National Eighteen Class

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National 18 Invitation Regatta won by Ian Handley

Ian Handley won the National Eighteen Foot Class Invitation Regatta held to give leading helmsmen from other classes a chance to sail 18s in a series of five races at Tamesis Club on Saturday 31 May. The light and variable wind and fast running stream gave the contestants excellent starting practice as all the starts were downstream. Inevitably, there were several recalls, leaving premature starters with the difficult task of returning to cross the line, but their frustration disappeared when they eventually reached the first mark and found they were able to get through the opening gap left by the early leaders as they in turn struggled to avoid being swept even further downstream. Jeremy Vines, the Race Officer and regatta organiser, lengthened the course when the wind increased in strength and a moderate northerly breeze offered some faster racing. But the stronger wind did not last for long and shifted from NW to NE, making the Middlesex bank the preferred side for the run upriver to Canbury. The five invited helms were Ian Handley (yachts), Joe McLaughlin (Solos), David Baker (Merlins), Ollie Houseman (Merlins) and Peter Simmonds (Lasers) and their crews were Anne Bayne, Maxine Webb, Peter Johnson/John Dunkley, Doug Pope and Chris Pollard. The boats sailed were Heatwave (343), Antedote (348), 1 over the 8 (349), The Goose drank Wine (369), Zephyr (374) and Rhapsody (375). Helms and crews swapped boats in the last two races to give them the opportunity to try a different rig and to move up the points table. Ian Burnett was Assistant Race Officer, Richard Howells was in the rescue boat, and lunch and tea were provided by Anne Bayne and Maxine Webb. Overall results: 1 Ian Handley 12 points, 2 Joe McLaughlin 13 points; 3 David Baker 14 points, 4 Ollie Houseman 16 points, 5 Peter Simmonds 21 points.

Lining up for the downstream start

Bunching at the downstream mark

Running up the Middlesex bank

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 2008

Summer Series - 8 participants with 3 qualifiers.

Peter Fayers Cup – Handicap Results

Points

1^st 316 Ocatillo Charles Fox Hugh McLaughlin 8

2^nd 375 Rhapsody Jeremy Vines Anne Bayne 21

3^rd 349 One over the Eight Doug Pope Livia Olivari 25

Langdon Down Challenge Cup – On-the-Water Results

1^st 316 Ocatillo Charles Fox Hugh McLaughlin 9

2^nd 375 Rhapsody Jeremy Vines Anne Bayne 13

3^rd 349 One over the Eight Doug Pope Livia Olivari 26

National Eighteen Open Meeting – 6 Entrants

Maddison Cup - On-the-Water Results – 3 Races, No Discard

1^st 375 Rhapsody Jeremy Vines Anne Bayne

2^nd 369 The Goose Drank Wine Barney Smith Maxine Vines

3^rd 316 Ocatillo Charles Fox Hugh McLaughlin

The National 18 Trophy - Overall Handicap Results – 3 Races, No Discard

1^st 375 Rhapsody Jeremy Vines Anne Bayne

2^nd 266 Geniveve Ted Neal Roy Doughty/Steve Osgood

3^rd 369 The Goose Drank Wine Barney Smith Maxine Vines

Claude Russell Cup - Handicap Results - 1 Long Sunday Race

1^st 375 Rhapsody Jeremy Vines Anne Bayne

2^nd 266 Geniveve Ted Neal Roy Doughty/Steve Osgood

3^rd 333 Red Dragon Richard Howells Colin Reid

Other Trophies/Races

The Tamesis Anchor – 3 Saturday Races, No Discard – On-the Water Results

1^st 375 Rhapsody Jeremy Vines Maxine Vines

2^nd 349 One over the Eight Doug Pope Mike Stephens

3^rd 316 Ocatillo Charles Fox Hugh McLaughlin

Queen Adelaide Cup – 3 Saturday Races, No Discard - Handicap Results

1^st 349 One over the Eight Doug Pope Mike Stephens

3^rd 333 Red Dragon Richard Howells Ralph Griffiths

3^rd 316 Ocatillo Charles Fox Hugh McLaughlin

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

1^st 316 Ocatillo Charles Fox Hugh McLaughlin & Chris Pollard

2^nd 375 Rhapsody Jeremy Vines Anne Bayne & Max Webb

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

No racing, the strong winds won!

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

1^st 340 Tangerine Dream Mike Adams Gillian Tickle

2^nd 334 Trojan Peter Adams Elizabeth Tickle

3^rd 333 Red Dragon Richard Howells N Wain

RNLI Pennant – 1 Race – Handicap Winner

1^st 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: NATONAL 18 SUMMER POINTS 2009

NATIONAL 18 SUMMER POINTS 2008 NATIONAL 18 OPEN 2008

QUEEN ADELAIDE CUP

Ian Burnett reports (05.10.08):

"With this race (Sunday 5 October), Ocatillo has won the 2008 Summer Series both on Handicap and On-the-Water with one race to spare (in a class more used to resolving the Summer Series in the last race). This series win is the result of consistent sailing and regular turn out by Charles Fox and his regular crew Hugh McLaughlin."

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 - 2009

Points tables designed and maintained by Ian Burnett.

National 18 syndicate plan: THE GENIVEVE SYNDICATE

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27.06.09