The sun shone, shone some more and then shone again for the RS Feva Nationals at Hayling Island SC.
The wind was light, variable, then light again with a mild sea-breeze to finish. The level of competition was awesome.
The regular Feva sailors were supplemented by a lot of parents being crewed by their children – three in the top five and nothing less than national champions in boats such as Fireballs and ff15’s between them!
And by what seemed like the entire Oppie heavy artillery (talent that is, not weight).
A total of 85 Fevas. Five boats made up the first ever Regatta fleet and they had wicked amounts of fun with David and William Acres winning with Dan Fenn and Syd Williams second.
The other 80 presented a serious challenge to the Race officer who did a great job of imposing order with the black flag. The top ten (representing nine different clubs) only had three black flags between them. From 15th to 23rd there were 11 black flags – a lesson perhaps?
Ultimately a major championship will never be won without a lot of talent, great execution and a modest dose of luck. Well the new champion had all these in spades. Aaron Smith is well known in Oppie circles and will in due course be known by many more.
He warmed up his Feva skills by coming second in the Papercourt Open earlier this season. This familiarity with the class was possibly a key factor compared to the rest of the heavy brigade! After the first two days he was in a position to challenge for the podium.
Race 5 saw Aaron crewed by Jeremy Williamson winning his first race. Day 3 was when they turned the afterburners on reeling off 3 more bullets on the spin. Given the conditions and the crowded starts that was miracle enough even ignoring the competition.
Pre-event favourite and commanding leader of the fleet, James Peters crewed by Ben Gratton had their rudder knocked off in the pre-start melee for race 5 and were subsequently awarded average points. Having miraculously made the start line for race 6 they were perhaps overeager and got a black flag. Perhaps as a result James’ next two starts weren’t the usual top drawer leading to them having to stage remarkable comebacks. It wasn’t enough however to unseat Aaron from a well deserved 1 point victory.
Next came the charge of the families with parents helming for their younger and betters. Third overall was Rob Cage crewed by Georgina. Rob warmed up for the event by becoming the first adult winner of Feva Open in Emsworth. They showed fantastic consistency in being able to discard a 10th place. Fouth overall was Barry Parkin crewed by Jack and they were hardly less impressive being able to discard a 14th place. Derek Ness crewed by Eleanor were the third of the veteran’s triumvirate with an 11th place discarded.
Sixth and seventh had to be split on count back. Phil Sparks with Sam Batten had led after day 2 and just got the nod over James and David Grant. These 4 sailors are all part of the successful Oppie programme and clearly have star quality. Is 2012 to early? Probably but don’t write any of these guys off!
Milly Stevens and Hermione Stanley came a fantastic 8th and were first all girl team having scored an impressive four top seven results.
The top 10 were rounded off by Nathan and Anna Ackroyd (despite being family, not of the same veteran status as the other family teams but rather a great brother/sister team) in ninth and Nick Robson crewed by Alex Parfitt in a career best of 10th.
Big lessons were no doubt being learned about big fleet starts and championship strategies by Laura Sanders and Matt Purdon who set a record with 3 black flags.
Just by way of some limited points to note: There were seven Oppie national
squadders in the top 16. There were three Feva Squadders in the top 15. There were also four adults in the top 14. If you exclude the Oppie visitors and the adults then James Peters was first, Nathan Ackroyd 2nd, Nick Robson 3rd. Harry Derbyshire and James Poyner haven’t done any circuit events yet but have sailed together for some two months at their club and would be 4th.
Ultimately the Feva’s lived up to their reputation as a fun class and it was the Olympic ideal of taking part that counted. This was epitomized by
Laurie Pike with Stephen Henderson who engaged with Jazzy Tucker and Tom Dear for the boat that had the most fun during the regatta.
There was also the famous JD award for the parent most resoundingly beaten by their offspring (and named after the famous JD – anybody who knows the RYA hierarchy will know the inaugural winner of this trophy after whom it is named) and this year that went to a member from the same club – James Lavery beaten by daughter Jess with Phillipa Lawson who came 24th.
Finally there were a fair few new Feva sailors out there who are going to be regular on the circuit. Welcome to all of you and we look forward to seeing you all at forthcoming events and the selectors for the winter training squads. Good luck and above all else have a barrel load of laughs and fun!
