Hadron H2 National Championship at Brixham Yacht Club - Day 2

Day two at Brixham turned out to be even damper than day one and with a similar wind strength (5 knots) we may have expected similar results. But no - a new helm won race 3 and race 4. This was Tom Moore (Stokes Bay SC), a young chap who normally sails an RS300 and who borrowed an H2 to compete.

Yesterday I alluded to the fact that it took time to learn how to sail an H2 in light weather: Tom was 13th and 14th in yesterday's races but he learns fast! Whatever he did to his H2 overnight, it was supercharged today. It obviously helped that Tom is at the lighter end of the H2 weight range but he made two good starts and led from start to finish in both races.

Tom Moore at the gybe mark on his way to victory in race 3 on day 2 of the Hadron H2 Nationals at Brixham - photo © Keith Callaghan

But while the front runners from Day 1 had to concede victory to Tom in both races, Josh Hamer (Leigh & Lowton SC) scored two impressive second places, putting himself in pole position for the championship. Overnight leader Ian Dawson (Warsash) could only manage a sixth and an eleventh place, enabling third placed and very consistent Steven Hendon (Blithfield SC), with a 4th and a third place today, to come level with him on points.

Dave Barker prepares to round the gybe mark on day 2 of the Hadron H2 Nationals at Brixham - photo © Keith Callaghan

Three races were scheduled for the day but the second race was abandoned after a course change was missed by the fleet - very disappointing for the two leaders, Barry Wolfenden (Bough Beech SC) and Ian Little (Thorpe Bay YC), who had gone left at the start into a backing wind to arrive at the weather mark with a 100 metre lead. The voiding of this race is quite significant as with a maximum of seven races only one discard is allowed, whereas two were allowed if the scheduled eight races were sailed.

A study in concentration - Steve Hendon on day 2 of the Hadron H2 Nationals at Brixham - photo © Keith Callaghan

So, with 3 races to be sailed on the final day, nobody can afford to make more than one mistake. With light winds again forecast, albeit from the west rather than north, and therefore likely to be even more shifty, the H2 National Championship may not be decided until the last race. And there are trophies for various age and weight ranges too, so read the final report tomorrow to see who are the winners.

Results after Day 2: