Please select your home edition
Edition
495 McKinley Drive Lboard Dec 2024

Moth and Switch Grand Prix at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy - Preview

by Simon Hiscocks 5 Sep 12:03 PDT 7-8 September 2024
Moth racing in Portland Harbour © Mark Jardine / IMCAUK

The final Moth Grand Prix of the season takes place this weekend, 7th and 8th September, hosted by the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. The weekend is set to be a special event for a number of reasons.

Firstly we are pleased to introduce the new 'Blue fleet' to the Moth class. The 'Blue fleet' is aimed at slightly older design Moths such as the Mach 2. With a separate start planned, and a slightly shorter windward leg, boats in this fleet will find themselves in a race with a similar target time, whilst avoiding the melee of the main fleet start.

With a good Mach 2 costing less than £4000, this newly introduced fleet provides a great opportunity for quality racing at an incredible value.

Whilst the Moth class can lay claim to be, perhaps unflatteringly, the most expensive dinghy on the market, with the introduction of the 'Blue fleet' it can now boast the cheapest entry level foil racing around.

Whilst the moth fleet might, on paper, be missing some of its biggest stars, the rivalries that rage throughout the fleet provide a highly compelling story. Characters such as Graham Bridle vs Phil Rees and Steve Maclean vs John Evans being as enticing as any. The keen moth sailor will always take a peek to see who has come out on top from these contests and for sure they are not alone.

Further up the fleet look out for Gareth Davies, Gareth suffered a broken rib and punctured lung following a nasty crash at the nationals.

He has made a fast recovery and he is all set to get back on the water where you would not bet against finding him at the very front of the fleet.

It's not just the Moth fleet who will be racing around Portland Harbour this weekend: There's a new kid on the block! Keen eyes might have spotted the Switch One Design at the dinghy show earlier this year, and this, effectively one design Moth, is now set to see its first ever UK racing event.

This building fleet sees some serious talent to fight it out. New to the class, Wasp National Champion and seasoned ILCA campaigner Sam Whaley will be looking towards the front of the fleet. He will however expect to be pushed hard by recently crowned Aero world champion, Fin Dickinson, who finished runner up to Sam in the Wasp and also took out the ILCA National title earlier this summer: These two are well set up for a long rivalry. Another strong name to watch is Zac Blomely who has been quietly winning titles in the 69f class he has plenty of time on the foil and his skills could translate well. Can these three contenders hold off the experience of Moth and Switch sailor Simon Hiscocks? Or could they all be beaten by Elysia O'Leary with a bottle of rum from across the Irish Sea?

Finally its all set for a live broadcast by MarineCast Media who are a new company with plenty of water sports experience behind them.

Saturday

Sunday

Related Articles

Make me smile
Smiles and cash can always do amazing things. No cash, no splash, after all… Manly's pathway to progress looked at a way to attract and keep youth in sailing. Nice. Really nice. Now, what to do when you cannot replicate such a successful model? Posted on 15 Dec
19 classes set for Foiling Week Pensacola 2025
Six new classes and only three weeks until early bird entry closes Excitement is building for the first-ever Foiling Week Pensacola 2025, the premier international foiling regatta and World Sailing Special Event, taking place in less than three months in Florida's Panhandle. Posted on 10 Dec
Moth Lowriders "Burton Rinse Cycle" Inlands
A catalogue of error codes even before the washing gets wet No, the Lowriders have not succeeded in gaining sponsorship from a 1970's twin tub manufacturer, although the Magnum 6 twins did mop the floor on handicap. Posted on 8 Nov
Affordable Precision: How Atto Changes the Game
Weighing just 75g and capable of measuring 250 kg working load Digitalisation has changed sailing. Technologies once reserved for Grand-Prix are permeating every level of the sport, giving sailors the ability to adopt elite racing and training practices - elevating the game across the board. Posted on 4 Nov
Entries open for Foiling Week Pensacola 2025
Bringing the excitement of cutting-edge foiling technology and thrilling watersports With four months to go, entries are now open for Foiling Week Pensacola 2025, the multi-class "World Sailing Special Event" to be held in Florida. Posted on 24 Oct
Nicolai Jacobsen is a Champion!
RHKYC member wins International Moth European Championship 2024 Huge congratulations to RHKYC member Nicolai Jacobsen on winning the 2024 Moth European Championship. Posted on 25 Sep
Moth and Switch GP at Weymouth
Difficulty with wind, but never with having fun An impressive turnout of 32 boats arrived in Portland for the final Grand Prix of the season. The pre event build up was all about the three separate fleets within this event and this proved to be a great success. Posted on 11 Sep
Trickle Down Technology from the America's Cup
The ultimate proving ground often shape the future of the sport The America's Cup has always been about more than just what happens on the water - it's a catalyst for technological innovation that pushes the boundaries of what's possible. Posted on 2 Sep
Big names coming to Manly for Moth Worlds
Top America's Cup crews commit to coming to Manly for Moth Worlds Iain Jensen (AUS), a two time medallist in the Moth Worlds and wing trimmer for INEOS Britannia, Phil Robertson (NZL) Sail GP skipper, and Luca Calabrese, Riley Gibbs and Ben Rosenberg all American Magic crew members are entered. Posted on 26 Aug
Lowrider Moth UK Nationals day 3
What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours When the Lowrider Moths finally hauled themselves back up the beat to the entrance of the Olympic Centre Marina, there was a full 25kt down on the harbour wall away to the east. Posted on 28 Jul
Maritimo 2023 M600 FOOTERTrinidad and Tobago - Sail Service Stay