Hadron Dinghies Ltd

In two weeks time the third Hadron H2 National Championships will be held at Littlehampton, hosted by Arun Yacht Club. Already, the number of entries has exceeded that of last year, so more than half of the entire fleet will be competing. The event takes place over three days with seven races scheduled.

First or last, every competitor will receive a prize, but it’s a law of nature that the younger and fitter helms are more likely to be the front runners on an open sea course. This year there are three age-related new trophies for the older owners: Masters (60-64 years), Grand Masters (65-69 years) and the Ulysses Trophy for helms over 70. The main prize, however, is the Harold Smith trophy, named after the Lancashire businessman who commissioned the Harrier Dinghy from the H2’s designer way back in 1972. The Harrier was Keith Callaghan’s first singlehander design.

The Hadron H2 is an easy boat to sail but a challenging one to sail to its full potential, due mainly to its sophisticated rig. As the class matures it is apparent that more helms are getting the knack, as recent results in handicap events demonstrate. The usual suspects will appear at the front of the fleet on 6-8 September.

The three age-related H2 trophies

The Harold Smith Championship Trophy for the Hadron H2 National Championship.

Ian Sanderson will be defending his title in H2 #111 ‘Shifty Fades Away’ but he will be challenged by Class Chairman Richard Leftley, especially if the wind pipes up. Other strong contenders include OK sailor Doug Powell, who has borrowed a boat for the event, and Michael Alexander – the quiet Scot who has done very well in previous championships. Dick Holden is another who will enjoy stronger breezes and has the advantage of coming from the home club.

There are at least half a dozen others who could put together a winning series of results. One 2018 contender who unfortunately will not be present is Alistair Glen, who finished a close second last year but has a long term shoulder injury.

The host club has organised meals in the clubhouse on Friday and Saturday and a social event on the Friday evening. Early arrivals will also be treated to a fascinating talk by PRO Dougal Henshall on the Thursday evening – the subject: the 1948 Olympic Regatta. Dougal gave us a great series of races last year and is very familiar with the H2 class.

Ian Sanderson in ‘Shifty Fades Away’, Hadron H2 2018 National Champion

Those of you in the North West who are interested in having a trial sail of an H2 are invited to Elton SC, Bury, Lancs, on 27/28 April. If you wish to attend, email me at keith@hadrondinghy.com for further information.

Kevin Connolly’s new Hadron H2 was the star exhibit on the Hadron H2 Class Association stand at the Dinghy Show last weekend. The stand was manned by evangelical H2 owners who were very persuasive in recommending their chosen dinghy to the show attendees.

The Hadron H2 Class Association will be exhibiting Kevin Connolly’s brand new H2 on their stand (B36, in the Great Hall, Alexandra Palace, on 2nd & 3rd March.)
H2 owners will be manning the stand – come over and ask them how much they love their boats!

H2 Inland Championship at Draycote Water Sailing Club.
Report for Yachts and Yachting  by Keith Callaghan
18 Nov 16:52 GMT 17-18 November 2018

The H2 Inland Championship were held at Draycote Water SC on Saturday, November 17th. The event was held in conjunction with day one of the Draycote Dash – the first of the Selden SailJuice Winter Series events for 2018/19.
The H2s were the largest class in the medium fleet. Four races were sailed in brilliant sunshine, tempered by a chilly easterly light to moderate breeze. The big question was whether South Cerney SC member and H2 Class Chairman Richard Leftley had enough breeze to propel his 95kg frame around the course quicker than the lighter helms. Richard had finished third at this year’s National Championships, showing unbeatable speed to windward and, sure enough, he was first at the windward mark in every race. Simon Hipkin, James Oxley, and particularly Dave Barker successfully closed the gap on him on the off-wind legs, only for Richard to squirt away again upwind.

Richard made a clean sweep of all four races, but competition was very close in the pursuing pack. Dave and Simon tied on points but the discard worked in Dave’s favour for a well deserved second place. James Oxley, a clubmate of Simon’s, borrowed a boat to finish a creditable 4th. As is usual with major H2 events, every competitor received a prize.
As a regular spectator at H2 events I have observed a distinct increase in boat speed throughout the fleet over the last year, thanks to a great training day by Jim Hunt and also the increased opportunities for boat on boat competition. South Cerney SC now have six H2s at the club and the regular competition has no doubt increased Richard’s performance.
The Hadron H2 Class Association thanks the SailJuice Series organisers and Draycote Water SC for hosting this event.

Click on the H2 sail number to browse the photos of that boat at the Herne Bay Nationals

Above: Geoff Parker sailing H2 #103 ‘Ghost Ship’ at Herne Bay

Group photos

#102

#103

#105

#106

#109

#111

#113

#114

#115

#121

#123

#126

#128

#130

#131

#135

H1 #21

The Hadron H2 2018 Inland Championship will be held on Saturday 17th November at Draycote Water SC (http://draycotewater.co.uk/) in conjunction with the Selden SailJuice Winter Series “Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash”. The H2s will start as part of the main fleet and all races on the Saturday will count toward the Inland Championship; the optional pursuit race on Sunday 18th can be sailed but will not count toward the championship. More details to follow soon!

This year’s championships took place at Herne Bay SC, Kent, from 7th to 9th September, the full report from Yachts and Yachting.

The third and final day of the Hadron H2 National Championships at Herne Bay SC dawned with a light SSW breeze which steadily increased to 18 knots at times. As on the previous day, the RO opted for a triangular course for races 6 and 7 of the series.

