Helly Hansen Isle of Wight Dinghy Championships 2018

Over the weekend of the 8th and 9th September more than sixty dinghies competing in four classes battled strong tides and increasing wind at Gurnard SC to become IW Dinghy Champion.

Race officer Steve Cole and his team set an ambitious course for all fleets for the first race of the series with fast reaches across to the mainland shore and back for the Shadow and fast Handicap classes. With two more races sailed on Saturday the sailors came ashore tired and hungry ready for the fantastic Curry supper put on by the volunteers at GSC.

At the end of the first day Paul Tanner led the Shadow class, whilst the 29er crew of Ollie Evans and Dan Atherton survived a dramatic pitchpole to end the day at the top of the leaderboard. In the two biggest classes James Downer, sailing his Finn found the conditions to his liking as did the Mirror dinghy of Luke and Will Bradley in the 19 strong slow handicap fleet.

With two races scheduled on Sunday and with an increasing wind forecast the fleets were kept on the Island shore with courses towards Thorness bay and back, Paul Tanner and Pete Newlands continued their battle in the Shadow class and with various breakages affecting the two RS800's racing, Ollie and Dan cemented their position at the top of the fast Handicap fleet. James Downer scored another two wins to dominate the medium handicap ahead of Will Heritage's beautifully restored OK dinghy. In the slow handicap fleet the Mirror again found the windward leeward style courses to their liking to record a series victory over Robin Leather and his son Samuel sailing a Feva.

At the prize giving Vice Commodore Steve Cole thanked all of members of visiting clubs for coming to Gurnard, Helly Hansen who supported the event as well as all the volunteers who helped to make the weekend such a success. The prizes were presented by Emma Davies from Helly Hansen.

Results:

Shadows:
1st Paul Tanner
2nd Pete Newlands
3rd Martin Scott

Fast Handicap:
1st 29er, Ollie Evans and Dan Atherton
2nd B14, Tim and Anna Harrison
3rd RS400, Mike Acton and Judith French

Medium Handicap:
1st Finn, James Downer
2nd OK, Will Heritage
3rd Aero, Jane Peckham

Slow Handicap:
1st Mirror, Luke and Will Bradley
2nd Feva, Robin and Samuel Leather
3rd Pico, Phil Wright

Overall winner, and parent & child winner:
Mirror, Luke and Will Bradley