2025 MYA 36r National Championship results.

Last Sunday we saw the 36r fleet gather at Bournville RS&MBC once again for the MYA National Championship, and we were blessed with really good weather for the first weekend in November. The conditions forecast leading up to the event was for a 10 to gusting 20mph westerly, but then this is a city park so you could expect anything. In fact, we actually had a reasonably consistent wind all day from the west which for Bournville is exactly the direction that suits the pools layout perfectly allowing the PRO , Roger Hopper to utilise the whole length of the venue.

Initially we had 13 entries with two withdrawing in the final week, so eleven actually booked in. Unfortunately, we had Bill Green withdraw before the first heat, but he stayed until after lunch which allowed us to have a district committee catch up post the district AGM the day before.

Martin Dovey bought his Dark Matter design along for Olly Murray to sail, Shaun Holbeche with a Sybora and I think that I am correct Andy Wright with his Dark Matter design were new participants in the class which was good to see.

Most of the yachts were being rigged in the clubhouse, with the majority going with the biggest rigs they had, more on this later. Roger Hopper (PRO) said the skippers briefing was going to be outside at 10:00am and as mentioned above the conditions were ideal allowing him to have the start line being at the far end and the windward/spreader marks being at the top end. This initially gave the fleet a beat, windward, offset, run down to a gate and beat to the finish. After a couple of races, it was decided to extend this to two laps and a beat to the finish, as the wind speed had increased with the sun coming up. The racing was tight and fair with only one general recall issued before the lunch break, one bonus of having the start line close to the control area was that the skippers could easily see any potential incidents early and allow each other a bit of space. By the end of race four we had wins for Shaun (16), Chris C (135), Olly (86) and Chris H (21). It was after race four that the skippers asked Roger if they could all take a break to change rigs, the wind speed having  increased to a point where there was some broaching and loss of control. With everyone back in the clubhouse they took the opportunity to have an early lunch of sandwiches and coffee supplied by the club as part of the race entry fee. Suitably refreshed and smaller rigs installed the fleet resumed racing with the two-lap course.

The next four races saw wins for Olly (86), Chris H (21) and two for Mark (133), this was definitely going to be a tight battle because the lowest scores were going to have an effect on final rankings, after race eight allowing for two discards the top three were, Chris H on 12 points, Olly  on 13 points and Shaun on 14 points, and then Mark a further five points back.

There was also a good tussle and only one point between John Burgoine (35) and Chris Cook (135) with John’s old boat after race eight. Getting a good start allowed Olly to take the next three wins, however he was pipped by Peter M (24) in the next one. The overall positions after race twelve was that Olly had pulled away from Shaun and Chris H who were tied on points. It was unfortunate that Chris H had to withdraw from the event at this stage because of the pain that he was in, as Roger remarked “The determination of Chris Harris to give it a go despite being in considerable discomfort (eventually having to give in later in the afternoon) – best wishes for his recovery”

The conditions were still ideal, and Shaun (16) took the next two race wins with Olly in second place each time. A few were looking at their watches and Roger (PRO) said that he would be able to complete sixteen races by 15:30, so that is what happened. Mark (133) took race fifteen and Olly finished of the event by taking race sixteen. There were a couple of general recalls in the afternoon session of twelve races, with no course changes and everyone ready to go the racing was being well controlled by the team of volunteers from the Bournville RS&MBC club, namely: Roger Hopper (PRO), Peter Hopkins (OBS), and on the finish line Ian Green & Peter Court.

All skippers gathered in the club house for the prize presentation which was done by Stephen Hodgkinson. The top spot and new holder of the MYA 36r National title and “Yard of Ale” trophy was presented to Olly Murray of the Fleetwood MBC  who in his acceptance speech said just how much he had enjoyed coming to Bournville RS&MBC as it is somewhere that you can really get to challenge your sailing skills. Well Olly it looks like you will be back here to test yourself and try to defend the title next season as we were discussing hosting the 36r National again in October 2026. The “Nat West Bowl” for the top placed skipper who has not won the title or the bowl previously went to Shaun Holbeche of the Fleetwood MBC.

A full set of results are here: 2025MYAR36NationalChampionship

Stephen Hodgkinson thanked everyone for coming and a safe trip home.

Pictures by Gordon S.