For some it was . . . if only. But what was certain was the welcome from
HISC, their fantastic organization, the terrific facilities and…yes, the sand! Thank you HISC.
An event like this is also not possible without the generosity of its sponsors and the class thanks Sunsail very much for this (they are also sponsoring the Worlds at Lake Garda in July!) as well as LDC Racing Sailboats and Thank you to our Photographers, Fotoboat for capturing the weekend so well.
| Rank | SailNo | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | Nett | Tally | Seeding | Total |
| 1 | PSC21 | Aaron Smith | Jeremy Williamson | Paper Court | 12 | 2 | 8 | (17) | (19) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 25.0 | 47 | Gold | 61.0 |
| 2 | 825 | James Peters | Ben Gratton | HISC | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | (RDGa) | (BFD) | 7 | 6 | 4 | 26.0 | 22 | Gold | 122.6 |
| 3 | 1545 | Rob Cage | Georgina Cage | 2 | 7 | 6 | (10) | 1 | 3 | (BFD) | 8 | 2 | 29.0 | 45 | Gold | 122.0 | |
| 4 | 1097 | Barry Parkin | Jack Parkin | HISC | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 9 | (BFD) | 2 | 12 | (14) | 35.0 | 53 | Gold | 132.0 |
| 5 | 1300 | Derek Ness | Eleanor Ness | Gurnard | 3 | 8 | 7 | (18) | 3 | 8 | 5 | 2 | (11) | 36.0 | 5 | Gold | 65.0 |
| 6 | 1640 | Phil Sparks | Sam Batten | Lymington | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | (16) | (16) | 14 | 6 | 37.0 | 49 | Gold | 69.0 |
| 7 | 1192 | James Grant | David Grant | Restronguet | 8 | 5 | 3 | (15) | (32) | 2 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 37.0 | 63 | Gold | 84.0 |
| 8 | 1639 | Milly Stevens | Hermione Stanley | Bowmoor | 14 | (18) | 11 | 13 | (33) | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 57.0 | 75 | Gold | 108.0 |
| 9 | 834 | Nathan Ackroyd | Anna Ackroyd | Norfolk | (27) | 9 | 13 | 6 | (31) | 5 | 3 | 21 | 3 | 60.0 | 2 | Gold | 117.0 |
| 10 | 1714 | Nicholas Robson | Alex Parfitt | Chichester | (25) | 10 | 14 | (34) | 4 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 15 | 75.0 | 8 | Gold | 133.0 |
| 11 | 1290 | Austen Scully | Bethany Robson | Chichester | (21) | (21) | 20 | 20 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 81.0 | 25 | Gold | 122.0 |
| 12 | 223 | Ross Williams | Ben Harden | Graffham | (42) | 15 | 5 | 2 | 6 | (34) | 14 | 26 | 21 | 89.0 | 24 | Gold | 164.0 |
| 13 | 1125 | Tom Britz | Liam Garrison | Highcliffe | (56) | (35) | 10 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 29 | 89.0 | 72 | Silver | 179.0 |
| 14 | 345 | Bill Tucker | Hugo Tucker | ESC | 9 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 22 | (41) | (24) | 89.0 | 32 | Gold | 154.0 |
| 15 | 936 | Rupert Jones-Warner | Hugo Jones-Warner | Chichester | 7 | (39) | 33 | 4 | (BFD) | 12 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 94.0 | 27 | Gold | 216.0 |
| 16 | PSC23 | Becky Diamond | Fiona Hampshire | Paper Court | 10 | 14 | 15 | 9 | (BFD) | (BFD) | 31 | 19 | 9 | 106.0 | 39 | Gold | 272.0 |
