Sunday Race

1st         316            Ocatillo                           Charles Fox                   Hugh McLaughlin

2nd        374            Zephyr                            Ian Burnett                     Simon Gunn

3rd        15              Tinkerbell                        Graeme Lythe                Steve Osgood

Other Trophies/Races

The Tamesis Anchor – 3 Saturday Races, 1 Discard – On-the Water Results

1st         375            Rhapsody                     Jeremy Vines                 Anne Bayne

2nd        374            Zephyr                           Ian Burnett                     Simon Gunn

3rd        348            Antedote                        Chris Pollard                  Max Webb

Queen Adelaide Cup – 3 Saturday Races, 1 Discard - Handicap Results

1st         348            Antedote                       Chris Pollard                  Max Webb

2nd        316            Ocatillo                         Charles Fox                   Hugh McLaughlin

3rd           374            Zephyr                           Ian Burnett                     Simon Gunn

The Silver Boat Trophy - Thursday Evening Series - 9 Participants, 3 Qualifiers

1st         316            Ocatillo                         Charles Fox                   Hugh McLaughlin & Others

2nd        375            Rhapsody                     Jeremy Vines                Anne Bayne

3rd         15              Tinkerbell                      Eddy Simmonds/Graeme Lythe/Ralph Griffiths/

                                                                    Graeme Lythe                 Eddy Simmonds

Easter Regatta – 4 Races, 1 Discard - Handicap Results – The Lobb Cup

1st         375            Rhapsody                    Jeremy Vines                 Anne Bayne

2nd        349            One over the Eight       Doug Pope                    Aimee Pope

3rd        334             Trojan                           Peter Adams                 Lizzie Tickle

Autumn Regatta – 4 Races, 1 Discard - Handicap Results – No Trophy

1st         375            Rhapsody                    Jeremy Vines                 Max Webb

2nd        349           One over the Eight        Doug Pope                    Monica Bandhu

3rd         348           Antedote                       Chris Pollard                  Barney Smith

RNLI Pennant – 1 Race – Handicap Winner

1st         316          Ocatillo                           Charles Fox                   Hugh McLaughlin  

 

For more details please contact Tamesis National 18 Class Captain:  Richard Howells (phone 020 8949 5515)

National 18 Association website:  www.national18. com

Club Points Tables:  NATIONAL 18 SUMMER POINTS       NATIONAL 18 OPEN 2007

                                       QUEEN ADELAIDE CUP            2006 OVERALL RESULTS

Ian Burnett reports (01.11.07): 

"The points tables show the final results for the National 18 2007 Summer Series. The On-the-Water results for the year were already decided (1st Rhapsody; 2nd Zephyr; 3rd One over the Eight). However, it was all to sail for in the final race of the Handicap Series with four boats in close contention. In the event, Ocatillo sailed 5% above her handicap to win the race with Zephyr, which sailed 3% above her handicap, second. This gave Ocatillo first place in the Summer Series and also the RNLI Pennant. After an RYA Tie-break, Red Dragon was second in the summer series with Zephyr third. Overall, it was an exciting end to the Summer Series."

The National Eighteens race for both ‘On-the-water’ and Handicap trophies.There are three types of National 18 in the fleet (Classic, Penultimate and Ultimate), with the fastest 21st Century Ultimate being over 40% faster than the slowest pre-Second World War Classic. The Handicap racing is therefore seen as the glue which binds the fleet together. The handicaps are personal to the helmsman coupled with the boat in which he/she is sailing … having handicaps for up to seven helmsmen in some boats. The aim is that every National 18 that goes out for a race has an equal chance of achieving a good position. The link below gives further information on how this is done; shows how the good results are spread right across the fleet, and the latest Handicaps.

NATIONAL 18 HANDICAPS - 2008

Points tables designed and maintained by Ian Burnett.

National 18 syndicate plan:  THE GENIVEVE SYNDICATE

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29.03.08