Eighteen.htm

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 14 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 and 2009.

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

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

Summer Series – 18 Races, 9 participants with 5 qualifiers

Peter Fayers Cup – Handicap Results

1^st Ocatillo (316) Charles Fox, Stewart Colley, Ted Neal, Phil England, Steve Katz, Sue Harris, Chris Pollard        7
2^nd One over the Eight (349) Doug Pope, José Ugarte, Amy Pope & Others                                                            11
3^rd Zephyr (374) Ian Burnett , Anne Bayne & Angela Caldera                                                                                     12

1^st Ocatillo (316) Charles Fox, Stewart Colley, Ted Neal, Phil England, Steve Katz, Sue Harris, Chris Pollard        7
2^nd One over the Eight (349) Doug Pope, José Ugarte, Amy Pope & Others                                                            9
3^rd Zephyr ( 374) Ian Burnett, Anne Bayne & Angela Caldera                                                                                      10

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

1^st Zephyr (374) Ian Burnett, Anne Bayne

2^nd Rhapsody (375) Jeremy Vines, Maxine Vines

3^rd Antedote (348) Jessica Berney, Kaan Yargici & Kim Waterfield

1^st Zephyr (374) Ian Burnett, Anne Bayne
2^nd Sea Fire (CH 7) David Edmond Jones, Andrew Young
3^rd Trojan (334) Peter Simpson, Elizabeth Tickle

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

1^st Trojan (334) Peter Adams, Elizabeth Tickle
2^nd Zephyr (374) Ian Burnett, Anne Bayne
3^rd Antedote (348) Peter Simpson, Chris Pollard

1^st Trojan (334) Peter Adams, Elizabeth Tickle
2^nd Zephyr (374) Ian Burnett, Anne Bayne
3^rd Ocatillo (316) Charles Fox, Stewart Colley

Claude Russell Cup - Handicap Results - 1 Long Race – Handicap Results

1^st Trojan (334) Peter Simpson, Mike Adams
2^nd Red Dragon (333) Richard Howells, Geoff & James Malseed
3^rd Zephyr (374) Ian Burnett, Anne Bayne

The Silver Boat Trophy - Thursday Evening Series – 8 Participants, 4 Qualifiers

1^st One over the Eight (348) Doug Pope, Richard Mourant, Barry Mourant, Chris Pollard
2^nd Ocatillo (316) Charles & James Fox, Ted Neal, Steve Katz, Chris Pollard, Vernon Leach

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

1^st One over the Eight (349) Doug Pope, José Ugarte
2^nd Trojan (334) Peter Adams, Elizabeth Tickle

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

1^st One over the Eight (349) Doug Pope, José Ugarte
2^nd Ocatillo (316) Charles Fox, Steve Katz

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

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

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