| 17 | 1102 | Harry Derbyshire | James Poyner | ESC | 15 | 6 | 23 | (35) | (BFD) | 29 | 12 | 3 | 22 | 109.0 | 65 | Gold | 227.0 |
| 18 | 1354 | Craig Davis | Ethan Davies | HISC | 18 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 18 | (BFD) | (45) | 17 | 8 | 109.0 | 14 | Gold | 237.0 |
| 19 | 523 | Matthew Rainback | Jonathan House | Poole | 17 | 17 | 17 | 5 | 12 | (BFD) | 13 | (62) | 52 | 132.0 | 68 | Gold | 277.0 |
| 20 | 1641 | Paul Minors | Mark Minors | Royal Lymington | 19 | 20 | 9 | 25 | (BFD) | 22 | 18 | (29) | 27 | 139.0 | 52 | Gold | 251.0 |
| 21 | 1690 | Charlie Esse | Henry Loyed Williams | Lymington | 23 | 12 | 16 | 19 | (36) | 24 | 36 | (BFD) | 10 | 139.0 | 67 | Gold | 258.0 |
| 22 | 1193 | James Hamer | Brett Hill | HISC | (33) | 16 | 25 | 24 | (BFD) | 18 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 154.0 | 38 | Gold | 269.0 |
| 23 | 1226 | Ed Lowes | Will Lowes | Whitstable | 34 | 11 | 31 | 14 | (BFD) | 15 | (BFD) | 36 | 19 | 159.0 | 74 | Gold | 325.0 |
| 24 | 696 | Philippa Lawson | Jess Lavery | ESC | (47) | (31) | 21 | 31 | 20 | 31 | 28 | 10 | 25 | 166.0 | 28 | Gold | 243.0 |
| 25 | 1489 | Craig Dibb | Gilly Sutcliffe | Warsash | 13 | 24 | 32 | 36 | 15 | (DNC) | (BFD) | 27 | 20 | 166.0 | 48 | Gold | 332.0 |
| 26 | 1691 | Tim Gratton | Chris Taylor | 20 | 22 | 27 | (49) | 10 | 48 | 27 | 24 | (51) | 177.0 | 9 | Gold | 277.0 | |
| 27 | 972 | Thomas Durham | Barnaby Thorsby | ESSC | 11 | 25 | 22 | (43) | 41 | 36 | (DNC) | 15 | 34 | 183.0 | 51 | Gold | 309.0 |
| 28 | 848 | Natalya Eyre | Francesca Eyre | (44) | 29 | 19 | 30 | (BFD) | 21 | 25 | 31 | 28 | 183.0 | 62 | Gold | 309.0 | |
| 29 | 1433 | Izzy Allerston | Charlotte Alderton | HISC | (45) | 23 | 36 | (40) | 22 | 20 | 19 | 37 | 31 | 188.0 | 15 | Silver | 272.0 |
| 30 | 151 | Micheal Ellis | Elizabeth Ellis | Hillhead SC | (48) | (51) | 47 | 21 | 21 | 13 | 20 | 38 | 32 | 192.0 | 36 | Gold | 290.0 |
| 31 | 1098 | Tracey Jacobs | Alice Masterman | HISC | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 29 | 16 | 25 | 17 | 9 | 18 | 197.0 | 54 | Gold | 363.0 |
| 32 | 1110 | Roddy Lacey | James Bibby | PDSC | (49) | 27 | (48) | 44 | 35 | 14 | 47 | 18 | 13 | 198.0 | 46 | Gold | 294.0 |
| 33 | 1582 | Alex Poyner | Holly Tucker | ESC | 50 | 32 | 40 | 27 | (BFD) | (BFD) | 15 | 30 | 16 | 209.0 | 3 | Gold | 375.0 |
| 34 | 1076 | Matthew Davanzo | Matthew Barker | Highcliffe | 40 | (56) | (46) | 39 | 14 | 35 | 30 | 22 | 35 | 214.0 | 55 | Silver | 316.0 |
| 35 | 1583 | David Thomas | Jamie Diamond | Warsash | 22 | 36 | 26 | 41 | 25 | 32 | (44) | 40 | (68) | 221.0 | 58 | Gold | 333.0 |
| 36 | 1581 | Katie Polglase | Eilidh McIntyre | HISC | 41 | 42 | (58) | 23 | (BFD) | 23 | 26 | 35 | 33 | 222.0 | 20 | Gold | 363.0 |
| 37 | 839 | James Bolingbroke | Matt Heathcote | Mersey | 38 | 33 | 30 | 42 | 38 | (51) | (48) | 23 | 26 | 229.0 | 19 | Gold | 328.0 |
| 38 | 997 | Matt Reid | Joshua Irons | Spinnaker | (68) | (58) | 50 | 28 | 17 | 27 | 24 | 42 | 42 | 230.0 | 76 | Silver | 355.0 |
