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 15 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.  

Lining up for a downstream start

Bunching at the downstream mark

Running up the Middlesex bank

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 2010