Itchenor last hosted the Mirror nationals in 2016. Up one of the rivers leading to Chichester harbour, the club provides a great venue to test the skills of the national fleet.
With a long history in Mirrors, ISC currently has 43 Mirrors in the dinghy park with 40+ attending their highly popular Junior Fortnight.
The Mirror Nationals 2024 (23rd to 26th August) included 3 days of racing during which the Race team coordinated 7 races in different winds and different states of tide plus a day of coaching and practice.
Day 2 - photos by Tim Bees
The fleet seems to be attracting a growing number of hotshots from other classes who see the opportunity to do great racing while their offspring eat sweets in the front of the boat! This year, at least half of the top ten included national, world or endeavour champions from other classes. Only one parent/child team in the top ten had swapped places with Alex Balding (10th) taking the helm from his dad.
Ben and Evelyn McGrane gave another masterclass in Mirror sailing over the weekend only dropping one race to Matt and Pippa Burge.
Day 3 - photos by Tim Bees
This year saw two wooden boats in the top ten and a variety of sail makers. Please see the Yachts and Yachting Gear guide for details.
The single handed trophy was hotly contested between Ron and Jewels Vass. The blustery conditions meant it was not ideal for single handers. Ron was greatful for some super woman heroics from Natasha Armstrong who leapt from her boat to help him right his, after a crash gybe sailing through finishing boats.
The team trophy was closely fought between Hayling Island (Dobson, Wincer and Carveth) and Netley (McGrane, Stewart and King). While initially awarded to HISC, a closer inspection of the results suggests Netly won. There may be some debate about the outcome but Netly conveniently left it at home so that is where it stays for now!
Poppy and Natasha Armstrong (West Kirby) are the Women's National Champions. Felix and Rupert Garlick (Itchenor) are the Youth National Champions.
The highly coveted Super Crew trophy (youngest to complete every race) was won by Evelyn McGrane.
The day before racing got going, the Mirror Class Association with support from the ISC Race team provided coaching and two coached practice races. Coaches included the current Southern, Eastern, Inland, National and World champion Ben McGrane plus ex World champion Chris Balding shouting at crews from RIBs. Coaching continued over the weekend with daily debriefs when possible.
The Mirror event calendar is growing each year. Still to come in 2024 is the Welsh then Scottish then Inland Championships. See Facebook or the Class Association website for further details.
Results are provisional as of 14:37 on August 26, 2024
Sailed: 7, Discards: 1, To count: 6, Entries: 52, Scoring system: Appendix A
| Rank | Fleet | Helm | Age | Crew | Age | Boat | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | Total | Nett |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Gold | Ben McGrane | 41 | Evelyn McGrane | 7 | 71038 - Anna | Netley SC | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | (6.0) | 1.0 | 12.0 | 6.0 |