Ian Sanderson’s three wins on the previous day had made him almost unassailable for the championship – but not quite. If second placed Alistair Glen could win both remaining races, with Ian DTP in both, then he might just do it. Alistair set to with a will and his H2 creamed around the course with full intent, flying from wave top to wave top in the short seas. He succeeded in his goal, but Ian was at his heels and finished in second place, thus becoming H2 National Champion. Dave Barker, one of the lighter H2 helms, was also having a great day and came in third. Class chairman Dick Holden found his old form after reconfiguring his spreaders and came home fourth with Richard Leftley in fifth.

And so on to the final race. It might have been an anti-climax after the decisive previous race but it turned out to be a very close race indeed as all competitors were now fully used to the brisk conditions and were determined to give of their best. By some coincidence, the first four places were taken by the overall leaders – in the correct order – Richard Leftley in third and Michael Alexander scoring a fourth place to retain over all fourth – just as last year. The next group of contenders were very close indeed, places 5 to 10 being separated by only 5 points. Dick Holden scraped a seventh in this last race to lead the pack over all.

After nearly six hours of racing over 3 days, a dozen and a half rather tired competitors made for shore to de-rig their boats and prepare for the journey home – two of them returning to Scotland.

At last year’s champs, Ian Sanderson was involved in a titanic struggle for number one spot with Paul Smalley. Paul won by the smallest of margins, but this year Ian became the deserved winner of the Harold Smith Championship Trophy – congratulations, Ian, from us all.

IAN SANDERSON. H2 National Champion, 2018.

But of course there was one more event to come – the prizegiving. Every competitor received a prize, sponsored by Hadron Dinghies, and the top three also received vouchers from Allen Brothers. In addition, there were special prizes for the first helm in the following categories:

Mid life crisis – Age 55-64: Alistair Glen

Prime of life – Age 65-70: Ian Dawson

Super grand-daddy – Age over 70: Kevin Connolly

Too light to sail an H2 – definitely not! (weight under 75kg): Ian Dawson again (he is a healthy but sadly uncommon combination of old and light)

Battlecruiser weight (over 95kg) – Richard Leftley (NB, definitely no flab – all muscle and bone!)

There was also a special accolade for Julian Hines’ Hadron H1, which competed as a special guest of the H2 class. (The H1 is the plywood precurser to the H2 and Julian’s boat was beautifully built by Simon Hipkin a few years ago). The boat sported a striking new flat top mainsail by Ian Morgan.

Special thanks went to Dougal Henshall and his race crew for their impeccable management of the races, carried out in variable conditions of wind and wave.

There was unanimous acclaim for the 57 volunteers from Herne Bay SC who willingly gave of their time to organise the wonderful meals and refreshments, man the rescue boats and race boat, manage the boats ashore and recover them after the racing, and all of the many other things that are necessary to make a successful championship. 57 people – that 3.5 volunteers for each competitor! Thank you, every one – we would love to come back soon if you will have us!

Itchenor Sailing Club’s first open meeting for singlehanders took place on 21 April and attracted seven Hadron H2s, far outnumbering the other classes taking part. Again, nearly a quarter of the nation’s H2s turned out for battle on a day which featured some sunshine and a constantly backing 8-10 knot breeze which made life none too easy for race officer Chris Froy.

Alistair Glen, from Starcross SC, had collected his new H2 only the week before – at the H2 training day at South Cerney SC, mentored by Jim Hunt – and maybe he had taken Jim’s tips to heart, or maybe it was because he also sails a Merlin Rocket that he was instantly at home in an H2 and showed great boat speed. But it was the organiser of the Training Day, Richard Leftley (South Cerney SC), who was first at the weather mark in the first race, closely followed by Alistair then Dick Holden from Arun YC and Andrew McGaw from Northampton SC. Richard stayed ahead on the next two reaches but Alistair eventually pulled through into the lead, while Andrew overtook Dick. These were the final placings at the end of the 3 lap race.

The second race was almost a re-run of the first, with similar results. With two out of three races to count, this gave Alistair the trophy, which must make him feel very encouraged, as it was only his second competitive outing.The other positions were still up for grabs, however, and the tight start in race 3 saw Alistair experiment with a close encounter with the pin end mark, which proved unsuccessful, so he had to do his penalty and started last. Dick led at the weather mark, but made a navigational error on the revised course and let Andrew Mcgaw through on the next leg. Andrew then found another gear and pulled well away on the next two legs into an unbeatable lead. Meanwhile, Richard was closing in on Dick and Alistair was closing in on everybody. Dick dropped back to fourth and Alistair just nudged Richard on the finish line to complete a very successful day.

Back ashore at the clubhouse, talk was all about rig settings – the H2 rig is quite technical, and despite Jim Hunt’s guidance, opinion was still divided as to what was the best way to set up the rig for the conditions prevailing on this day. Opinion was unanimous, however, on the enjoyment of the racing and the hospitality of the club.

Overall Results:

The new Portsmouth Yardstick numbers for 2018 were announced at the RYA Dinghy Show in March and we were pleased to be given an Experimental PY of 1037. This is very much in line with the designer’s original estimate of 1040 and will give H2 owners a realistic chance in handicap racing. However, he is confident that, as expertise builds in the fleet, the PY will approach 1030.

So the H2 is not slow, but it was never a design aim to produce a speed machine at the expense of other characteristics such as handling, comfort, seaworthiness, safety and the pure joy of sailing the thing.