2022 Wetsuit Outlet UK Moth Class Nationals at the WPNSA - Overall

This championship was destined to go down to the wire on the final day, with the top three going into it with just two points separating them. The forecast was ideal, the sailors were primed, and the day duly delivered on its promise and more.

The full schedule of sixteen races was completed and the final day was full of twists and turns as Simon Hiscocks, Dylan Fletcher and Brad Funk battled it out for the title.

Race 13 saw Dylan Fletcher judge his time on distance perfectly at the pin end of the start line, and then hold off the charge of Brad Funk and Simon Hiscocks to take the win. This put Fletcher back in pole position, regaining top spot on the leaderboard after Hiscocks took the lead overnight.

Race 14 was a different story though as Brad Funk found top gear, with Hiscocks finishing second and Fletcher only fifth. Hiscocks regained the lead overall with Funk moving up to second.

Brad Funk finishes Race 13 on Day 4 of the 2022 Wetsuit Outlet UK Moth Class Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK

Race 15 saw an epic downwind battle between Fletcher and Hiscocks. Fletcher was in the lead, with Hiscocks pressing hard and then executing a perfect gybe to overtake and win the race. This time it was Funk who couldn't climb through the fleet, finishing in ninth. Hiscocks retained the lead, Fletcher moved back up to second while Funk dropped to third, but there was nothing in it.

Dylan Fletcher bails from the Race 16 start on Day 4 of the 2022 Wetsuit Outlet UK Moth Class Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK

So, it all came down to the final race. Who was going to blink first? As the fleet lined up to start at the committee boat end, Fletcher was timing his high-speed run in, but saw that the gap he wanted to fly through was closed. He had to sharply head up the wrong side of the committee boat, tack and gybe, then start behind the fleet. Surely this was his race over?

Up at the front Hiscocks and Funk fought tooth and nail, continually swapping the lead, and in the end, Brad Funk took the race win by a sprit length. The hard-charging Fletcher made a remarkable comeback to finish third, but it was clear this wasn't going to be enough to win the title.

Simon Hiscocks finishes Race 16, looking to see who had won the race, on Day 4 of the 2022 Wetsuit Outlet UK Moth Class Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK

Simon Hiscocks won on 23 points, Brad Funk finished second on 24 points with Dylan Fletcher third on 25 points. A fitting end to this battle of champions.

Throughout the fleet many others were also fighting for every place they could, trying to reach the targets they'd set themselves at the beginning of the week in this ultra-competitive fleet. Josie Gliddon got the better of Emily Nagel to win the Ladies title. Jason Belben fought off Mike Lennon to win the Masters title.

Josie Gliddon finishing Race 13 on Day 4 of the 2022 Wetsuit Outlet UK Moth Class Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK

Everywhere you looked there were tooth and nail scraps, but every single one of the competitors had a smile on their face as they knew they were sailing the best class in the world, at possibly the best foiling venue, and had competed in an event blessed with absolutely ideal conditions. Foiling doesn't get better than this.

Simon Hiscocks was overjoyed being crowned champion: "I don't think it's really sunk in to be honest with you. It's quite cool to win the Nationals, especially with Dylan and Brad in the fleet. There's been a point in it for a couple of days now and it has ebbed and flowed. We've seen a pattern where they take points off me in the early races each day, then I take them back in the later races!"

On just getting pipped in the final race, and not keeping up his sequence of winning the last race of each day, Simon said: "It was a bit disappointing as I was in a quite comfortable lead with Brad, and I let him split away on the final run; I should have stuck with him. It was still close, and we had to ask the committee boat whose bowsprit had crossed first. There must have been only half a second in it."

Simon Hiscocks wins the 2022 Wetsuit Outlet UK Moth Class Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK

Brad Funk was magnanimous in being beaten into second place by Simon, clearly buoyed by sailing these fantastic foiling craft: "I'm just grateful to be here and be part of the class. These boats are just so stimulating for heart, mind and soul, and to sail against all the British guys who come here and train - the best squad in the world right now - it's a good programme to go into the Worlds next year. With the boats so much sturdier, the conversation now is about how good the racing is, not who broke this and who broke that, which is fantastic. Simon and Dylan did a great job, with Simon putting the series together to win, and I'm really proud of him."

Brad Funk on Day 4 of the 2022 Wetsuit Outlet UK Moth Class Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK

Dylan Fletcher was pragmatic not to add to his tally of titles: "It's been a fantastic Moth Nationals here in Weymouth and I'm really looking forward to the Worlds here next year. I think everyone's got a bit of FOMO watching this event, and it's going to hopefully be similar again. It has been an exciting few days, awesome to be battling it out. You always want to win every race, but the reality is that the racing has been exceptional between the three of us, and I'm really happy with how I've gone. It's obviously bitterly disappointing now, but in reality, to be at this stage, with a production boat that's been in the water for seven days, we're really happy."

Deeper down the fleet there are some exceptional stories. James Sainsbury, home-builder of his Moth Valkyrie, and a man who has a sixth sense as to when a camera is pointing at him, finally managed to put a series together and get beyond the first day of the Nationals in his boat. This was despite the stern falling off on day one: "I've had a few really bad Nationals and obviously my first day curse hit me again with my transom falling off! I put it back together and it's survived the rest of the week. A few creaks and groans today, and the odd leak, but we made it."