| 2nd | Gold | Matthew McGovern | 43 | Lewis McGovern | 13 | 71042 - Marmalade | South Staffs Sailing Club | 4.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | (7.0) | 2.0 | 5.0 | 25.0 | 18.0 |
| 3rd | Gold | Ian Dobson | 38 | Ted Dobson | 6 | 71053 - Lightning | HISC | 2.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | (53.0 RET) | 87.0 | 34.0 |
| 4th | Gold | Douglas Pattison | 48 | Jude Collier | 12 | 70697 - Forget me knot | Itchenor | 3.0 | 10.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | (11.0) | 46.0 | 35.0 |
| 5th | Gold | James Date | 49 | Meris Date | 8 | 70182 - Shelly | Burghfield Sailing Club | 9.0 | (15.0) | 2.0 | 9.0 | 12.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 53.0 | 38.0 |
| 6th | Gold | James Stewart | 55 | Rhys Stewart | 9 | 70832 - Revenge of the Smurfs | (16.0) | 3.0 | 5.0 | 11.0 | 13.0 | 8.0 | 3.0 | 59.0 | 43.0 | |
| 7th | Gold | Matthew Burge | 40 | Pippa Burge | 7 | 70085 - Molly | Poole YC | 6.0 | 4.0 | 10.0 | (53.0 DNS) | 2.0 | 1.0 | 23.0 | 99.0 | 46.0 |
| 8th | Gold | Geoff Carveth | 64 | Zac Carveth | 11 | 70556 - Carveth Mirror | HISC | 12.0 | (21.0) | 6.0 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 10.0 | 7.0 | 67.0 | 46.0 |
| 9th | Gold | Toby Wincer | 42 | Molly Wincer | 7 | 70922 - Wave Catcher Too | HISC | 5.0 | 14.0 | (53.0 RET) | 10.0 | 9.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 100.0 | 47.0 |
| 10th | Gold | Alex Balding | 15 | Chris Balding | 48 | 70810 - YOLO | Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club | 7.0 | 12.0 | 15.0 | 3.0 | 14.0 | (22.0) | 9.0 | 82.0 | 60.0 |
| 11th | Gold | Paul Cullen | 48 | Will Larkin | 10 | 70967 - Zoomy | Weirwood | (15.0) | 9.0 | 13.0 | 4.0 | 15.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 75.0 | 60.0 |
| 12th | Gold | Leighton King | 47 | Penny King | 10 | 70587 - Hummingbird | Netley Sailing Club | 13.0 | (22.0) | 16.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 20.0 | 8.0 | 87.0 | 65.0 |
| 13th | Bronze | Katie Archer | 42 | Summer Greenland | 8 | 70923 - X | HISC | 11.0 | 13.0 | 21.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 10.0 | 11.0 | 16.0 | 135.0 | 82.0 |
| 14th | Gold | Felix Garlick | 14 | Rupert Garlick | 12 | 70714 - Peer Pressure | Itchenor | 8.0 | 8.0 | 12.0 | 21.0 | (28.0) | 18.0 | 17.0 | 112.0 | 84.0 |
| 15th | Gold | Nick Simmons | 40 | Finn Simmons | 8 | 48756 - Hydrus | Lymington Town SC | 20.0 | (23.0) | 9.0 | 17.0 | 8.0 | 13.0 | 21.0 | 111.0 | 88.0 |
| 16th | Gold | Poppy Armstrong | 15 | Tasha Armstrong | 50 | 70499 - Sea Glass | West Kirby Sailing Club | 18.0 | 16.0 | (20.0) | 16.0 | 17.0 | 14.0 | 12.0 | 113.0 | 93.0 |
| 17th | Gold | Nicholas Charles | 44 | Edith Charles | 44 | 70961 - Skittles | Papercourt | 19.0 | 11.0 | 11.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 20.0 | 17.0 | 18.0 | 149.0 | 96.0 |
| 18th | Gold | Becky Priest | 47 | Ella Saunders | 7 | 70893 - Baby Grey Boat | Staunton Harold SC | (29.0) | 6.0 | 22.0 | 18.0 | 24.0 | 23.0 | 15.0 | 137.0 | 108.0 |
| 19th | Gold | Matthew Larkin | 53 | Oliver Larkin | 11 | 70805 - A squish and a squash, try not to splosh | Weir Wood Sailing Club | 25.0 | (33.0) | 19.0 | 15.0 | 22.0 | 31.0 | 6.0 | 151.0 | 118.0 |
