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National 18 Inland Championship 2024 at Tamesis Club
1 September 2024
Six National 18s of various generations descended on the club on Sunday, 1st September 2024, to take part in the annual Inland Championship.
The turnout included two Ultras, two Ultimates, and two Penultimates, featuring Ollie Houseman with ‘Ace’ and Trevor Chanter from Bough Beech SC with ‘Eastern Promise’. The mix of different generations of 18s created exciting racing as various boats competed fiercely throughout the races.
An innovation for 2024 was the introduction of the Peter Fayers Cup, awarded to the first Non-Ultra 18. This addition aims to encourage more Non-Ultra 18s to participate in future competitions.
The sailors enjoyed a pleasant day with a board easterly wind and sunshine, a rare combination that provided a challenging yet thrilling racing environment. Despite the tricky launching conditions, all boats successfully launched without major incidents. Peter Mason, the Officer of the Day (OOD), set a dog-leg course with a downstream start towards Lensbury, which remained unchanged throughout the championship.
In Race 1, most of the fleet was caught off guard by the prompt start, leading to a lesson in timing. As a result, Matt PJ in ‘Optimus Prime’ seized the lead and maintained it for the duration of the race, while Ollie Houseman in ‘Ace’ worked hard to catch up but ultimately finished behind Matt PJ. The remainder of the fleet was also engaged, with the Ultimates of Zephyr and Snow Goose mixing with the Penultimates of Genevieve and Eastern Promise at various points. The wind conditions allowed for scenarios where a boat could drift into a dead patch before the others caught up and overtook, which unfortunately affected Snow Goose’s performance.
In Race 2, Ollie Houseman took the lead early on, managing to hold it for the entire race. Although Matt PJ kept pace, he fell back as Ollie extended his lead, allowing Ollie to claim victory. Charles Fox in ‘Genevieve’ kept up with Ollie and Matt for the first couple of laps before the weight advantage of the Ultras came into play, leading to Charles being overtaken as the race progressed.
Races 3 and 4 reflected similar trends, with Ollie triumphing in both once again, though the visiting Penultimate ‘Eastern Promise’ made its mark in the handicap results.
Overall Results:
Maddison Cup – 1st over the Line
1. Ollie Houseman & Egle Tumosa – ‘Ace’
2. Matt PJ & Matt Valentine – ‘Optimus Prime’
3. Alison Cooper, Andrew Craig & Marie Wilcook – ‘Zephyr’
N18 Trophy – based on handicap
1. Ollie Houseman & Egle Tumosa – ‘Ace’
2. Matt PJ & Matt Valentine – ‘Optimus Prime’
3. Charles Fox & Robert Blakeborough – ‘Genevieve’
Peter Fayers Cup – 1st Non-Ultra based on handicap
1. Charles Fox & Robert Blakeborough – ‘Genevieve’
2. Trevor & Will Chanter – ‘Eastern Promise’
Source
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.
