Newman takes Nationals

Mike Samuelson and Simon Forbes report from the MOCRA and Farrier Nationals

15 multihulls made it to Bembridge for this year's MOCRA & Farrier National Championships sailed under the flag of the East Wight Combined Clubs. The trimarans were the Farrier designs: two F25C’s, two F27, F28R, F31, F9AX, two Dragonfly 800 and a 920. The catamarans were a Strider, Firebird, a TRT 1200, Dazcat 12 and a 52ft Kelsall design.

Line honours in all races went to Spencer Harrison, James Stewart and Simon Burt sailing Ian Loffhagen's new F25C Sheik Yerbouti although on handicap he was unable to do better than 4th overall. Despite being pushed hard by Brian Haynes in Carbon Tiger, the overall winner was Pete Newman, Chris Henderson and Jim Seed in Martine who (despite an OCS in the 5th race) sailed consistently well to also retain the Ian Farrier Trophy.

On Friday 3 races of about an hour and a half each were set by race officers Mike Samuelson & Mike Reardon. In the first the ten knot breeze for the first lap then dropped to around 6 knots and the back of the fleet found themselves having to struggle with the strengthening tide off the Bembridge Ledge. Pete Newman in the F27 Martine came out in 1st place, Sheik Yerbouti 2nd and Brian Haynes in Carbon Tiger (F28C) was 3rd.

Races 2 and 3 were genuine windward/leeward courses; Race 2 On corrected time this put Martine well ahead, Pete Newland’s Kelsall 52 Brigand 2nd, and David McLeman in Zoum! (Dragonfly 920) was 3rd.



Race 3; On corrected time though it was Zoum!, followed by Carbon Tiger and Sheik Yerbouti. Although they finished, Mike Butterfield in his beautiful 12m cat Dazzle unfortunately ripped the clew from their only genoa which meant their chances of improving their placing during the rest of the Championship’s evaporated.

On Saturday two longer distance courses of around three hours were set, Martine was again the winner on corrected time with Simon Forbes in Scooby III (Dragonfly 800) 2nd and Sheik Yerbouti in 3rd. After lunch the fleet was sent back to the Nab Tower was to port this time for Race 6. Unfortunately Martine, Zoum! and Fly Half failed to spot the I Flag at the start and so were scored OCS for infringing the penalty area in the one minute period and not correcting by going round the ends. This left Carbon Tiger the winner on corrected time, Scooby III was 2nd and Ben Goodland in Tigger (Strider 24)
in 3rd.

The easterly wind strengthened slightly for Sunday’s final 2 races. Race 7 saw Martine again 1st on corrected time, with Carbon Tiger 2nd and Sheik Yerbouti 3rd. In the final race on corrected time it was Martine, Zoum! and Carbon Tiger.

Overall results
1st Pete Newman - Martine (F27)
2nd - Brian Haynes - Carbon Tiger (F28C)
3rd - David McLeman - Zoum! (Dragonfly 920)
4th - Spencer Harrison - Sheik Yerbouti (F25C)
5th - Simon Forbes - Scooby III (Dragonfly 800)
6th - Richard Roscoe - Triohe (F9AX)
7th - Ben Goodland - Tigger (Strider 24)
8th - Martin Bosher - Macavity the Cat (TRT 1200)
9th - David Vinten - Nymph (Dragonfly 800)
10th - Stuart Innes - Anarchy (F27)
11th = Nigel Harley - Flyhalf (Firebird)
11th = Pete Newlands (Kelsall 52)
13th - Graham Mackereth (F25C)
14th - Mike Butterfield - Dazzle (12m cat)
15th - Dick Skipworth - Carol X (Farrier 31)