| 20th | Gold | Richard Searle | 45 | Rupert Searle | 7 | 70916 - Donut | Itchenor | 17.0 | 25.0 | 17.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 23.0 | 21.0 | 19.0 | 175.0 | 122.0 |
| 21st | Bronze | Andrew Handasyde Dick | 40 | Izzy HD | 9 | 70820 - Typhoon | Itchenor | 30.0 | (35.0) | 23.0 | 12.0 | 16.0 | 15.0 | 30.0 | 161.0 | 126.0 |
| 22nd | Gold | Morgan Cross | 12 | Stephen Cross | 47 | 70945 - Oarsome | Brightlingsea Sailing Club | 23.0 | (31.0) | 27.0 | 20.0 | 21.0 | 19.0 | 20.0 | 161.0 | 130.0 |
| 23rd | Gold | Jo Field | 40 | Tabitha Field | 7 | 70571 - Hammerhead | Weir Wood Sailing Club | (36.0) | 30.0 | 31.0 | 14.0 | 18.0 | 16.0 | 24.0 | 169.0 | 133.0 |
| 24th | Gold | Rozalyn McGrane | 50 | Keira McGrane | 10 | 70987 - Elsa | Netley Sailing club | 24.0 | 24.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 53.0 DNC | 11.0 | 12.0 | 14.0 | 191.0 | 138.0 |
| 25th | Gold | Matthew Bromley | 45 | Georgina Bromley | 8 | 70883 - Rumble Fish | Redesmere SC | 21.0 | 26.0 | 24.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 30.0 | 26.0 | 13.0 | 193.0 | 140.0 |
| 26th | Gold | Felix Gladman | 13 | Arthur Pattison | 12 | 1016 - Yogi | Itchenor | 10.0 | 28.0 | 41.0 | (53.0 RET) | 25.0 | 28.0 | 28.0 | 213.0 | 160.0 |
| 27th | Bronze | James Bayliss | 43 | Annabel Bayliss | 11 | 70564 - Gone with The Wind | ISC | 22.0 | 18.0 | 7.0 | 13.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 219.0 | 166.0 |
| 28th | Gold | Euan Bradshaw | 39 | Zoey Bradshaw | 9 | 70354 - Bluebell | Emsworth Sailing Club | 33.0 | (37.0) | 32.0 | 22.0 | 29.0 | 25.0 | 25.0 | 203.0 | 166.0 |
| 29th | Gold | Jenny Fletcher | 46 | Isabel Fletcher | 13 | 70163 - Aeolus | Chichester Yacht Club | 27.0 | 19.0 | 28.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 27.0 | 45.0 | 22.0 | 221.0 | 168.0 |
| 30th | Gold | Martin Egan | 69 | Felix Heffernan | 69667 - Bold Forester | Restronguet SC | 31.0 | 27.0 | 25.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 36.0 | 24.0 | 27.0 | 223.0 | 170.0 | |
| 31st | Gold | Lucy Searle | 40 | Rosy Searle | 9 | 70713 - Peanut | Itchenor | 42.0 | 20.0 | 26.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 31.0 | 30.0 | 32.0 | 234.0 | 181.0 |
| 32nd | Gold | Lily-Rose Nixon | 14 | Alice Pattison | 11 | 70757 - Maverick | Itchenor | 28.0 | 32.0 | 35.0 | 24.0 | 33.0 | 34.0 | (43.0) | 229.0 | 186.0 |
| 33rd | Gold | Alan Bennett | 78 | Ellie Fletcher | 13 | 69929 - Zarya | Staunton Harold | 32.0 | 36.0 | 30.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 32.0 | 27.0 | 29.0 | 239.0 | 186.0 |
| 34th | Gold | Willow Cross | 15 | Katie Bees | 15 | 70743 - Yeti | Brightlingsea Sailing Club | (53.0 DNC) | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 19.0 | 19.0 | 29.0 | 31.0 | 257.0 | 204.0 |
| 35th | Gold | Elsie Upton-Brown | 14 | Bella Pickup | 15 | 70347 - Blue | Emsworth | 38.0 | 45.0 | 39.0 | (53.0 DNS) | 26.0 | 37.0 | 26.0 | 264.0 | 211.0 |
| 36th | Gold | Peter Deming | 43 | Catherine Deming | 10 | 70503 - Scylla | n/a | 34.0 | 5.0 | 14.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 265.0 | 212.0 |
