Please select your home edition
Edition
PredictWind - GPS 728x90 TOP

Sea Sure and Hartley Boats Fire Nationals 2024 at Warsash Sailing Club

by Andy Wilson 4 Jun 21:08 PDT 1-2 June 2024

This year's competition, hosted at Warsash Sailing Club, was a two day event of extremes. Race Officer Peter Knight recorded a first day with a steady 15 knots rising to a 22 knots by the final race.

The second day was lighter but with up to 60 degree swings and a wind range measuring between 0 and 15 knots. For both days the wind was blowing from a northerly quarter off the land which made for shifty conditions.

Due to the infancy of the Fire class, some competitors had been lent sails and boats in order to join in the fun. Many of the regular boats were sailing with temporary numbers. By the finish of the first race Richard Hill's sail appeared blank but he explained to the race officer as he crossed the line 'the dog ate my numbers'.

With a fleet of 19 boats entered, it just goes to show that the Blaze Hull and Fire sail is an up and coming class. The age range of the competitors varied from 19 to 76 with weights from a slender 55 kilos to a more 'traditional' 107 kilos. Whilst there were only two lady competitors they showed their skills are better than most, both being placed in the top ten.

A solid performance in all conditions from champion Christian Smart gave him the title for the second year running. Guest Abby Hire, who was second, commented how much easier the Fire is to sail than her usual boat (but perhaps was just being extremely modest re her skills!). Mark Ripley, another guest in a borrowed boat, did exceptionally well to come third despite missing a couple of races due to a broken rack. Sea Sure staff were able to fabricate a repair so he could continue with Sunday racing. Youngest sailor and the Endeavour prize went to Robbie Smart who completed all races. Finally, the notorious Pink Flamingo prize was given to Dave Shafto for repeatedly misjudging the tide on the marks and completing an additional 360 without needing to.

A fun and challenging weekend with most competitors reporting a brutal first day of sailing. There was some good feedback for the Fire rig sailors. Regular Blaze sailor, Alexandra, borrowed a Fire sail for the event, commenting that the racing was much closer than expected and the boat always felt manageable with the smaller Fire rig. First-timer Nationals contender Rupert Rhodes was impressed with the friendliness of the fleet. Boat park neighbours who helped him to sort his rudder after a few capsizes in the Saturday races just confirmed this to him.

Many thanks to Bob Cowan and Warsash Sailing Club for their amazing organisation. As a class we are always well looked after at this South Coast venue. The main sponsors Sea Sure and Hartley Boats provided a feast of prizes for all the finishers.

We look forward to the full rig Blaze Nationals in Pembrokeshire later this month.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1st868Christian SmartPembrokeshire Yacht Club‑3211127
2nd807Abby HireLTSC/RLymYC‑71434315
3rd797Nick RipleyPaignton SC25311‑15627
4th864David ShaftoBurghfield SC(DNF)31076430
5th862Mark RipleyPaignton Sailing Club1(DNF)DNC27131
6th875pete BarlowBurghfield642‑1291233
7th866Bob CowanWSC8954‑11733
8th809Simon BeddowsBurghfield486‑148834
9th781David EntwistleBurghfield116793‑1536
10th676Alexandra PorteousRCYC/RVYC1210(DNF)821345
11th769Richard HillWSC913(DNF)513545
12th850Rupert RhodesTudor Sailing Club‑131191010949
13th8681Robbie SmartPembrokeshire Yacht Club‑161581351051
14th693Nevan LucasWSC1414(DNF)6141159
15th844Darin WiggWarsash57(DNF)DNCDNCDNC72
16th763Peter McfarlaneBurghfield15(DNF)DNC16121477
17th800Steve SharpSeafarers1012(DNF)DNCDNCDNC82
18th840Neil ZambraWSC17(DNF)DNC15DNCDNC92
19th856Mike Lyons (DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC100

Related Articles

LOMO Blaze Inlands preview
Who we'll be watching The Blaze Class rounds off it's 2024 season in October with another blast around the inland cans at Chase Water, last visited by the Class in 2019. It was a blowy affair back then and some of us will be hoping for the same again. Posted on 4 Oct
Royal Corinthian Yacht Club Super Saturday 2024
More than 50 boats participate in Burnham on the River Crouch Charlie Matthews, sailing on a Blaze, won the 2024 edition of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club Super Saturday, after coming second on the last race of the series, on 17th of August 2024. Posted on 21 Aug
Hartley Boats Blaze Nationals at Pembrokeshire
Ben Harden retains his title in an excellent fleet of 47 boats The pre-entries list featured some big names from the Blaze world including several former National champions, regional champions and some new faces who, judging by early-season form, had a challenge to offer at the front of the fleet. Posted on 1 Jul
Hartley Boats Blaze Nationals Runners and Riders
The fleet will start racing at Pembrokeshire Yacht Club on Friday The 2024 edition of the Hartley Boats Blaze National Championship will take place at Pembrokeshire Yacht Club, between 21st and 23rd of June, 2024. Posted on 20 Jun
Blaze Eastern Championship
Costa-del-Sheppey shines It wasn't easy, but the nimble Blaze Class Chairman Charlie Matthrews pulled off some superb sailing, chased by local, Russell Wheeler and London-based Douglas Clow, who seemed to be swapping places left, right and centre. Posted on 6 May
Sea Sure and Hartley Boats Fire Nationals Preview
The fleet is set for Warsash SC on the first weekend of June For those of you not in-the-know about the Fire Class, it's useful, firstly, to note that the Fire is sister to the popular 1996 designed Blaze. Posted on 3 May
Blaze Training and Open at Carsington
What the Blazes...? 14 intrepid sailors travelled to Carsington Sailing Club (well, 11 technically, if you exclude the home clubbers), nestling just south of the Peak District, for a duo-weekend of 1 day of training and 1 day of racing. Posted on 19 Apr
Fire Inlands at Burghfield
A forecast for the adventurous Like the four previous years, the forecast for the historical Blaze Class season opener looked like one for the adventurous - 16, gusting 28 kts. Posted on 25 Mar
The RCYC Snow Globe races 7 & 8
James Hutton-Penman goes to the top after winning both races James Hutton-Penman goes top after winning both races on the 4th day of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club' SnowGlobe series, on 2nd of December 2023. Posted on 5 Dec 2023
The RCYC Snow Globe races 5 & 6
16 boats lined up, including 4 Otters and 2 visitors The third day of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club' SnowGlobe series, on 25th of November, saw Charlie Matthews move to the top of the table, after a second and a first place. Posted on 28 Nov 2023
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignZhik - Made for Water37th AC Store 2024-one-728X90 BOTTOM