
National Eighteen Class
ABOUT THE SAILING >> PROGRAMME > NATIONAL 18 > MERLIN > LASER > FIREFLY > CADET > HANDICAP > OFFSHORE > PRIZEWINNERS
HOME >> ABOUT THE CLUB > ABOUT THE SAILING > NEWS > RACE REPORTS > COMING EVENTS > LINKS
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 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.
Points
1st 316 Ocatillo Charles Fox, Hugh McLaughlin 11
2nd 349 One over the Eight Doug Pope, Debbie Pope & Others 13
3rd 375 Rhapsody Jeremy Vines, Max Vines 17
Langdon Down Challenge Cup On-the-Water Results
1st 375 Rhapsody Jeremy Vines, Max Vines 9
2nd 374 Zephyr Ian Burnett, Anne Bayne 12*
3rd 349 One over the Eight Doug Pope, Debbie Pope 12*
National Eighteen Open Meeting 7 Entrants
2nd 374 Zephyr Peter Johnson, Anne Bayne
3rd 369 The Goose Drank Wine Barney Smith, Chris Johnson
The National 18 Trophy - Overall Handicap Results 3 Races, No Discard
2nd 369 The Goose Drank Wine Barney Smith, Chris Johnson
3rd 374 Zephyr Peter Johnson, Anne Bayne
Claude Russell Cup - Handicap Results - 1 Long Sunday Race
1st 375 Rhapsody Jeremy Vines, Max Vines
2nd 369 The Goose Drank Wine Barney Smith, Chris Johnson
3rd 15 Tinkerbell Graeme Lythe, Henry Lythe
Other Trophies/Races
The Tamesis Anchor 3 Saturday Races, No Discard On-the Water Results
1st 348 Antedote David Baker, Charlie Morgan
2nd 375 Rhapsody Jeremy Vines, Max Vines
3rd 316 Ocatillo Charles Fox, Hugh McLaughlin
Queen Adelaide Cup 3 Saturday Races, No Discard - Handicap Results
1st 375 Rhapsody Jeremy Vines, Max Vines
2nd 316 Ocatillo Charles Fox, Hugh McLaughlin
3rd 348 Antedote David Baker , Charlie Morgan
The
Silver Boat Trophy - Thursday Evening Series 8 Participants, 3
Qualifiers
1st 316 Ocatillo Charles Fox, Hugh McLaughlin, Steve Katz, James Fox & Richard Mourant
2nd 253 Thumbelina Chris Pollard, Anne Bayne, Ted Neal & Barney Smith
3rd 348 One Over the Eight Doug Pope, Kate Barnes, Joanna Rand, Francene & Ken Leaversuch
1st 316 Ocatillo Charles Fox, Hugh McLaughlin
2nd 374 Zephyr Ian Burnett, Anne Bayne
1st 15 Tinkerbell Eddy Simmonds, Graeme Lythe
2nd 374 Zephyr Ian Burnett, Anne Bayne, Emily Troup
3rd 375 Rhapsody Jeremy Vines, Max Vines
RNLI Pennant 1 Race Handicap Winner
1st 374 Zephyr Ian Burnett, Anne Bayne
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: Please see above for 2009 points tables
NATIONAL 18 SUMMER POINTS 2008 NATIONAL 18 OPEN 2008
Points tables designed and maintained by Ian Burnett.
National 18 syndicate plan: THE GENIVEVE SYNDICATEHOME >> ABOUT THE CLUB > ABOUT THE SAILING > NEWS > RACE REPORTS > COMING EVENTS > LINKS
07.11.09