| 37th | Bronze | Flynn Grant | 12 | Loftus Skinner | 10 | 70268 - Happy Blue Whale | Chichester | 35.0 | 38.0 | 36.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 35.0 | 33.0 | 35.0 | 265.0 | 212.0 |
| 38th | Gold | Richard Evans | 44 | Poppy Evans | 7 | 70834 - Sugar and Spice | Blackwater Sailing Club | 14.0 | 29.0 | 18.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 273.0 | 220.0 |
| 39th | Bronze | Monty Fry | 12 | Seb Taylor | 12 | 70638 - Little Miss Attitude | Itchenor | 37.0 | 39.0 | 33.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 41.0 | 36.0 | 34.0 | 273.0 | 220.0 |
| 40th | Gold | EJ Ayton | 11 | Camilla Garlick | 9 | 70395 - Coz-i-Can | Itchenor SC | 40.0 | 34.0 | 34.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 37.0 | 38.0 | 38.0 | 274.0 | 221.0 |
| 41st | Bronze | Juliet Charles | 42 | Sebastian Charles | 6 | 70737 - Olaf | Papercourt | 26.0 | 17.0 | 29.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 284.0 | 231.0 |
| 42nd | Gold | Adriana Balding | 13 | Priti Verma | 47 | 70534 - Crimson Thunder | Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club | 43.0 | 42.0 | 38.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 40.0 | 35.0 | 44.0 | 295.0 | 242.0 |
| 43rd | Gold | Imogen Fry | 14 | Nelly Hewlett | 14 | 70791 - Lady Dashalot | Itchenor | 39.0 | 41.0 | 37.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 39.0 | 44.0 | 45.0 | 298.0 | 245.0 |
| 44th | Gold | Albert Scholes | 12 | Roger Scholes | 48 | 70618 - White Pointer | Itchenor | (53.0 DNC) | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 23.0 | 43.0 | 39.0 | 37.0 | 301.0 | 248.0 |
| 45th | Bronze | Edward Goble | 37 | Fergus Goble | 7 | 70227 - Sweet Pea | Itchenor | 44.0 | 44.0 | 42.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 44.0 | 43.0 | 40.0 | 310.0 | 257.0 |
| 46th | Gold | Joshua Gestetner | 13 | Darcy Collier | 14 | 70706 - Go Fish | Itchenor & Bosham Sailing Clubs | 41.0 | 40.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 53.0 DNC | 38.0 | 46.0 | 42.0 | 313.0 | 260.0 |
| 47th | Gold | Huw Beverley-Jones | 12 | Matilda Ward | 13 | 70790 Te-Fiti | Restronguet Sailing Club | (53.0 DNC) | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 34.0 | 42.0 | 36.0 | 324.0 | 271.0 |
| 48th | Gold | Jewels Vass | 44 | 70972 - Surfs Up | Reading SC | (53.0 DNC) | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 32.0 | 33.0 | 330.0 | 277.0 | ||
| 49th | 69464 | (53.0 DNC) | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 42.0 | 40.0 | 39.0 | 333.0 | 280.0 | ||||||
| 50th | Bronze | Enfys Horner | 10 | George Massey | 15 | 70510 - Blibbering Humdinger | ESC | 45.0 | 43.0 | 40.0 | (53.0 DNC) | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 340.0 | 287.0 |
| 51st | Gold | Ronald Vass | 72 | 7103 - Squirt | Reading SC | (53.0 DNC) | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 46.0 | 41.0 | 41.0 | 340.0 | 287.0 | ||
| 52nd | 70366 | (53.0 DNC) | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 53.0 DNC | 45.0 | 47.0 | 53.0 DNF | 357.0 | 304.0 |
Prizegiving
Prizes were presented by Roger Heath, Vice Commodore, Itchenor Sailing Club and RO for the event.
