A sunny 12 to 15 knots Easterly breeze greeted competitors at the UK’s second VX One National Championship hosted by Weymouth Sailing Club, with sailors travelling from as far afield as Edinburgh and Dumfries. The fleet was keen to get away and Race 1 was general recalled. Jim Hunt sailing ‘Pink Sock’ won the first race, in good surfing conditions, but was scored OCS. As the breeze dropped to a lighter 8 knots and tracked to the South East, Hunt went onto score two firsts and second. In what was quickly becoming a closely fought championship, Hunt held a two point overnight lead (after discard) over the SB20 Cowes Grand Slam winner, Adrian Peach in ‘Uber’ who was counting a first, second and third. Sunday’s racing was started in a 12 knot South Easterly which progressively built to 16 – 18 knots, providing competitors with some great downwind blasts with excellent waves for surfing too. Adrian Peach dominated the day with four wins to take the National Championship title, closely followed by Hunt with a consistent handful of seconds, and Neil Harris in third counting an impressive score line with no results outside the top five in every race. The 1st Under 18 prize went to Rhys Lewis in Battlecruiser and the first family prize went to David and Charlie Chandler. The combination of this exciting new boat and superb conditions left the sailors with big smiles and full of commendation for the fleet. Overall winner Adrian Peach from Torbay YC commented, “We have enjoyed fantastic racing in the VX this weekend, the boat really is a pleasure to sail and very under control, despite its light 260 kilo displacement. The racing was close and it amazed us how even the boats were across a selection of winds both upwind and down. I’m really pleased to have won the VX1 Nationals, especially as this is my first National championship win against some really experience and established dinghy sailors who are clearly now having a ball in these boats.” Shane Hughes, former J/80 World Champion and Melges 32 European Champion, said, “Having experienced almost every sportsboat in the market, the VX One is the one that most closely resembles the exhilaration and fun of a dinghy. All that with a really stable platform, even in the breezy stuff and you having a winning combo. The deck layout has been really well designed for easy use by 2 or 3 and the detail finishing on the boat and rig is very impressive. A fantastic boat that will guarantee to make you smile!” Runner up Jim Hunt added, “We both thoroughly enjoyed the sailing and social. It’s a struggle to find anything not to like about the boat. It doesn’t feel like it has a keel – until you need it! Upwind it was easy to steer and responded more like a dinghy to a bit of hiking. Downwind was over too quickly, the rudder felt very positive and the boat rewarded accurate, subtle steering. There’s enough keel to recover from a poor gybe, but not so much that it’s too easy. The fit out was excellent – it looks like a boat the you can spend your time sailing and not maintaining.” This story provided by clicking here.
