2018 Nationals report

The lack of wind forecast did nothing to deter the 14 Impalas entered in the 2018 National Championships at Royal Lymington YC. Despite the biggest spring tides of the year, the race team, led by Roger Wilson used their local knowledge to put on a programme of 8 races that made the most of the wind and tide conditions to deliver some champagne sailing.

Racing was closer than ever this year, with reigning champion Checkmate, helmed by Steve Goacher making the trip down south to retain their title and local boats queueing up to take it from them. Positions changed on every leg in the evenly-matched One Design fleet. After a two hour on-shore postponement that allowed competitors to cool off in the nearby saltwater baths, racing started to the west of the river, with two windward-leeward and one round-the-cans races. As the sun set on day 1,  Polly (Meakins and Cudmore) led the pack, equal on points but ahead on countback of Checkmate, with Imptish (Smith, Tullett and Hance) in third. Some uproarious entertainment put on by the crew of local boat Hound Dog kept crews busy on Friday night, with the games won by Hound Dog’ showing that local knowledge doesn’t just apply on the water!

Tables were turned on Saturday, when Checkmate sailed a good set of races to put them three points ahead of Imptish, with Polly 3^rd overall after a small navigational incident involving an exclusion zone.  It wasn’t just at the top that things were close: Vlad the Impala (Peter Dessent), Bambi (Richard Harding), Two Frank (Olly Love and Sam Flint) and Voodoo (Pete Rouse) were swapping places and challenging not only each other but also the overall leaders. The big tides and close fleet meant that mistakes were punished immediately and accurate layline calls were key.

The final day dawned hot and sunny, with all the signs that it would be a stonking sea breeze day. And so it proved: after an hour’s postponement ashore, crews assembled East of the Lymington entrance for two races that would decide the championship result. Bambi (Richard Harding), with a steadily improving scoreline and blistering boat speed, won the first race, with Imptish second and Checkmate third, closing the overall gap and making the final race the one to count. In a building breeze, Imptish won the final race, with Polly second and Checkmate third, which was enough to put Imptish and Checkmate on equal points after a close-fought regatta. Checkmate clinched the title on countback.

Ashore, the class gave thanks to the very professional and welcoming race team at RLymYC for some excellent and well-run racing.

Next year’s nationals marks the class’ 40^th Anniversary and will be sailed in Weymouth, from 19-21 July 2019. We’re hoping for an entry above 20 boats! With a number of well priced and competitive boats available to buy, why not come and join in one of the biggest one-design keelboat fleets in the UK in our 40^th year! Contact the class via impala28.co.uk for help, advice and more information!