MYA Marblehead National Championships 2025, results & reports.

Manor Park Radio Sailing Club, 19th & 20th July 2025.

The Manor Park Radio Sailing Club welcomed twenty Marblehead skippers on Saturday morning for a highly anticipated weekend of competitive sailing, supported by an enthusiastic team of club volunteers. However, sailing conditions proved challenging as there was no wind initially, prompting the raising of the AP flag after the welcome briefing. Skippers took the opportunity to reconnect while waiting for a change in weather.

As the morning progressed, a gradual increase in wind encouraged the boat team, Rob and Steve, to make several course adjustments in an effort to commence racing. By midday, the breeze had settled sufficiently from the south to set a course, and racing began shortly before 1:00pm following a single general recall. Despite inconsistent winds and characteristic shifts at Manor Park, Craig Richards secured the win in the opening race. Unfortunately, the wind dissipated again immediately after, resulting in the reinstatement of the AP flag for the remainder of the day. Only one race could be completed, but participants enjoyed a cottage pie supper prepared by Yvonne Smith in the evening.

Sunday brought improved conditions, with substantial overnight rainfall continuing but with a steady easterly breeze. The organizing team efficiently established the course, allowing racing to begin promptly at 10:00am. Four races were completed in quick succession, with Manor Park’s shifting winds presenting tactical challenges and varied results among the competitors. Notably, Mike Cooke’s self-built and designed Rocket performed admirably, earning him a pair of third-place finishes. It was good to see some of the older designs of boat performing well. Tracy Ballington executed an impressive port end start in race four, exploiting a favourable shift to tack back across the fleet and lead up the first beat.

Throughout the day, the east wind persisted, yet the variable Manor Park conditions continued to test all skippers and influence scoring. Craig Richards, maintaining consistent performance with his F6, led the standings by lunchtime and ultimately secured first place overall. Tony Edwards with his Grunge achieved second place through similarly consistent results. A close contest unfolded for third through sixth positions, with just four points separating Darin Ballington (last year’s champion), Nigel Barrow, and Olly Murray. At the conclusion of eighteen races, Olly Murray, sailing a Niou Niou, claimed third overall.

A full set of results are here: Marblehead National Championships 2025

The Manor Park team extends sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the event’s success, including the skippers for their patience on Saturday and their sportsmanship throughout the weekend, which ensured competitive yet respectful racing.

PRO: Simon Richardson

The following is a piece by Gordon Sears.

Manor Park RSC had hosted this event previously as it is one of the few Midland district venues where the water is deep enough, has an excellent floating dock that makes launching much easier and a large club house with all the facilities.

A lot of preparation had gone into the event  by the club which necessitated almost all the club members being involved, and when there were only nine confirmed entries it was looking like there were more helpers than skippers. Colin Walton had been emailing his contacts and along with help from others this enabled a few skippers to borrow boats and get the entry up to twenty.

I had volunteered to go along and assist where I could on the Sunday, so I arrived early having driven through a rain shower and localised flooding to be directed into a parking spot by Simon Richardson our PRO for the weekend. The venue was just waking up and we gathered around the tea urn for an early brew, luckily Colin Walton had bought more tea bags, as I was told that the skippers had used them all up on the Saturday whilst waiting for some breeze to fill in.

Colin W and Garry Box were scoring, and they told me that they had only managed to complete one race by around 1pm and that was it for the day. After a week of good weather prior to the event with the country sitting under a high pressure the forecast low pressure front did not come through until Saturday night. At least it bought with it a good top suit breeze from the easterly direction that enabled the boat crew to set a course that only needed a few minor changes during Sunday.

The initial course had a gate at the top and bottom of the windward leg, with outside to in at the top and inside to out at the bottom. This proved a little difficult with the windward end being furthest away from the control area it was easy to make an error because of the depth of field issues. Simon then changed the course to a windward mark and spreader which seemed to help.

Manor Park RSC has a “Nessie” which is a remote-controlled buoy that is the pin end of the start line and so the angle can be adjusted very easily without having to get a rescue boat out.

It rained quite hard a few times and we were all finding out waterproofs and transmitter covers, but it was still quite warm and so as soon as it stopped off came the extra layers. The ladies and I made good use of the benches with a roof to shelter.

For my part I was only needed for some advice two or three of times, and to help Darin with a rudder servo change, so I was able to catch-up with old friends and have a fairly steady day which allowed me to do a little photography.

The following piece is by Colin Walton.

Thanks go specially to Simon Richardson, Race Officer, assisted by Garry Box, Rob Radbourne, Steve Venables, Graham, Whalley, Chris Cheal, Adam Scase, David Buttress, Denis Walker (for bank willow clearing)  Gordon Sears, Graham Coope, Jackie Hookham, and Avril Richardson.

The Entire MPSC Sail Training Team, Yvonne Smith and Colin Walton.

John Smith, sail number (43), 13th and Simon Fairman, (97), 14th, from our Radio Sailors,  both sailed brilliantly in a large fleet of 20.

The lack of wind on Saturday in a steady direction meant that we only managed one race. Jackie Hookham volunteered more tea bags and milk to keep up with the breaks, while we all waited.

Yvonne’s gluten free, gourmet cottage pie settled everyone’s hunger on the Saturday evening.

Sunday was another day, and we raced, with 17 more heats. It was close exciting stuff with positions changing all the time. The Manor Park gusts were up to their usual antics. Craig Richards, sail number (12), dominated and won. All day the other skippers’ points were just a few apart. Tony Edwards (75) was more consistent overall, than son James (88), eventually overtaking him and coming second.  I reckon that the younger skippers have more stamina, Olly Murray (71), improving throughout the day to come third. Darin Ballington (98) still came fourth, despite missing a race with a failed rudder servo and getting stranded on the wrong side of the lake once or twice. Nigel Barrow (154) came fifth, avoiding tangles and impact with the windward mark.

The windward mark did a lot of spinning and was even missed entirely on a few occasions. Starts were excellent with only one general recall on the shifty Saturday.

The rest of fleet sailed hard, making it a stimulating time on the finish line, with yachts crossing seconds apart. Like a good sea battle, every skipper will have an exciting story to tell.

I am to blame for the rain, as I mentioned our all-weather Course Board.

Thank you to Manor Park Sailing Club for hosting the weekend. It went so well and there is a surplus of funds to help the club for sacrificing the Training Lake. It is a fantastic, weed free, venue, with sufficient water.

Colin Walton