Finn Nationals  at Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club, Hayling Island

A fleet of 59 Finns, buoyed by the presence of most of the squad and by four boats from Scotland, gathered at Mengeham over 8^{th -} 10^th September for one of the best attended Nationals ever.

 Friday produced a veering easterly wind in Hayling Bay in excess of 12 knots allowing a triangular course with unrestricted pumping. An adverse tide and a good line saw the fleet away first time. Having tacked inshore Matt Howard led at the windward mark followed by Alan Burrell and Mark Andrews (the new Junior World Champion). Both Burrell and Andrews were challenged hard by Irishman Tim Goodbody over the reaches, Goodbody taking Andrews by the leeward mark. Andrews fought back up the beat overtaking Goodbody, and Burrell on the run, to finish second behind Howard.       

 Race 2 started promptly with no recalls with a strengthened wind of 16 knots. Ed Greig won the start, tacked inshore and was first to the windward mark  from Andrews followed by Henry Bagnall, Nick Craig (last year’s champion) and Matt Howard. After the reaches Howard was second, then Andrews and Andrew Mills. Thereafter Greig held his lead and Goodbody worked his way through to 5^th whilst Bagnell slipped to finish 7^th.

 Saturday brought much the same wind and the only general recall, saving a few late comers.  The black flag ensured a clean second start. Mills was first to the windward mark with Greig and Howard following closely. Howard passed both to gybe first at the wing. Mills was unable to hold the challenges on the second beat from Greig, Andrews and Goodbody.

With the wind holding steady Race 4 started promptly but with 2 premature starters. The fleet again favoured the inshore tack although some overstood after failing to notice the shorter beat. Greig rounded the windward mark ahead of Andrews, positions held to the finish. The second beat produced a number of place changes with Howard, Mills and Craig rounding the windward mark 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th respectively, which they held to the finish. This race produced some of the closest finishing throughout the fleet with boats barely a second apart.

 Race 5 saw Howard take an early lead to lose it temporarily up the second beat to Andrews. The run back re-established Howard who took the gun ahead of Andrews. Greig maintained a steady 3^rd position throughout, with Goodbody fighting his way down the last run to finish ahead of Mills.   

 Sunday saw the predicted lighter airs, much to the relief of the recreational sailors!. A 9 knots wind provided the variation of a windward- leeward course and different leaders. In Race 6 Ben Mansfield in his first nationals established a lead by the windward mark and held off Howard, Greig, Andrews, and Goodbody throughout, despite the wind swings of 15 degrees.  Howard managed to hold 2^nd place despite slipping behind Goodbody down the first run, while as Greig faded in the fluky airs so did any challenge to Howard for the Championship. Andrews worked his way steadily up the second beat to 3^rd, ahead of Goodbody, positions maintained to the finish.

The last race saw the fleet split evenly up each side of the first beat. Mills won through to reach the windward mark ahead of Marc Allain des Beauuvais, desperate to make up for his earlier premature start, ahead of Martin Hughes. In the shifting 7 knot wind Mills held his lead whilst Beauvais lost out to Hughes on the run  ahead of Howard, with Anthony Osman borrowing his father’s boat 5^th .       

The host club boasted 11 entries with Neil Robinson making an impressive debut with a 12^th in a fleet boasting considerable talent matched by the Club’s organisation and race management.

RESULTS: British Champion & Open Champion – Matt Howard (RYA), Junior Champion – Mark Andrews (Largs SC), 1^st Master (over 40) – Alan Burrell (Thorpe Bay SC), 1^st Grand Master (over 50) – Marc Allain de Beauvais (Sport Nautique de L’Ouset), 1^st Great Grand Master (over 60) – Alan Tucker (Aeolians SC), 1^st Vintage Boat – Alan Harris (Gallants SC), 1^st Rookie (debut) – Neil Robinson (MRSC), 1^st in lower half of fleet – Ed Thornburn (Newhaven & Seaford SC)