Castle Cove Sailing Club partnered by the West Portland National Sailing Academy
hosted this years Sonata National Championship and they exceeded everyone’s expectations for a great sailing event both on and off the water.
Two boats from MYC travelled down to the event, Watersong and BD2. Choosing the start of the August Bank holiday probably wasn’t the best idea as
Watersong took over 5 hours to drive down. BD2 fared better earlier in the week. Launching was slick using the WPNSA Wise and we were all rigged and settled by late afternoon.
Castle Cove is a great little Club with views over
Portland harbour looking over to the Academy on the
other side. It’s entirely volunteer run but they bring in
catering for the larger events.
The racing was to take part in the bay and also in the
harbour which was a very fortunate situation to be in
as it transpired!
The Fleet of 26 boats came from across the country –
a boat travelling down from Scotland and a number
from the East coast.
The first 2 days racing were in the bay with a true and
steady wind F4 from the South West. There was quite a swell in the bay and it took us and others a while to
manage the metre swell. The first race was our best result for the Championship with a 3rd.
After that however, the top 4 boats rarely allowed anyone in to their Club!
Eric the Boat helmed by Steve Goacher, miles in front race 5, the Long Distance, unfortunately went to the wrong final mark. This combined with a OCS the next
day scuppered his chances of realistically challenging Joe Cross on Duette for the Title. Race days 3 and 4 we moved in to the harbour as Storm Erin passed through.
3 Windward Leeward races were run on Tuesday which were hard work – at the top wind speed for our No1. We ran foul of a Zulu flag start (which we hadn’t
noticed or thought about) and took a 20% hit for that race! The final race day on the Wednesday brought foul conditions – heavy winds and squalls!
After some discussion 1 race was held – all the boats on No 3 headsails, (some on the storm jib!) and some reefed. BD2 were close along side to windward
of us at one stage and Alistair shouted over how nice our keel looked!!! All the boats completed the racing without major mishap and it is a testament to the design of the
Sonata that you can push these little 50 year old boats so much and she will look after you.
The Racing Management was excellent – setting accurate courses and perfect lengths. The call to abandon the last race was quite correct with a particularly vicious squall arriving 10 minutes later!
It was good to see the Bentley boys out on the water with a nicely renovated Chrysalis and Simon Owens crewing – they excel in heavy weather and enjoyed the last two days in particular.
Some of the boats we met this week had also competed last year in the 2024 Nationals. All those that I spoke to were really impressed with the event that MYC had staged and had very good memories of
the friendliness and hospitality of the Club and those that ran the Racing and the Socials. It was very rewarding to hear this about our Club.
BD2 achieved a creditable 5th and two sixes in their results and it’s great to see Alistair take over active management of the NSA. It was also really good to see a number of the boats crewed by youngsters and the fact that the NSA is
really pushing to encourage this. We must do the same at MYC.
Having said that the Sonata is 50 years old – that’s not quite true as it will be next year, 2026. The Championships will be held in the Hamble.
I would encourage all Sonata owners to make the effort to get there! We are aiming for 50 boats on the line!!! It’s going to be some event!
We have as a Class, a spare boat, Silver Lining. Why not get a team together do some racing during the season and get her down there. It’s going to be really special. Just a thought!!! Book it now. We will find you
some way of getting her down there.
Paul Hopper
Watersong 8420
Entrants in finishing order
Duette – Joe Cross 11
Eric – Steve Goacher 16
Frankie the Rhino – Anthony Woods 18
Aquila – Nick Holt 19
Wasp – Luke Goodall 34
Watersong – Luke Hopper 43
Zingy – Caniel Wilted 47
Nancy – Richard Bowers 53
BD2 – Alistair Bolton 57
Puffin – Jon Tweedle 65
Harmony – Archie M Price 66 (not ex MYC)
Saraband – Mark Taylor 67 (not ex MYC)
Chrisalis – Tom Bentley 71
White Magic – David Pipe 84
Ton Up – James P Mowbray 85
Smoke on the water – Nigel Silman 101
Pintsize – Michael Goodwin 104
Third Movement – Chloe Clark 105
Barracuda – Alec Aster 127
Hobo – Mark Graham 135
BOB – Michael Riley 138
Andante – Jonathan Carter 140
Blues Breaker – David Brock 144
Piccolo – Clive Brooke 152
Samurai – Andy Gaunt 174
Far Out – Matthew Riley 186
Congratulations to Joe Cross and the crew of Duette
with a dominant win to retain his Sonata Champion
Title