1995 Mirror National Championships

Felpham Sailing Club was the venue for the 1995 UK National Championship held on the Bank Holiday weekend 27th-29th May. In spite of an unhelpful tide and a strong onshore wind on Sunday and Monday the event was a great success. As the results sheet shows although the event was necessarily held over a weekend - a first in British Mirror sailing - and in the middle of the public examination period a total of 61 UK competitors entered the event. Given the circumstances this was a good turnout.

Competitors prepared for RACE ONE with some trepidation as the southerly wind and the unusually high spring tide made launching extremely difficult. After sustaining damage during launching and effecting a hasty boat repair Tim Ware arrived at the start line with seconds to spare and led throughout. Tim was chased throughout by Ian Capener who looked a comfortable second until overtaken by Philip Goodwin as the wind decreased. At the gun Philip was second, Ian third and Guy Wilkins fourth.

Lee Goodey led from the start of RACE TWO closely followed by Ian Capener, Dave Gebhard and Mark Ampleford. At the halfway stage Philip Goodwin had started to work his way through the fleet. However, Lee and Ian were still first and second at the start of the final beat and were half a leg ahead of the rest of the fleet. One hundred yards from the line Ian broke away from Lee's cover to finish first, Lee was second, Philip third and Dave Gebhard fourth.

RACE THREE was the lightest of the Championship and after a tricky first beat Steve Nicholson emerged as the leader followed by Ian Capener. Halfway through the race Philip Goodwin caught up and sneaked through to win as Steve covered Ian. Ian finished second half a boat length ahead of Steve who was third. Chris Balding was fourth.

Steve Nicholson again led from the start of RACE FOUR in which the wind had strengthened to force four. Steve was closely followed by Tim Ware and Ian Capener and this trio soon got well clear of the rest of the fleet. Tim found the front on the second beat and positions remained unchanged until the second run when Ian passed both to win. Tim was second and Steve third and Gavin Sims fourth.

Thus with 3.50 points Ian and Max Capener became the clear and worthy winners of the 1995 National Championship. We congratulate them and wish them luck in the forthcoming World Championship.

Results, 4 races

Prizegiving

List of Trophy Winners

(Editors note: we don't have a list of the prizes presented, and receiptiants, at the prizegiving. The table below is based on prizes presented in 1988 & receiptiants reverse engineered from trophy engraving etc.)

Editors Note: This article is from Reflections No. 105 Summer 1995, pages 1, 2, and 3. It has been captured by OCR, so typos & errors are possible.