| 39 | 1333 | Toby Holloway | Oli Stevens | Burghfield | (52) | 44 | 42 | 50 | 11 | 26 | 21 | 39 | (65) | 233.0 | 17 | Gold | 349.0 |
| 40 | 1671 | James Lavery | Tom Lavery | ESC | 29 | 34 | 37 | 22 | 23 | 46 | (BFD) | (49) | 43 | 233.0 | 26 | Gold | 365.0 |
| 41 | 403 | Adrian Clay | Josh Sparks | Lymington | 16 | 43 | 38 | 32 | 43 | 28 | (52) | 45 | (48) | 244.0 | 57 | Gold | 344.0 |
| 42 | 1482 | Charlie Williams | Will Nicholls | HISC | (51) | (60) | 43 | 46 | 30 | 39 | 41 | 11 | 38 | 248.0 | 33 | Silver | 358.0 |
| 43 | 250 | Matthew Thomas | Duncan Hampshire | Paper Court | 43 | 52 | (71) | (59) | 24 | 17 | 34 | 46 | 41 | 256.0 | 40 | Silver | 386.0 |
| 44 | 1486 | Ella Brown | Molly Brown | RBYC | 35 | 46 | 49 | (53) | 27 | (BFD) | 29 | 32 | 40 | 257.0 | 10 | Silver | 393.0 |
| 45 | 1452 | Tom Collie | Matthew Collie | HISC | 30 | 48 | 53 | (55) | 28 | (BFD) | 38 | 43 | 36 | 275.0 | 41 | Silver | 413.0 |
| 46 | 931 | Rodney Steel | Jeremy Steel | Broadwater | 39 | 55 | 54 | 45 | 34 | 19 | 32 | (58) | (57) | 277.0 | 35 | Silver | 392.0 |
| 47 | 1694 | Phil McCoy | Max Yoward | ESSC | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | (BFD) | 9 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 282.0 | 43 | Gold | 448.0 |
| 48 | 129 | Kirsty Hill | Hugh Gower | BEWL SC | 37 | 40 | 29 | 47 | (BFD) | 43 | (56) | 50 | 37 | 282.0 | 12 | Silver | 421.0 |
| 49 | 1131 | James Aylward | Otto Collier | HISC | 54 | (57) | 56 | 11 | (BFD) | 41 | 51 | 34 | 39 | 285.0 | 16 | Silver | 425.0 |
| 50 | 418 | Alex Kirk | Joel Kirk | Neyland YC | (61) | 37 | 39 | (54) | 29 | 42 | 49 | 48 | 44 | 288.0 | 42 | Silver | 402.0 |
| 51 | 1693 | Philip Mileham | Douglas & Fraye Rosie | HISC | 59 | 49 | 45 | 48 | 13 | (BFD) | 35 | 44 | (BFD) | 292.0 | 61 | Silver | 458.0 |
| 52 | 1579 | Jon Holmes | Hamish Ellis | ESSC | 53 | 30 | 51 | (58) | (DNC) | 33 | 39 | 33 | 58 | 296.0 | 29 | Silver | 437.0 |
| 53 | 1478 | Tom Eastell | Alex Stone | ESC | 24 | 41 | 41 | 33 | 42 | 37 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 300.0 | 78 | Silver | 466.0 |
| 54 | 845 | Laura Sanders | Matthew Purdon | TBSC | 57 | 26 | 35 | 37 | (BFD) | 30 | 33 | (BFD) | BFD | 300.0 | 21 | Gold | 466.0 |
| 55 | 503 | Tom Adams | Sarah Adams | RBYC | 32 | 54 | 34 | 52 | 37 | 47 | 55 | (64) | (59) | 310.0 | 7 | Silver | 433.0 |
| 56 | 1028 | Holly Watson | Brittney Mackinlay | HISC | 31 | 53 | 55 | (60) | (BFD) | 56 | 43 | 28 | 47 | 312.0 | 30 | Gold | 455.0 |
| 57 | 469 | Alex Orton | Stephanie Orton | Chichester | (58) | 50 | (52) | 51 | 47 | 40 | 37 | 51 | 46 | 322.0 | 79 | Silver | 431.0 |
| 58 | 444 | Liz Foreman | Amy Foreman | Queen Mary | 28 | 47 | (64) | (DNC) | 40 | 55 | 57 | 55 | 45 | 326.0 | 1 | Silver | 473.0 |
| 59 | 247 | Clare Michelmore | Lucy Preston | Paper Court | (62) | 59 | 59 | 56 | 26 | (62) | 42 | 54 | 50 | 346.0 | 23 | silver | 469.0 |
| 60 | 812 | G Page | A Page | 36 | (67) | (65) | 62 | 44 | 49 | 50 | 52 | 63 | 355.0 | 80 | Silver | 487.0 | |
