Craftinsure National Series – Royal Harwich YC

26th & 27th July 2025

 

After a long heatwave variable-conditions greeted the dozen National 12s for the fourth event in the 2025 Craftinsure National Series. The wind delivered on the forecast ranging from 5 to 20 knots. Rain clouds on horizon looked threatened but they generally stayed.

 

The event was shared with the Phantoms, Lasers and Wanderers making for a busy race course. To add to the variety of conditions the race officer tested the fleet changing the course for each race.

A trapezium with outer loop was set for the first race on the Saturday in a light breeze with a flood tide driving the boats upwind. This was followed by long runs against the tide on the outer loop. Graham & Blue Camm in the Very Hungry Caterpillar tussled with Jon Ibbotson & Isobel Stewart in Atomic Kitten with Jon & Maya Brown in Tonto to finish in that order

A windward-leeward course was set for race two which saw the same three boats near the top but this time Tré & Lyla Jacobs in Fools Golds emerged from the right-hand side of the course and into third place which they held to the finish. Atomic Kitten took the lead from the Very Hungry Caterpillar on the run but fell back on the next windward leg allowing the Very Hungry Caterpillar to take first place.

An Olympic course was set for race 3. A squall came through early in the race which challenged the boat handling for some of the fleet but not the top three which was a repeat of race 1.

Tom Stewart joined the fleet on Sunday morning for the traditional Sunday morning pursuit race which was run up and down the channel at low tide. The non--foilers went first followed by the foilers and two minutes later Tonto, Tom & Isobel Stewart in Whitebait and the Very Hungry Caterpillar (this time crewed by Felix Camm). A big hole engulfed the front part of 12 fleet allowing later starters to catch up.  The race ended with a photo finish between Whitebait and the Very Hungry Caterpillar with Whitebait taking victory by a whisker.

The wind strengthened after the pursuit race and made race four on Sunday afternoon quite challenging. The newly arrived Tom & Isobel Stewart in Whitebait showed everyone around the windward-leeward course. Whitebait got the best start on pin end and head straight out into the flood tide. Their lead was never challenged.

Race five was lighter and an Olympic course was set. Fools Golds had a good first beat as the wind swung right – it paid to be working the right-hand side more than being in the tide on the left. The Very Hungry Caterpillar just pipped Fools Golds around the windward mark and sailed into a strong lead which they held to the finish.

A weak sea breeze appeared and meddled with the wind for the final race. The race was started then abandoned after the fleet rounded the windward mark after huge wind shift. The race officer worried about the ebbing tide called it a day.

Thanks to Craftinsure for providing excellent prizes and the Royal Harwich YC for hosting an excellent event with a fine BBQ on the Saturday afternoon.

Drone footage can be viewed here