Nationals at WPNSA 2007
2007
National Championships at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing
Academy
Chris Catt on the inside of the group at the windward mark. Photo: Tony Mapplebeck
The 2007 Europe Class National Championships were held at W&PNSA over the weekend of 9th and 10th June. Twenty three boats took part, slightly down on last year's record turnout, but the fleet included four newcomers, showing that there is plenty of fresh blood in the class. There was the usual good mix of men and women in the fleet.
The usual two-day training sessions before the event were well supported, and did much to improve the skill levels, especially in the middle of the fleet , where the standard of racing was good. A pity if some of the sharpness gained may have been lost at the traditional eve-of-championship pub dinner enjoyed by most of the fleet!
The new RMW Marine Europe is not yet in production, but the builder is full of enthusiasm about the class, and his attendance on the water and in the dinghy park augurs well for the imminent appearance of the new complete Europe package.
The winds were generally light throughout the six-race series, with shifts and poor visibility on Saturday, making things tricky for race officer Frank Newton. Sunday was bright and sunny, with a more consistent South Easterly breeze, providing a great day's sailing in the wonderful surroundings of Portland Harbour. All the racing was on our favoured trapezoid style courses.
There was keen and close competition throughout the fleet, with four different race-winners. Chris Gill won the first race and rarely faltered, securing the championship with another first place in the final race. James Eynon also had two firsts, and could have taken the honours had he won the last race, but blew his chances by being early at the start. He recovered to fifth place, which was enough to level the score with Gareth Williams, but James took second overall on the tie-break by having two wins to his credit against Gareth's one.
Chris Gill takes the gun Photo: Tony Mapplebeck
Katie Mapplebeck, consistent as ever with three fourths and two fifths, took the Ladies prize again, at fourth overall. The other race-winner was newcomer Chris Catt, who started well but suffered a bit on the second day and ended fifth overall. The Veteran's prize was again won by Ian Stow who counted two third places towards his overall sixth.
Report by Richard Eagleton GBR330
Trophy Winners 2007
Rondar Trophy, British Open Champion: Chris Gill
Whiplash Trophy, UK National Champion: Chris Gill
Gill Bowl, Men’s Champion: Chris Gill
Best Newcomer Trophy: Chris Catt
Roaring Forties Trophy, first veteran: Ian Stow
New Glass Bowl Trophy, first lady: Katie Mapplebeck
Manulife Trophy, best overall with no discard: Chris Gill
Full Results
| Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Total | Place |
| 352 | Chris Gill | Portishead | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1st |
| 373 | James Eynon | Weston | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 2nd |
| 391 | Gareth Williams | Leigh & Lowton | 3 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 3rd |
| 385 | Katie Mapplebeck | Ogston | 5 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 4th |
| 355 | Chris Catt | Downs | 4 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 26 | 5th |
| 377 | Ian Stow | Weston | 7 | 3 | 8 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 28 | 6th |
| 362 | Guy Revill | Weston | 6 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 30 | 7th |
| 330 | Richard Eagleton | Bexhill | 10 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 36 | 8th |
| 74 | Georgina Rowland | Burghfield | 11 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 49 | 9th |
| 387 | Feargal Finlay | Brading Haven | 8 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 52 | 10th |
| 243 | Jeremy Carey | Burghfield | 12 | 12 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 13 | 56 | 11th |
| 349 | Helen McHale | Weston | 18 | 10 | 18 | 3 | 19 | 10 | 59 | 12th |
| 340 | Jenny Rogers | Leigh & Lowton | 9 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 59 | 13th |
| D1315 | Paul Wiseman | Isle of Sheppey | 13 | 15 | 10 | 18 | 11 | 14 | 63 | 14th |
| 389 | Natalie Campbell | Whitstable | DNF | DNS | DNS | 5 | 9 | 9 | 71 | 15th |
| 369 | Jane Stevens | Burghfield | 16 | 17 | 9 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 74 | 16th |
| IR9 | Chris Jones | Sutton Bingham | 17 | 14 | 12 | 23 | 18 | 16 | 77 | 17th |
| 316 | Sarah Pullen | Bexhill | 14 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 23 | 22 | 82 | 18th |
| 1 | Katie Hughes | Leigh & Lowton | 15 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 84 | 19th |
| 383 | Chris Wilkinson | Brading Haven | 19 | 22 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 94 | 20th |
| 367 | Brian Finnie | Loch Tummel | OCS | 13 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 95 | 21st |
| 69 | Andy Harris | Chew Valley Lake | 20 | 18 | 22 | 16 | 22 | 20 | 96 | 22nd |
| 357 | Tobin Dennis | Bexhill | 21 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 17 | DNF | 97 | 23rd |
Scoring codes
| Code | Description | Points |
| DNF | Started but did not finish | 24 |
| DNS | Came to the start area but did not start | 24 |
| OCS | On course side at start or broke rule 30.1 | 24 |