Vane A National Championship and Yachting Monthly Cup, 27th July – 1st August 2025
Results: – https://www.gosportmybc.club/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Vane-A-Nat-Champs-Results-2025.pdf
The 102nd Vane A National Championship and Yachting Monthly Cup were held at Gosport Model Yacht and Boat Club, (GMYBC), with more of the testing six days of racing in July than in August, this year. Whilst the lake was in perfect condition, weed free and topped up, the weather was very variable. The wind strength varied from very light, particularly on some mornings to a good sailing breeze and what seemed like gale force winds and thunder followed by torrential rain on Thursday! The wind direction was not constant. Generally, a West North-west (WNW) to West (W), but changeable down the length of the lake! Twice the windward end was changed, and then back again as conditions varied.
Twenty-two boats entered with skippers and mates representing nine model yacht clubs. It was good to see Arjan Van der Cingel and his crew Audrie Dijkstra from the Netherlands, competing again. Alan and David Bell from Wales, raced in the Yachting Monthly Cup. There were two Junior Skippers, Thomas Wyeth and Oliver Stollery, Oliver’s mate, Nathan Stollery was also a Junior. Sam Roberts, another junior, was mate to his Dad, Martin Roberts. The fleet included world champions, national champions, designers, builders, experienced and inexperienced skippers and mates. A recipe for a great competition!
On Sunday the 27th GMYBC President, Robert Hobbs, introduced the club’s Patron, the Worshipful, Mayor of Gosport Councillor Kirsten Bradley who was accompanied by her Consort Mr Jon Bradley. She welcomed the fleet, posed for a group photograph and got things going by starting the first race. The overall WNW wind direction made it a good start to the event and five heats were achieved. At the end of the day, Chris Harris and mate Graham Bantock racing Thought Police, a Lance design by Graham Bantock, raced into the lead by, at 25 points, winning all boards! They were closely pursued by Oliver Murray and mate Rob McIntosh scoring 22 racing another Bantock Lance, Chuffin Away. In third place was Rob Vice and mate, Eden racing Weightwatcher, a John Simpson designed Lightening. Peter Fothergill and mate Paul Edwards racing Reference Point, a Dave Hollom, Reference Point design, were fourth. Derek Priestley was in fifth place racing a Dave Hollom design New Approach and Shaun Wyeth racing Kantana, a Bantock designed Lance in, sixth.
Monday and Tuesday were Fleet Days. The Southern Fleet raced Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon and the Northern Fleet Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. Both days had similar weather conditions – light first thing in the mornings and increasing in the afternoons. By the end of Tuesday, and 8 heats, there was no change in the first two places, but Shaun moved up to third place and Thomas Wyeth racing Excalibar a Lance, tied in fourth place. Rob Vice, moved to fifth and Martin Dovey with mate Mark Dicks, racing Jouster, another Lance were sixth.
On Wednesday the stunning Yachting Monthly Cup was held and is reported at the end of the championship part of this report.
There was a weather warning for Thursday of ‘moderate thunderstorms!’ The wind was fickle with the beat end changing and the thunder rolled around. Eventually, having threatened a couple of times, it poured! So much so, that the car park flooded and there is a picture of the children cheerfully paddling in it. Racing had to be paused. However, after the rain the wind increased and as one person put it, it blew old boots! This led to a couple of spectacular broaches. At the end of the day the first three places remained the same, although Oliver was only two points ahead of Shaun. In the fleet, positions changed, Graham Butler and mate Keith Wiseman racing Dignity a Bantock designed Shield, moved up to fourth, two points ahead of Dave Geldard and mate Jeanette racing Matrix Reloaded designed by John Taylor who were fifth. They beat Rob and Eden Vice into sixth position.
So, Friday, the last day, and narrow margins between competitors became critical! There were five heats to complete the round…. So effectively an additional 25 points possible for each skipper. The winner was never really in doubt. Congratulations go to Chris Harris and Graham Bantock who had a stonking championship scoring a staggering 90 points out of a possible 105. They were on a roll. Any skipper that beat them would be delighted! Oliver Murray and Rob McIntosh came second by two points from Shaun Wyeth mated by Lewis, Russell and Thomas Wyeth at various times. Graham Butler and Keith Wiseman held on to their fourth place with Peter Fothergill and Paul Edwards moving into fifth, having beaten Rob and Eden Vice in the beat.
Totting up the scores, the Windward, Jonnies Trophy was won by Chris Harris and Graham Bantock. The Wing and Wing downwind trophy was won by Oliver Murray and Ron McIntosh who also won the Little Portugal trophy for the highest place skipper that has not won the event previously.
The Dennis Lippett Cup for the most helpful contribution from a junior was won by Nathan Stollery, who also won the Fork Handle Trophy in the Choppa race. The highest scoring skipper aged over 60 that had not already won a prize in the 2025 event went to Dave Geldard. The Team of Three, all drawn randomly at the Welcome Tea, TOTs trophy went to Skippers, Peter Whiteside, Chris Harris and Oliver Stollery. The Neptune trophy went to the Fleetwood Team of skippers Derek Priestley, Graham Butler and Oliver Murray.
Yachting Monthly Cup Thursday 30th July 2025
This is an enormous and very prestigious cup, with a great history to win….. There were 18 entries. Three were boats not entered in the championship.
A huge thank you to Martin Roberts who was RO for the event and set up the groups for the initial round robin and managed the following quarters, semis and of course, the final.
At the end of the round robin, Group A was won by Susanne Lewis racing Kit a CW Sykes Syanco mated by Andy Fernie.
Group B Was won by Peter Fothergill racing Reference Point a Dave Hollom design mated by Paul Edwards.
Group C was won by Shaun Wyeth racing Kantana a Graham Bantock designed Lance mated Russell Wyeth.
Group D was won by Rob and mate Eden Vice racing Weightwatcher, a John Simpson designed Lightening
Round robin completed the quarters followed…..
Oliver Murray won between him and Susanne Lewis
Peter Fothergill won against Martin Dovey
Shaun Wyeth won versus Dave Geldard
Andy Fernie won racing Rob Vice
So on to the semis….
Oliver Murray V Peter Fothergill. Winner Peter Fothergill
Shaun Wyeth V Andy Fernie. Winner Shaun Wyeth
Finals…. A really exciting end….
Peter Fothergill V Shaun Wyeth
Congratulations to the winner – Shaun and Russell Wyeth of GMYBC and to the runner up – Peter Fothergill and Paul Edwards also of GMYBC.
An enormous thank you to the brilliant race team that did long hours with little respite! Also, to the Race Organising Committee that did sterling work making the event happen. Congratulations to all prize winners and to all competitors. Hope to see you in 2027….
Thank you for the lovely flowers, they were greatly appreciated.
Jacque Cook
Race Officer
More Photos to Follow
