Kestrel Nationals 2025 at Stone Week - Runners and Riders
by Dean Saxton 4 Aug 18:10 NZST
4-8 August 2025
Kestrel sailing © Paul Hargreaves Photography
Stone Sailing Club on the river Blackwater are hosting the Kestrel 2025 National Championship from the 4th to the 8th of August as part of Stone Week. 16 boats have entered and this year seems to be hotly contested between boats from England and Scotland.
Current champions Malcolm Worsley and Richard Harper from Royal Tay won the title last year and Malcolm is this year sailing with daughter Dannielle and are hot favourites to hold onto the title, but local heroes Howie Enkel and Danni Tebbutt from Maylandsea Bay are looking to snatch the title from them. Also challenging for top spot are Stewart Murdoch and Ken Scott-Brown from the strong Sottish contingent. Early weather forecast is for a strong westerly breeze, so look out for heavy weather specialists Rich and Liz Le Mare from Emsworth.
The dark horse could be Chris Grice (Maylandsea) who has been national champion in the past and is crewed by Kenny Hobbs. He is up against his wife Karin Grice crewed by Katherine Wilkinson in 408, the oldest boat in the fleet.
Hot out of the mould and still smelling of resin is 1652, Mark Bollard from Starcross, and is an unknown entity.
It's set to be an exciting week and the title is up for grabs.