| 61 | 1133 | Stewart Hawthorn | Alexandra Hawthorn | 60 | 38 | 24 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | BFD | 47 | 30 | 364.0 | 81 | Silver | 530.0 | |
| 62 | 80 | Lara Jane Conway Yates | Claire Trant | HISC | (69) | 62 | 67 | (DNC) | 39 | 44 | 40 | 53 | 60 | 365.0 | 64 | Silver | 516.0 |
| 63 | 984 | Pippa White | Jeremy White | ESC | 66 | (69) | 66 | 38 | (BFD) | 45 | 46 | 57 | 55 | 372.0 | 70 | Silver | 524.0 |
| 64 | 1434 | Hannah Maunder | Juliet Price | HISC | 55 | 45 | 61 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 52 | 65 | 59 | 49 | 385.0 | 31 | Silver | 551.0 |
| 65 | 1301 | Guy Hickman | Billy/Rosie Hickman | Pagham | 46 | 63 | 44 | 61 | (BFD) | 38 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 417.0 | 6 | Silver | 583.0 |
| 66 | 594 | Nathasha Phillips | Edward Phillips | 73 | 68 | (DNF) | 57 | 48 | (BFD) | 54 | 56 | 62 | 417.0 | 82 | Silver | 583.0 | |
| 67 | 502 | Rory Galloway | George Star | RYBC | 65 | 65 | (DNF) | (DNC) | 45 | 58 | 60 | 63 | 67 | 422.0 | 59 | Silver | 588.0 |
| 68 | 400 | Lucy Jarvies | Megan Davies | ESC | 76 | 73 | 62 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 53 | 53 | 61 | 54 | 431.0 | 13 | Silver | 597.0 |
| 69 | 983 | Matthew Osborne | Jonathan Welch | HISC | 64 | 70 | 68 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 60 | 61 | 60 | 64 | 446.0 | 84 | Silver | 612.0 |
| 70 | 301 | Henry Message | Dan Lytton | HISC | 77 | 66 | 72 | (DNC) | (BFD) | 57 | 62 | 65 | 56 | 454.0 | 50 | Silver | 620.0 |
| 71 | 774 | Samantha Denyer | Stuart Denyer | Dell Quay | 72 | 76 | 70 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 63 | 58 | 68 | 53 | 459.0 | 18 | Silver | 625.0 |
| 72 | 971 | Peter McCoy | Jack Spencer | ESSC | 67 | 64 | 69 | (DNC) | 46 | 59 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 470.0 | 71 | Silver | 636.0 |
| 73 | 870 | Callum Rocks | Kieran Rocks | Hamble River | 75 | 78 | 73 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 61 | 59 | 67 | 66 | 478.0 | 11 | Silver | 644.0 |
| 74 | 349 | Julian Hase | Harriet Hase | HISC | 70 | 72 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | 54 | 64 | 69 | 69 | 480.0 | 37 | Silver | 646.0 |
| 75 | 853 | Jordan Watson | Edward Andrew | HISC | 74 | (DNC) | 57 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 63 | 66 | 61 | 486.0 | 56 | Silver | 652.0 |
| 76 | 925 | Tom Briggs | A Briggs | HISC | 71 | 71 | 63 | (DNC) | (BFD) | 50 | DNC | DNC | DNC | 503.0 | 83 | Silver | 669.0 |
| 77 | 199 | Chris Moore | Ted Moore or Dan Moore | HISC | 63 | 61 | 60 | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 515.0 | 66 | Silver | 681.0 |
| 78 | 1144 | Sam Sykes | (DNF) | 74 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 64 | BFD | 71 | 71 | 529.0 | 77 | Silver | 695.0 | ||
| 79 | 344 | Jazzy Tucker | Tom Dear | ESC | (DNF) | 77 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 65 | DNC | 70 | 70 | 531.0 | 44 | Silver | 697.0 |
| 80 | 1095 | Laurie Pike | Stephen Henderson | HISC | 78 | 75 | (DNC) | (DNF) | DNF | DNF | DNC | DNC | DNC | 567.0 | 73 | Silver | 733.0 |