Hadron H2 National Championship at Brixham Yacht Club

Hadron H2 National Championship at Brixham Yacht Club - Day 1

by Keith Callaghan 7 Sep 03:49 PDT 6-8 September 2024

Josh Hamer in cheerful mood as he launches 'Dirty Martini' during the Hadron H2 Nationals at Brixham © Keith Callaghan

Most of the competitors unpacked their boats in torrential rain on the day before the event - and the forecast was for more of the same. But the forecasters were proved wrong (as they often are) and Friday, September 6th, was dry with some sunshine.

The hosts for the event are Brixham YC and the launch party very efficiently managed the 27 H2s and a similar number of K1s into the water. The racing got under way in a light northerly, and it was no surprise to see 2023 Inland Champion Ian Dawson (Warsash SC) take a commanding lead from 2024 Inland Champion Josh Hamer (Leigh & Lowton SC). Leading the pack was Steve Hendon (Blithfield SC) with current National Champion Robin Parsons (Deben YC) in fourth and Barry Wolfenden (Bough Beech SC) fifth.

Race 2 saw similar conditions and similar results but Josh managed to get ahead of Ian for a fine win, with Steve again taking a third. Steve is a relative newcomer to the H2 but is showing speed in all conditions despite being at the heavier end of the H2 spectrum. Barry finished in fourth, ahead of Robin.

The H2 is optimised for planing conditions and it can be challenging to get the boat through a chop in light winds but Ian and Josh have made an art of it, with others learning to emulate their performance. With more light weather forecast for the next two days all competitors will get plenty of practice at the art.

Results after Day 1:

Pos	Bow No	Sail No	Boat Name	Helm	Club	R1	R2	Pts
1st	35	152	A Whiter Shade of Pale	Ian Dawson	Warsash SC	2	1	3
2nd	51	159	Dirty Martini	Josh Hamer	Leigh and Lowton SC	1	2	3
3rd	38	166	H2	Steve Hendon	Blithfield SC	3	3	6
4th	37	142	H2	Barry Wolfenden	Bough Beach SC	5	4	9
5th	33	135	Scaramouche	Robin Parsons	Deben YC	4	5	9
6th	53	177	Hadron H2	Chris Broiwn	Mill Creek SC	9	6	15
7th	48	122	H2	Ian Brooks	Chichester YC	8	7	15
8th	36	129	H2	Tim Garvin	Queen Mary SC	6	10	16
9th	44	145	145	Richard Leftley	Bowmoor SC	7	11	18
10th	47	188	A Few Shades of Grey	Robert Coyle	Royal Corinthian YC	10	8	18
11th	39	150	H2	Stephen Oliver	Warsash SC	15	9	24
12th	55	148	Raspberry Ripple	Dave Barker	Draycotewater SC	11	13	24
13th	56	120	Dave's Boat	Thomas Owen Moore	Stokes Bay SC	13	14	27
14th	49	184	Lucky for some	Michael Alexander	Rutland SC	12	16	28
15th	31	172	Sneaky	Simon Hipkin	Walton & Frinton YC	14	15	29
16th	52	156	Alice	Richard Le Mare	Warsash SC	18	12	30
17th	41	146	Hadron H2	Andrew McGaw	Graham Water SC	17	17	34
18th	45	171	Thunderthrust	James Oxley	Walton & Frinton YC	16	19	35
19th	30	103	Ghost Ship	Geoff Parker	Walton & Frinton YC	19	18	37
20th	32	162	Here's Tae Us!	Nick Wapshot	RSWSC	20	20	40
21st	43	105	Venturer	Domonic Jacobs	Walton & Frinton YC	21	22	43
22nd	46	181	Death and Gravity	Tim Brooke	Walton & Frinton YC	22	24	46
23rd	50	169	Hadron H2	Alasdair Hood	Royal Tay YC	23	23	46
24th	54	117	Rhino	Paul Tuttle	Brixham YC	26	21	47
25th	34	102	TPO	Ian Little	Thorpe Bay YC	24	25	49
26th	40	190	H2	William McTurk	Royal Findhom YC	25	27	52
27th	42	113	113	Neil Smythe	Paignton SC	27	26	53