JERSEY’S premier sailing talent was on full display at the British Hobie 16 National Championships, as Ollie Voak and Megan Roworth headlined an extraordinary effort to retain their crown.
There were three teams in total flying the Jersey flag on the national stage, as Luke Paxton-Garnier and Steph Egan, and the sibling duo of Juliette and Russell Walton, competed alongside the eventual champions, all performing well to make their mark.
To add to their achievements out there, Juliette Walton was “the first female helm”, making the weekend all the more special.
“Everyone in the RCIYC fleet, and at the club, are immensely proud of this wonderful achievement, especially on the back of their success in winning the title last year,” said Gordon Burgis, the RCIYC’s Hobie Fleet Representative & Organiser.
“To win two national titles is very special, and all the teams’ performances really showcased the local talent we have racing regularly, especially the younger sailors who are coming up through the ranks.
“The weekend’s results were announced at the Citco Round Island Race prize giving, where there was a generous round of applause for the club’s young teams.”
Competition commenced on Friday, as light winds of six – seven knots welcomed the sailors, suiting each sailor differently.
“The first day was very tough mentally, in light winds it’s incredibly technical, so you can’t take your eye off the ball for a second,” said Voak.
“Our rig’s set up had to be changed, as Megan (Roworth) and I tend to prefer sailing in heavier winds. You have more time to think, and having Brownsea Island close top shore greatly affects the wind shifts, so you can’t lose focus. We stayed locked in, communicated with each other and it certainly paid off.”
This was a great contrast to the Waltons, whose set up suited the light winds, giving them a strong start.
By the end of the first day, Voak and Roworth were sat in second place, whilst Paxton-Garnier and Egan sailed well to secure third. The Waltons also showed out on day one, finishing inside the top eight.
Day two saw a dramatic change in conditions, with heavy winds and gusts of up to 28 knots, which presented its fair share of challenges, causing numerous capsizes and boat damage.
These challenges hit close to home for our local teams, as two of the Caesarean duos were forced to withdraw from the day’s races prematurely. Paxton-Garnier and Egan suffered a rigging failure, while the Waltons were left overpowered with the winds, meaning both couldn’t finish the day’s races.
It was a shame that both had to retire, as missing a day’s races would affect their placings on the leaderboard, but everyone took positives.
“We were expecting winds of up to 15 knots, but conditions were much tougher than expected, coming in at 28 knots, leaving us overpowered. It was a shame we couldn’t finish all of the races, but we took a lot from that experience,” said helm Juliette Walton.
“After coming off the water we made adjustments, like finding better ways to de-power the boat and adding a ratchet to our mainsheet. These changes made a huge difference, and we felt more in control on the final day as a result.”
Voak and Roworth, as the team’s most experienced sailors, are more than happy to be role models for the upcoming generation of sailing talent, and this was on full show at the Championships, helping their teammates wherever they could.
“In Jersey, you don’t really get to sail in heavy winds too often, which posts a challenge for our sailors when competing overseas,” Voak explained.
“After the day’s racing wrapped up, Megan and I took a look at our teammates’ rigs, pointing out any alterations or room for improvement, which really helped, and things clicked for them on the final day.
“For us, it’s very rewarding to help out and share your knowledge. It feels quite special to be a role model, I’m quite a people person and love giving back wherever I can. If you’re not willing to help anyone and share what you’ve learnt, then you’re really wasting the opportunity.”
Meanwhile, Voak and Roworth rose to the challenge of increasing winds, squaring off with former national champion helm Lloyd Crisp, who was sailing with his son, Thomas.
The dynamic duo were rewarded for their exceptionally consistent performance, finishing the day well ahead in the top spot.
Steady 15 – 18 knot winds set the stage for the championships’ deciding races on the final day, with all Jersey teams finishing on a high.
Paxton-Garnier and Egan made a strong comeback, finishing second and third respectively in the final two races to push them to eighth overall, taking into account the penalty points in missing the previous day’s two races.
The Waltons also returned with a bang, posting two top-10 finishes to drive them up the table, securing 12th place overall.
Voak and Roworth never strayed from their consistency, once again posting top finishes to seal their second consecutive national championship, what an extraordinary feat! Poole’s Simon Keen and Amber Hale achieved second place, and Thorney Island team Johnny Farrow and Luke Sperring rounded out the podium in third.
“To win for a second time is amazing, it’s so awesome, can’t really put what I’m feeling into words,” Voak celebrated.
“What got us through was constant communication, staying calm and always looking for improvements. Without the communication, there’s no way we would have performed as well as we did.
“Jersey is lucky to have such an active Hobie fleet, the support we get is immense and we feel that the Island is really behind us, which is a massive boost.
“Funding wise, we have to be massively grateful to Ports of Jersey, I mean without their help we wouldn’t be where we are, so massive thanks to them.”
A special shout-out was also given to Burgis by Voak, who added: “Gordon IS the figure for Hobie sailing. He’s the one who brought the sport to Jersey, and if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am in the sport today.”
Jersey’s strong showing has certainly expanded the Island’s sailing profile, with Voak adding: “To have three teams from Jersey, all performing well, has certainly put us on the map. We have a great set-up here in Jersey, and getting more local sailors competing at this level will only strengthen the sport.
“Personally, I’m so passionate about promoting Hobie sailing. We have such a great community locally, with plenty of dedicated volunteers. Thanks to the Ports of Jersey sponsorship, I’ve had a display down at the Boat Show for the past couple years, where I do all I can to encourage people to give the sport a go.
“The more competitors we get out to these events, the better, as it will only increase our profile and strengthen our hopes of bringing over high-level sailors, as well as holding national and European competitions.”
Juliette Walton echoed those sentiments, adding: “These results, against such a strong fleet, showed that Jersey can absolutely compete with the best. I hope this past weekend’s results highlight the Island’s talent, and we’ll look to keep building on this.”
