Harken D-Zero National Championships 2025 at Lee-on-the-Solent Sailing Club - Day 1

The D-Zero doing what it does best - wind and waves - smiles thoughout the fleet on day 1 - Harken D-Zero National Championships at Lee-on-the-Solent © Jamie Robinson

With a strong south-easterly wind forecast for Saturday, gusting 24kts, the race officer scheduled three races for day one in the hope that all eight races scheduled for the Nationals might be completed over the weekend.

As the fleet of 30 racers launched the wind filled enough to get racing confirmed and it filled throughout the day. The first race was a difficult one; meaning the form book was shaken up a little. After the start a big hole in the wind opened up for the whole fleet on the first beat. The first ten boats round the top mark opened up a gap on the rest of the fleet. Those going left on the second beat got an edge and the race continued on a trapezoidal course with outer loop.

Local poster buoy, Tom Southwell took the bullet with Adam Cockerill chasing him hard, third going to the first Scot, Jon Bassett. Tom will be chuffed to have taken first blood on home waters.

Action at the mark on day 1 - Harken D-Zero National Championships at Lee-on-the-Solent - photo © Jamie Robinson

With the wind filling nicely, race 2 was started in a building breeze with the fleet sailing the same course as race 1. The leading group, including Dealer Dave Valentine was doing well until four of them hit the windward mark, so after a bit of reversing practice, the race resumed whilst Tom Soutwell & Sam Bedford had another go at the mark. This fancy dancing shook up the results but the form book was restored with Ian Baillie, The Prof, taking the win, Ian Morgan coming second and top coach Jon Emmett claiming third.

Race 3, again on a trapezoidal outer loop course, was to be all action with the wind building to 18-22 kts which the D-Zero revels in. Jon Emmett and Ian had a bit of a tussle with Jon needing to make some turns. Clearly a bit dizzy he then went for the wrong windward mark, undoubtedly costing him a few places - even coaches are human!

Further down the fleet Ian Patrick went well with his black rig, and a couple of the newbies were also flying. The Prof, already a one time D-Zero National Champ, took first, with another ex champ, Ian Morgan, taking second with Adam Cockerill in third.

Ian Baille leads on day 1 - Harken D-Zero National Championships at Lee-on-the-Solent - photo © Jamie Robinson

The Prof's talent is beginning to shine, with a score of 7pts, but Ian Morgan is only 1pt behind with Adam Cockerill on 9pts in third, 7pts ahead of new-to-the-Nationals Alistair Higgins (another Scot). Clearly there has been some very close racing on day one with the whole fleet getting excellent racing.

Landing was fun with more wind, bigger waves, and a shore dump leading to a few swimmers - but all survived, and all were still laughing.

Day 2 dawns, a bit windy, with what will be a tired fleet, but a few pints cures all ills in the D-Zero fleet and tomorrow is after all another day. Will the Prof rove too quick, will Ian Morgan pick up some vital speed tips in the bar on Saturday night, will Adam fly a bit faster and will Jon Emmett have found a compass, will Dealer Dave bribe his way to the front or will Bertie Bassett sort out his first day blues.....? All to play for on day 2.

A bunch of happy sailors at the briefing on day 1 - Harken D-Zero National Championships at Lee-on-the-Solent - photo © Jamie Robinson

Results after day 1:

Close racing downwind on day 1- Harken D-Zero National Championships at Lee-on-the-Solent - photo © Jamie Robinson