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Hadron H2 National Championship at Brixham Yacht Club – Preview
6-8 September 2024
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Next weekend, a record number of H2s will be participating in the 8th Hadron H2 National Championship. An impressive 30% of the entire UK fleet will be competing over three days in the beautiful waters of Torbay. Hosted by Brixham Yacht Club, this event will also see camaraderie with the friendly members of the X1 class.
The weather forecast is a bit unpredictable, but thankfully we’re not expecting the extreme conditions witnessed last year, which ranged from calm to 35-knot winds.
Among the 26 entries are all the top contenders in the fleet. However, of all the past national champions, only the current champion, Robin Parsons (Deben YC), will be competing. Robin displayed exceptional skill during the light weather of the 2023 Nationals and, being on the lighter side of the H2 spectrum, will be hoping for similar conditions this year.
Class chairman Richard Le Mare (Warsash SC) showcased outstanding performance during last year’s windy final day. Although he excels in heavy winds, he is also a past inland champion and could easily dominate this year’s event if conditions suit his strengths.
Following closely will be Richard Leftley (Bowmoor SC), who is known for his broad optimal performance range. With more open meeting victories and top three finishes at the Nationals than anyone else, this could be the year he finally achieves his long-held ambition of winning the top slot.
Current Inland Champion Josh Hamer (Leigh & Lowton SC) is also a contender, having won multiple recent H2 open events. He’s a versatile helm and will excel as long as the wind remains below 20 knots. In lighter conditions, Ian Dawson (Warsash SC), who has over 50 years of dinghy sailing experience and has been National runner-up in 2022 and 2023, will seek to take home the title.
Tim Garvin (Queen Mary SC), another previous H2 open meeting winner, will return to compete at Brixham, having borrowed an H2 after selling his earlier this year.
Excitingly, we have newcomers in the class, such as Steven Hendon (Blithfield SC) and Nick Wapshott (Rock SC), who have already shown great potential to challenge established sailors.
Will McTurk, who has recently purchased the latest H2 model, is journeying from the north of Scotland to Brixham. It’s wonderful to see him participating, especially since his father, Michael, was once a client of mine during the mid-seventies when I designed an International Fourteen for him.
In summary, we anticipate a fantastic gathering of skilled sailors who cherish competition, camaraderie, and the thrill of racing their H2s. This promises to be an exciting event, and coverage will be provided daily from Brixham Yacht Club starting next Friday, September 6th.
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.