Trophy Winners
| Trophy | Awarded for | Winner |
| Marlow Rope Trophy | Winners Race 1 | Ben & Evelyn McGrane |
| Cassandra's Cauldron | Winners Race 2 | Ben & Evelyn McGrane |
| Winners Race 3 | Ben & Evelyn McGrane | |
| Peter Wilson Trophy | Winners Race 4 | Ben & Evelyn McGrane |
| Winners Race 5 | Ben & Evelyn McGrane | |
|
National Westminster(Currently missing) |
Winners Race 6 | |
| Abersoch Trophy | Winners Race 7 | Ben & Evelyn McGrane |
| 40th Anniversary Trophy | Winners Race 8 | Matt & Pippa Burge for winning Race 6 (instead of National Westminster) |
| International Paint Trophy | Winners of practice race | Matt & Pippa Burge |
| Proops Pot | First Lady Helm | Poppy Armstrong |
| Arthur Vine Trophy | Leading Helm & Crew U19 other than overall winners | Willow Cross & Katie Bees |
| Harry Yule Smith Plate | Leading Helm & Crew U15 other than overall winners | Felix & Rupert Garlick |
| Mike Devonshire Trophy | Second placed Helm & Crew U15 | Felix Gladman & Arthur Pattison |
| Hathi Plate | Leading Helm U13 | EJ Ayton & Camilla Garlick |
| Arthur Birt Trophy | Leading Helm U19 from the local (i.e. hosting) club. | Returned, but not awarded(?) |
| Fleet Shield | Best Team of three boats entered from same Club | Netley SC (see report) |
| Lucas Trophy (which appears to be lost, the Victor Shaw Trophy has been used instead recently) | Leading helm over 39 | Ben McGrane |
| 1963 Trophy | Leading helm over 49 | Should have gone to James Date, Stuart Hudson has passed it on |
| Shavian Mug | Last on points who completed every race (but 1) | Lil-Rose Nixon & Alice Pattison |
| Topaz Trophy | Leading parent & offspring | Ben & Evelyn McGrane |
| Silver Jubilee Trophy | 25th Boat Overall | Matthew & Georgina Bromley |
| Dyno-Rod Cup | Best Devon or Cornwall Boat Helm & Crew U18 | Huw Beverly-Jones & Matilda Ward |
| Bass Charrington Trophy | First single handed boat | Incorretly awared to Ron Vass, was later awarded to Jewels Vass |
| Super Crew Cup | Youngest Crew to complete all races | Evelyn McGrane |
| Turbo Service International Plate | Youngest Helm to complete all races (?) | Morgan Cross |
| MCA Shield | Youngest combined age to compete all races (but 1) | Lil-Rose Nixon & Alice Pattison |
| Ptwootle Trophy | 1st Wooden Boat | James & Meris Date |
| Aberdeen Trophy | 1st Scottish Boat | Not awarded |
| Gulf Cup | 1st Welsh Boat | Not awarded |
| Special Award Trophy | OA choice | Not awarded |
| Jan Grieg-Gran Plate for Bronze fleet | Winners Bronze Fleet | Katie Archer & Summer Greenland |
| 3rd Overall Helm & Crew | Ian & Ted Dobson | |
| Pioneer Cup | 2nd Overall Helm & Crew | Matt & Lewis McGovern |
| HL Twentyman Challange Cup (originally the Crew's Trophy was awarded, but this has been missing since 2008) | 1st Overall Crew | Evelyn McGrane |
| Daily Mirror Trophy | 1st Overall Helm | Ben McGrane |
Trophies in strikethrough text were not returned. The 40th Anniversary Trophy, Mylor Yacht Harbour Trophy, the Roger Graffy Trophy, the Western Trust & Savings Trophy, the Aberdeen Trophy, Gulf Cup, and the Navigators & General Trophy were not awarded.
More photos, links and prizegiving details will be added as time allows.
