Craftinsure K6 National Championship at Stone Sailing Club

Ten K6s entered the 2025 Nationals at Stone SC sailing on the Blackwater Estuary. The forecast was for strong wind over the three days, lighter on the last day, the prelude of an advancing storm late on Sunday, which if arriving earlier than forecast could affect the final day's races.

Day 1

Three races back to back in a building breeze, force 4, touching 5. Race Officer, Lorraine Stone, set a windward/leeward course taking full advantage of the wind over tide conditions. From the start of Race 1 it was clear that Lawrence and Luka Crispin (K6 222) was the team to beat. They quickly took the lead up the first beat, pulling away from the fleet in the windy conditions. Neil Fulcher/Jim Hunt (K6 201) suffered a broken outhaul and retired from the race. Chasing the Crispins were defending Champion, George Barker/Grant Blake (K6 209), closely followed by Dave Hall/Graham Hoy (K6 118) and Richard Harvey/Kate Franklin/Stuart Harvey (K6 113).

K6 Nationals at Stone - photo © Phil Jackson / Digital Sailing

Race 2 saw a similar order as the Crispins posted their second race win with team Harvey coming home in second closely followed by Neil Fulcher/Jim Hunt and George and Grant in fourth.

Race 3 was full of incident. During the pre-start, in the windy conditions, George Barker misjudged a bear away and crashed into the transom of Team Crispin, ripping the transom from its fixings, bending the bottom rudder plate and throwing both Lawrence and Luka out the boat. The contact severely damaged George’s boat below the bowspit. Both boats retired from the race and were very efficiently escorted back to shore by the race support team. The remaining boats continued their race with Andrew Preece and Ewen Thomson (K6 150) leading to the top mark followed by Dave Hall/Graham Hoy. Then the tide came into play; not giving the marks even more room than you would normally had its consequences as Andrew and Ewen caught the spreader mark, followed by Team Harvey. That left Dave and Graham free to come home in first followed by Neil and Jim with JohnTabor/Tom Kosteletos/James Bennett (K6 122) in third and Andrew Preece/Ewen Thomson in fourth and Team Harvey in fifth. During the race Dave Hall had gear failure but Dave not only managed to keep the boat stable in the conditions but won the race! The damage was event ending for Dave and Graham as they limped ashore to retire.

K6 Nationals at Stone - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Day 2

Three races back to back. Remarkably overnight Team Crsipin had managed to repair the damaged transom which looked as good as new. Similarly George and Grant had been hard at work repairing the gashed bow with George putting the final touches to the gel coat before launching back on the water. The weather was slightly less windy than before, although due to build during the day.

Race 4 As if nothing had happened the day before, the Crispins sailed into the lead from the start. Second was Neil and Jim followed in by George and Grant in third and Team Harvey in fourth.

K6 Nationals at Stone - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Race 5 saw the same order in the top two. Behind Team Harvey managed to lead George and Grant home. Race 5 saw the same two home in first and second with George and Grant swapping places with Team Harvey in third and fourth.

Race 6 - The Crispins maintained their dominance with another win but this time followed in second by George and Grant, close behind were Team Havey in third and Neil and Jim in fourth. So with one discard the overnight leaders were Team Crispin well clear of the field with 5 points after five wins. Second place however was a battle between Neil and Jim in second on 13 points George and Grant on 15 points and and Team Harvey on 16 points.

Day 3

The final day. 10.30 start and as the fleet prepared to launch they were faced with a very light breeze and an outgoing tide not due to turn until late morning. There were podium places at stake.

Race 7 - Off the start the fleet went west to avoid the tide finding a bend in the wind towards the windward mark. Normal service resumed with the Crispins taking the win. Behind, there was close racing for the top three. Team Harvey in second, Neil and Jim third and George and Grant in fourth tightened the overall order.

Race 8 - A bit more breeze now and slightly less tide as it approached slack water. Crispins were up and away heading the fleet into the top turn. George and Grant came in second, Team Harvey in third and Neil and Jim fourth.

K6 Nationals at Stone - photo © Phil Jackson / Digital Sailing

Race 9 - With the Crispins now with an unassailable lead the remaining podium places had yet to be finalised. Positions before the final race had Neil and Jim on 16, George and Grant on 17 together with Team Harvey.

Race start. Great start from Neil and Jim taking the left side closely followed by John, Tom and James in K6 122, others tacked off early onto port. Team Harvey were over the line at the start and had to return to redress the situation. At the top mark Neil and Jim lead followed by John, Tom and James in second, Lawrence and Luka, George and Grant. Some way back was Team Harvey. By the bottom mark Lawrence and Luka had got inside of John, Tom and James into second. Upwind it was a drag race now that the wind had slightly veered but a sudden severe shift at the top mark almost caught out the leaders as they rounded. George and Grant took full advantage, passing John, Tom and James into third. The final lap of three saw Team Harvey had come back well to put pressure downwind on John, Tom and James. At the finish the Crispins were well clear in first, Neil and Jim were well clear in second and George and Grant were secure in third. On the line for fourth it was so close that neither Team Harvey or John, Tom and James knew who had fourth place but the Race Officer called it for Team Harvey by the shortest of margins.

K6 Nationals at Stone - photo © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Great racing, great venue and hospitality and really efficient race management by Lorraine Stone and her race crew. Thanks also go to Craftinsure for their sponsorship of the event.

Overall Results: