The British 5o5 National Championship took place at WNPSA between the 23rd & 27th of July.
The conditions were variable to say the least; the sailing was outstanding and the competition was some of the toughest in the UK this year. With competitors coming from the USA, Germany, Canada and Australia the fleet was truly international. In attendance were several top ten finishers at the worlds earlier in the year including the current world champion Mike Holt who was sailing with his 2014 worlds winning crew Rob Wolfel.
Day 1
Competitors enjoyed a leisurely sail out to the starting area in roughly 10 knts of breeze. Racing got under way promptly and saw Mike & Rob open their account with a bullet but only after having to overhaul Class newcomers Tom Gillard and Richard Anderton. In third place were Ian Pinnell and Alex Davis.
Race 2 and it was business as usual for Holt and Wolfel who are currently the world’s most dominant force in 5o5 sailing. In second place were Andy Smith and Tim Needham, third place was Howie Hamlin and Jeff Nelson from the USA.
In the evening there were welcome drinks and a large buffet for competitors.
Day 2
The day started and continued quite differently from the previous day, Driving rain, big seas and sustained gusts of 27knts made for some epic sailing and a number of breakages that were only outnumbered by the smiles on the faces of those who enjoyed the racing.
Race 1 had to be abandoned at the leeward mark due to a large wind shift. A brave call by PRO Mark Darling and team, and clearly the correct call: one that speaks volumes of the quality of race management at WNPSA and the Worlds next year.
When the race was restarted it saw Andy smith & Tim Needham race into a commanding lead showing the boat speed that had brought them close to a world’s victory in 2014. 2nd were Holt & Wolfel, 3rd Gillard and Anderton. This pattern was repeated in the next race with the same order and boats in the top three.
Race 5, the third and last of the day saw Holt and Wolfel back on top with Hamlin and Nelson in 2nd. 3rd place went to Ian Pinnell & Alex Davis. Smith and Needham suffered with spinnaker issues and more seriously Tim injured himself, which in turn ruled him out of the rest of the competition.
Day 3
Champagne Sailing at the 2015 Nationals
A new day and it had stop raining and started shining, the wind was still blowing and the stage was set for some champagne sailing of the first order.
Races 6 & 7 saw Holt and Wolfel stamp their mark on the championship and secure victory in an impressive manner. Even more impressive when considering that the lowest placed Olympian finished the regatta in 8th.
Hamlin & Nelson finished 2nd in both races to Holt & Wolfel, securing 2nd overall and demonstrating the consistency that has seen them at the top of international dinghy racing for so long.
Andy smith pulled in Neil Hunter to crew for him and finished the day with a 9th & and 3rd, a more than respectable score for a scratch crew.
Paul Brotherton and Mark Andrews finished the day with a 3rd & 4th and started to demonstrate good speed in their new boat.
The competitors enjoyed and great BBQ put on by the staff and WPNSA and a few light refreshments.
Day 4
And the rain was back with a vengeance, this time with more wind. The fleet launched in 20-25knts only to turn back in gusts of 42knts and so ended the championships. A number of boats are off to Sweden for the Europeans starting on 4-8 August: well worth checking out the website for that event as there will be GPS tracking.
Final places where as follows
1st Mike Holt & Rob Wolfel USA
2nd Howie Hamlin & Jeff Nelson USA
3rd Andy Smith & Tim Needham/Neil Hunter GBR
4th Tom Gillard & Richard Anderton GBR
5th Ian Pinnell & Alex Davis GBR
6th Paul Brotherton & Mark Andrews GBR
7th Terry Scutcher & Christian Diebitch GBR
8th Charlie Walters & Dougal Cram GBR
9th Bob Tennant & Steve Bourdow CAN
10th Thure Gnadeberg & Aron Tellen GER
Winner of the Classic Fleet and endeavour trophy were Gary Fowler and Mark Fowler in 8055
First woman Helm Bobbie Johnson
First Youth James King.
| Rank | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | Nett | Country | SailNo. | Total |
| 1 | Mike Holt | Rob Woelfel | Santa Cruz YC | 1.0 | 1.0 | (2.0) | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 7.0 | USA | 9072 | 9.0 |
| 2 | Howie Hamlin | Jeff Nelson | Newport Harbor YC | (4.0) | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 17.0 | USA | 9153 | 21.0 |
| 3 | Andy Smith | Tim Needham/Neil Hunter | Notts. County SC | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | (34.0 DNF) | 9.0 | 3.0 | 21.0 | GBR | 9088 | 55.0 |
| 4 | Tom Gillard | Richard Anderton | Hayling Island SC | 2.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | (8.0) | 23.0 | GBR | 9117 | 31.0 |
| 5 | Ian Pinnell | Alex Davies | Northampton SC | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | (12.0) | 3.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 28.0 | GBR | 9136 | 40.0 |
| 6 | Paul Brotherton | Mark Andrews | Glossop SC | 6.0 | (34.0 DNF) | 8.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 34.0 | GBR | 9155 | 68.0 |
| 7 | Terry Scutcher | Christian Diebitsch | Shotley SC | (13.0) | 8.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 35.0 | GBR | 9124 | 48.0 |
| 8 | Charlie Walters | Dougal Cram | Datchet Water SC | 8.0 | 10.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 11.0 | (12.0) | 48.0 | GBR | 9085 | 60.0 |
| 9 | Bob Tennant | Steve Bourdow | Royal Victoria YC | (14.0) | 7.0 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 13.0 | 10.0 | 55.0 | CAN | 8970 | 69.0 |
| 10 | Thure Gnadeberg | Aron Tellen | Baltische Segler | 10.0 | (16.0) | 10.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 14.0 | 15.0 | 68.0 | GER | X | 84.0 |
| 11 | Ben Illiffe | Richard Nurse | King George SC | 12.0 | 14.0 | 11.0 | 10.0 | 11.0 | 17.0 | (34.0 DNS) | 75.0 | GBR | 8514 | 109.0 |
| 12 | Stuart Turnbull | Andrew George | Burton SC | 18.0 | 12.0 | (34.0 RET) | 11.0 | 9.0 | 15.0 | 16.0 | 81.0 | GBR | 8905 | 115.0 |
| 13 | Jim McGillivray | Ian McGillivray | Prestwick SC | 21.0 | 19.0 | 15.0 | 14.0 | 13.0 | (22.0) | 17.0 | 99.0 | GBR | 9145 | 121.0 |
| 14 | Michael Quirk | Nathan Quirk | Royal Prince Edward YC | 7.0 | 5.0 | (34.0 RET) | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 8.0 | 13.0 | 101.0 | AUS | 9134 | 135.0 |
| 15 | Roger Deane | Tim Williams | Rock SC | 25.0 | 18.0 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 12.0 | 20.0 | (34.0 DNF) | 101.0 | GBR | 9125 | 135.0 |
| 16 | Doug Hagan | Paul von Grey | 11.0 | 17.0 EXN | (34.0 RET) | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 7.0 | 5.0 | 108.0 | USA | 8680 | 142.0 | |
| 17 | Peter Bennett | Andy Phillips | Shoreham SC | 15.0 | 15.0 | 12.0 | (34.0 RET) | 34.0 DNC | 18.0 | 18.0 | 112.0 | GBR | 9002 | 146.0 |
| 18 | Earl Alexander | Rob Burdekin | Darwin Point SC | 9.0 | 11.0 | (34.0 RET) | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 16.0 | 14.0 | 118.0 | AUS | 9028 | 152.0 |
| 19 | Harry Briddon | Adam Kenney | Ogston SC/Burton SC | 20.0 | 13.0 | (34.0 RET) | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 12.0 | 11.0 | 124.0 | GBR | 9104 | 158.0 |
| 20 | Bobbie Johnson | James King | Chase SC | 16.0 | 20.0 | 16.0 | (34.0 RET) | 34.0 DNC | 21.0 | 20.0 | 127.0 | GBR | 8860 | 161.0 |
| 21 | Martin Hodgson | Neil Fulcher | Stone SC | 19.0 | (34.0 DNC) | 34.0 RET | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 10.0 | 9.0 | 140.0 | GBR | 9142 | 174.0 |
| 22 | Martin Coult | Tim Octon | Frensham Pond SC | 31.0 | 27.0 | 14.0 | (34.0 RET) | 34.0 DNC | 24.0 | 21.0 | 151.0 | GBR | 8340 | 185.0 |
| 23 | Martin Wedge | Scott Allen | RTYC | 23.0 | 25.0 | (34.0 RET) | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 19.0 | 23.0 | 158.0 | GBR | 9036 | 192.0 |
| 24 | Terry Selfe | Alan Montague | Stone SC | 17.0 | 17.0 | (34.0 RET) | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 23.0 | 34.0 DNS | 159.0 | GBR | 8650 | 193.0 |
| 25 | Neil Rabbitts | Richard LeMare | Burton SC | 26.0 | 22.0 | (34.0 RET) | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 26.0 | 19.0 | 161.0 | GBR | 8881 | 195.0 |
| 26 | Alex Shaw | Neil Smith | Manor Park SC | 24.0 | 23.0 | (34.0 DNS) | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 27.0 | 24.0 | 166.0 | GBR | 8511 | 200.0 |
| 27 | Martin Wright | Arthur George | Northampton SC | 30.0 | 21.0 | (34.0 RET) | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 28.0 | 34.0 DNF | 181.0 | GBR | 8780 | 215.0 |
| 28 | Olav Schluter | Matthew Amiss | Weston SC | 22.0 | 24.0 | (34.0 RET) | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNF | 34.0 DNC | 182.0 | USA | 8441 | 216.0 |
| 29 | Ian O’Leary | Christopher | Balboa YC | (34.0 RET) | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 RET | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 25.0 | 22.0 | 183.0 | USA | 7069 | 217.0 |
| 30 | Dave Bell | Ian Merryfield | Burton SC | 29.0 | 26.0 | (34.0 DNC) | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNS | 34.0 DNC | 191.0 | GBR | 8 | 225.0 |
| 31 | Gary Fowler | Mark Fowler | Hunt SC | 32.0 | 28.0 | (34.0 RET) | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 196.0 | GBR | 8055 | 230.0 |
| 32 | Mike Pickering | Mike Priddle | 27.0 | (34.0 DNF) | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNF | 34.0 DNC | 197.0 | GBR | 9156 | 231.0 | |
| 33 | Mike Male | Nick Frampton | Castle Cove SC | 28.0 | (34.0 DNF) | 34.0 DNS | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNC | 34.0 DNF | 34.0 DNC | 198.0 | GBR | 8793 | 232.0 |