Rooster Mirror National Championships at Poole Yacht Club

33 boats including the reigning National Champions Chris & Daisy Fuller, ex-World champion Chris Balding and a two times ex-National Champion Dave Wade, gathered at Poole YC for the Rooster UK Mirror Nationals from 11th to 14th August.

There was even an international presence from Alle & Floris Roodbergen (NED) with their World Championship winning boat, equipped with a very Dutch orange spinnaker. Great racing in the sheltered waters of Poole harbour's Top Triangle, and the club were very welcoming and accommodating.

New this year: What HAppened Today? (WHAT?). After everyone was changed and re-fuelled, a post-racing debrief by Chris Balding with input from Chris Fuller and Dave Wade in Poole YC's Academy training room.

Race 6 start in the Rooster Mirror National Championships at Poole - photo © Alan Phypers

The atmospheric conditions were very unstable, resulting in shifty, variable strength winds and a heavy shower during racing on both Monday and Tuesday. However, Poole YC put on some great race management with PRO Steve Thompson and his team working hard to move marks to keep true beats, races the correct length, with minimal delays between the races. I think that's the most times I've seen the 'C' flag used in a Championship.

The first attempt at race 1 was incident packed - it started in light, shifty conditions and following a left shift, the windward mark was moved to keep the beat true. However a further left shift as the leaders turned the leeward mark meant it was now a reach to the "windward" mark, so the race was abandoned and re-started. In the end all starts were made under a 'P' preparatory signal with one general, and a few individual recalls.

Race 6 of the Rooster Mirror National Championships at Poole - photo © Alan Phypers

Adult helms with child crews dominated the top end of the fleet and racing was close. Silver Fleet (i.e. U15) winners were a cluster of three boats led by Oliver Rayner & Imogen Wade in ninth, Esme Barraclough & Harriet Wade in tenth and Nuala Sellwood & Oscar Phypers in eleventh. Best U13 boat was Max Phypers & Emma Sellwood in 15th. Best local boat U18 was River & Devon Green in 20th.

Youngest crew was 6 year old Gabriel Nichols, youngest helm was 10 year old George Lenney in 21st place and Youngest combined ages were 11 year old Nick Cox with 9 year old Tristan Sellwood in 26th. The best (and biggest) fleet were Restronguet SC Pirates who brought ten boats to the Championship.

Prizes were kindly provided by Rooster and Pinnell & Bax.

Chris and Daisy Fuller win the Rooster Mirror National Championships at Poole - photo © Kyle Brown

Overall Results:

JP and Elle Marks in the Rooster Mirror National Championships at Poole - photo © Alan Phypers