420 British National Championship at Dale Yacht Club: A Premier Sailing Event
420 British National Championship at Dale Yacht Club – Overall
23-26 August 2024
After two thrilling days of racing at the 420 National Championships, competition faced a brief halt due to excessively high winds. The race officer made a prompt decision to suspend the races before 8 AM, proving to be accurate during a short coast walk.
Race 6 was marked by controversy, as four boats were initially called UFD on the water. After reviewing video footage, the race team decided to add 11 more boats to that list. Following requests for scoring reviews, all 11 were reinstated. While this did not affect the overall podium finishers, it did influence some competitors further down the rankings.
On Sunday, the race management faced further challenges regarding the start integrity, resulting in the retrospective abandonment of the race at 6 PM. Despite these challenges, the overall management of the racing was commendable, featuring quick turnarounds and fair course placements. On Monday, the race team elevated their reputation by successfully conducting four excellent races in under five hours, even amid a remarkable 30-degree wind shift during that time.
Monday turned out to be the hottest day of racing so far. Fflur/Rayner clinched the victory in race six, while last year’s winners, Marsden/Creasy, won race seven. Additionally, Jones/Burlton claimed the win in race eight, resulting in three teams tied on 17 points going into the final race.
Wade/Burlton trailed five points behind the leaders but held a comfortable position in fourth place thanks to a large point buffer from the boats behind them.
The final race unfolded as one of the closest finishes in recent history. Fflur/Rayner maintained their composure to keep Fletcher/Cawthorne at bay on the last reach to the finish line, securing the championship title and adding to their Youth Nationals victory earlier this year. Wade/Valentine finished third in the last race, while Jones/Burlton secured the fifth position and the final overall podium along with the U17 title. Marsden/Creasy improved significantly, finishing fourth on the last day, but not soon enough to challenge the top boats.
A similar situation transpired in the female teams, where a three-way tie between Moskovitch/Burlton, Potter/Nieuwland, and Creighton/Beardsall loomed before the last race. However, they finished 8th, 9th, and 10th, resulting in another championship title for Noa and Gabs.
The talent among female competitors in the 420 fleet is at a peak, with four mixed crews, three female teams, and three male teams making up the top ten positions.
The event also welcomed friends from the Irish 420 fleet, with Cora McNaughton and Sean Cronin being the top overseas competitors, finishing in 11th place.
Congratulations are due to the 25 new sailors who joined the fleet, with Finn and Andy Ramus topping the new entrants. We also bid farewell to many of our sailors as they embark on university and gap year adventures. We wish them all the best and remind them that the 420 is a vessel with lasting appeal!
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Bow No | Helm | Crew | Club | Fleet | Buddy Groups | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 56954 | 41 | Arwen Fflur | Matthew Rayner | Pwllheli WKSC/ Yorkshire Dales SC | Open Mixed | Mackerel | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | ‑5 | 4 | 1 | 18 |
| 2nd | 57411 | 32 | William Fletcher | Oscar Cawthorne | Royal Southern YC | Open Male | Haddock | ‑5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 19 |
| 3rd | 57501 | 58 | Joe Jones | Hennie Burlton | Burghfield SC/ RSYC | U17 Mixed | Carp | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | ‑14 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 22 |
| 4th | 56943 | 44 | Imogen Wade | Hugo Valentine | Draycote Water SC/ Shoreham SC | Open Mixed | John Dory | 3 | 5 | 3 | (UFD) | 1 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 28 |
| 5th | 54379 | 69 | marsbar marsden | Olivia Creasy | West Kirby SC | Open Mixed | Trout | 7 | ‑10 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 46 |
| 6th | 57477 | 45 | Harry George | Ralph Cawthorne | Lymington Town SC/ Shustoke SC | Open Male | Pollock | 6 | 3 | (UFD) | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 50 |
| 7th | 54297 | 62 | George Creasy | Will Martin | West Kirby SC/ Cardiff Bay YC | Open Male | Herring | 4 | 8 | 5 | (UFD) | 7 | 22 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 62 |
| 8th | 57224 | 57 | Noa Moskovitch | Gabs Burlton | Royal Lymington YC/ Royal Southern YC | Female | Guppy | 8 | ‑16 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 69 |
| 9th | 56342 | 63 | Sabine Potter | Merle Nieuwland | Warsash SC/ Cardiff Bay YC | Female | Monkfish | 9 | 9 | 6 | 9 | ‑18 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 71 |
| 10th | 55517 | 56 | Ellie Creighton | Charlotte Beardsall | Cardiff Bay YC/ Warsash SC | Female | Mullet | 12 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 11 | ‑19 | 13 | 78 |
Oliver Hayes, a seasoned sailor and marine journalist from Southampton, has a profound love for the sea that has shaped his career. Holding a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Portsmouth, Oliver is celebrated for his compelling and insightful storytelling. His work vividly captures the excitement of sailing and the rich maritime heritage of the United Kingdom, making him a respected figure in the sailing community. When not writing, Oliver enjoys exploring the British Isles’ diverse coastlines and participating in local regattas, always on the lookout for his next nautical adventure.