The Morgan Marine Sonata Nationals 2022 Championship Report

Published 19:34 on 18 Aug 2022

The sonata is a well-known and much-loved cruiser racer with small fleets all around the country.

This year the fleets came together for their national championships organised and hosted by Colne Yacht Club (new comers to the national championship scene) and what an event it was with and over 120 sailors.

The racing comprised of 11 windward leewards races with a spreader mark and leeward gate and 1 long distance around the cans.

Although the racing was postponed by an hour each day, the fleet were treated to a consistent sea breeze for all races providing true champagne sailing.

The racing was fierce and competitive with positions on the water often being decided by just a poor hoist or bad tack Even for this years national champions. Results changed frequently each day.

On and off the water there was a true buzz from all the sailors enthusiastic about the racing and also the social events put on for them each evening.

Along with the regular well rooted sailors in the class such as Mark Taylor travelling down from Ullswater with Saraband and Team Watersong from Medway Yacht club. The class also welcomed a young cadet team from Colne Yacht club progressing up from dinghies. And team spellbound helmed by Eddie birdle who showed his skills from racing moths are transferable to the slightly slower Sonata

The runners and riders of the event were team white noise (Johnny Hewatt and Lucian Stone) who after their 5th year of the nationals and no longer being the children in the fleet secured the place of national champions with 3 bullets on the final day of racing. Tony woods Frankie the Rhino who looked to be the most consistent of the week we're just piped on the final day putting them in 2nd place. And BD2 helmed by Alistair Bolton and his team nudged down to 3rd on the final day but also securing the u25 helm trophy with a team all under 25 years of ages.

All competitors would like to thank the host club and sponsor but also the race officers and committee boat drivers for a fantastic week of racing and re-energising the class. The 2023 national championships to be held in Poole can't come soon enough.

If you are interested in finding out more about the sonata class please check out our class website www.sonata.org.uk for full results head to: https://cycsonatas.co.uk/

Race report team BD2

Last updated 12:05 on 9 May 2024