Dylan Fletcher and Simon Hiscocks approach the leeward gate during Race 13 on Day 4 of the 2022 Wetsuit Outlet UK Moth Class Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK

James has been a big fan of the sixteen-race format: "The quick turnaround in racing makes it really nice to reset and keep racing going. Everyone feels like they're really part of it and the standard is right up there now. There are no real tailenders and when the wind picks up everybody is now handling it. The fleet is getting really strong."

While James is a big advocate of home-builds, he feels that the entry point boats in the class are better value than ever and provide a superb platform to get foiling: "You don't need to go out there and buy the most expensive boat available, or even spend over ten thousand pounds. There are a number of second-hand boats which will give you the experience of what a Moth is compared to some of the other foiling designs that are trying to get people in. A Rocket, Mach 2 or Excocet will get you going faster than other foiling boats out there, and you'll be a part of this great class."

James Sainsbury finishes Race 13 on Day 4 of the 2022 Wetsuit Outlet UK Moth Class Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK

James Phare has been a regular competitor in the Moths for a number of years, and thought this Nationals was one of the best yet: "I have to say it's been really amazing with sun and wind. My expectations were pretty low coming into the event as I haven't done much sailing, but it's just been really fun to get out with everyone and have competitive racing across the whole fleet. Fantastic, and good omens for the Worlds next year."

James Phare on Day 4 of the 2022 Wetsuit Outlet UK Moth Class Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK

The race management team, under the direction of Race Officer David Campbell-James, have been exemplary all event with fast turnarounds between races and excellent courses.

Dylan Fletcher was full of praise for them: "Absolutely exceptional, a really good job from the race team and all the volunteers has made it a superb event. 16 races is certainly a record of mine, the last time we had a 49er Europeans here we had 22 races in seven days and that felt full on! Big thanks to everyone. Bring on the Worlds here next year!"

David Campbell-James has really enjoyed his time on the water and was full of compliments for the class: "An absolutely fantastic four days; the experiment with four shorter races inside the harbour has worked really, really well. We had Weymouth at its absolute best, with perfect Moth conditions, and then to have a finish like we just witnessed was superb. In the past we've had up to 25% of the fleet having to use the Grand Prix finishing, where once the leader finishes the sailors finish regardless of which lap they're on, but I think we've only had two or three this week, and that's a superb reflection on the whole fleet."

At the prize-giving the sailors were awarded their trophies, Wetsuit Outlet vouchers, as well as bottles of Mainbrace Rum by Olympian Saskia Tidey. Simon Hiscocks gave his thanks to the race team, the volunteers, both on the water and ashore, the event sponsors and his fellow competitors, and reiterated just how superb the event was.

Simon Hiscocks with the trophy after winning the 2022 Wetsuit Outlet UK Moth Class Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Mark Jardine / IMCA UK

There simply couldn't have been a better advertisement for the 2023 Moth World Championship here at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy in June 2023.

IMCA UK would like to say a massive thank-you to the event sponsors, who have been very supportive to the Moth class, especially during the challenging times over the last two years:

• Wetsuit Outlet - Wetsuit Outlet is Europe's largest technical watersports clothing and equipment retailer. Priding themselves on friendly, expert customer service, Wetsuit Outlet stock a huge range of the top watersport brands including Zhik, Gill, Musto, Sail Racing, Gul and more.

• Optimum Time - Optimum Time, design and build timing devices that are precise, practical, and robust enough to perform in the competitive sailing environment. Pioneers of the game-changing sync function, their 'big yellow timer' is the badge to wear out on the water.

• Lennon Sails - Lennon sails have been at the forefront of Moth sailing since its formation in 2014. Winning multiple World, European and National titles. Working with cutting edge design tools the latest materials and some of the best sailors on planet. Lennon Moth sails are made to fit any moth design - Mike lennon is at many events and happy to discuss moth developments any time!

• Blueteq - Blueteq develops bespoke software for the NHS as well as many private healthcare providers. Its systems are used in every NHS Hospital Trust in England and Wales as well as 75% of the Commissioner Organisations which includes National systems for NHS England. Blueteq is proud to have been involved with the class over so many years, providing the membership and entry systems as well as financial support.

• Maguire Boats - Builders of the Exocet Moth, Simon and the team are in the process of producing the Aerocet. Dylan Fletcher says of the Aerocet "Its exciting to get the first production Aerocet racing, Simon and the team at Maguire boats have put in a huge amount of time developing this concept alongside Kevin Ellway. P1 has racked up over 7500kms of sailing since it first hit the water, testing every last detail. The goal every year is to win the worlds, the nationals will be a great shakedown for the boat as I start to find the potential within the boat."

• Allen - UK manufactures of performance sailing hardware. The Allen design team works closely with many of the World's best Moth sailors and builders to design, create and produce race winning hardware that meet the demands of the International Moth Class.

• Shock Sailing - Shock Sailing is located in the heart of the Osprey Quay development adjacent to the National Sailing Academy. Specializing in high performance sailboats, the Moth Class is in our dna. We have an extensive range of parts and accessories.

• Mainbrace Rum - Born in Cornwall, Sourced in the Caribbean.

The class encourages Moth sailors to support our sponsors wherever possible, since they are so good at supporting us.

For all UK Moth class event updates follow us on our FB events page at www.facebook.com/MothClassUK or on our UK class website at www.internationalmoth.co.uk

Overall Results: (use the horizontal scrollbar on these results or swipe on touchscreens)
If you finished in the top ten at the International Moth nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

2022 Wetsuit Outlet UK Moth Class Nationals leaderboard changes - photo © Sailwave / Peter van Muyden

Moth Worlds UK 2023 - photo © IMCA UK