Spitfire (catamaran)

Last updated
Spitfire
Spitfire Logo.jpg
Class symbol
Development
Designer Reg White & Yves Loday
Yearc.2001
NameSpitfire
Boat
Crew2
TrapezeTwin
Hull
TypeHigh Performance Catamaran
ConstructionSandwich Polyester
Hull weightBoat Weight 139 kg (306 lb)
Rig
Rig typeMainsail, Jib & Asymmetric Spinnaker
Sails
Mainsail area15.5 m2 (167 sq ft)
Jib/genoa area4.5 m2 (48 sq ft)
Spinnaker area19.0 m2 (205 sq ft)

The Spitfire is a high-performance catamaran used for training and racing. It was designed by two Olympic gold medalists in the Tornado class, Reg White and Yves Loday.

Contents

In the UK, the Spitfire is the RYA Youth Catamaran as well as a successful racing class with National Championships held annually. The youth squad sailors compete at the class events like open meetings and nationals as well as some 'youth only' events such as the RYA Youth National Championships and youth squad training events.

Overview

The Spitfire, at 16 ft, is relatively small in comparison to the other main catamaran racing classes in the UK (F18s, Tornados, Hurricane 5.9s, Dart 18s and Sprint 15s). The Spitfire is a competitive racing class at handicap events, Spitfire events or in club races and is regularly seen in pole position at UK catamaran events. The British Spitfire Class Association provide the latest Spitfire news via their Facebook page and organize Spitfire events such as the inland and nationals championships. The Inland Championships are raced for the Jess Eales Memorial Trophy, in memory of one of the classes best and most well respected sailors.

Youth Squad

The Spitfire was selected to replace the Hobie Dragoon as the RYA Youth Catamaran and since then it has become a top youth class. After the 34th Americas Cup which was held on AC45 and AC72 Catamarans, the numbers of sailors not only in the youth squad, but in the class in general, reached record numbers and at the 2016 RYA Youth Nationals, 13 entries were recorded (almost twice the number of entries in 2014). The UKCRA Youth Squad use the Spitfire as their training platform and their main racing class however the squad also attend events in other classes such as the SL16 World Championships and the Red Bull Foiling Generation. [1] The Spitfire was replaced as the RYA Youth Multihull in 2017 by the new Nacra 15.

Champions

European Champion

YearNationLocationHelmCrew
2002 Flag of France.svg Locmariaquer Sailing Club Flag of France.svg Fabrice Berranger Flag of France.svg Stephane Berranger
2003 Flag of England.svg Netley Sailing Club Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stuart Gummer Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Rashley
2005 Flag of Ireland.svg Royal Cork Yacht Club Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Sproat Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Georgina Burke
2006 Flag of England.svg Yaverland Sailing Club Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Sproat Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Georgina Burke
2007 Flag of France.svg Locmariaquer Sailing Club Flag of France.svg Jonathan Loday Flag of France.svg Arnaud Gautier
2008 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Ostend Sailing and Racing Club Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Sproat Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Georgina Burke

UK National Champion

YearLocationHelmCrew
2002Whitstable Yacht ClubStuart GummerChris Rashley
2004Stokes Bay Sailing ClubMike ScantleburyDave Harris
2005Worthing Yacht ClubJonathon LodayEllen Forshaw
2006Pagham Yacht ClubJonothon LodayMike Windle
2007Pagham Yacht ClubStuart GummerHannah Burke
2008Brightlingsea Sailing ClubChris SproatGeorgina Burke
2009Minnis Bay Sailing ClubAlex FarrMarcelle Newbold
2010Brightlingsea Sailing ClubHenry WhiteEd Redfearn
2011Minnis Bay Sailing ClubRupert WhiteNicola Boniface
2012Brightlingsea Sailing ClubRupert WhiteNicola Boniface
2013Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing ClubGary SmithLynn Whitmore
2014Brightlingsea Sailing ClubPaul LimpusOli Greber
2015Stokes Bay Sailing ClubJack ButtersSam James
2016Brightlingsea Sailing ClubJack ButtersJames King
2017Stokes Bay Sailing ClubJames StaceyCatherine Elson
2018Brightlingsea Sailing ClubTom KingJames King

UK Inland Champion

YearLocationHelmCrew
2001Grafham Water Sailing ClubYves LodayJames Bird
2002Grafham Water Sailing ClubStuart GummerChris Rashley
2005Grafham Water Sailing ClubAlex FarrMarcelle Newbold
2006Grafham Water Sailing ClubChris RashleyElizabeth Jury
2009Grafham Water Sailing ClubHenry WhiteEd Redfearn
2010Grafham Water Sailing ClubHenry WhiteEd Redfearn
2013Grafham Water Sailing ClubGrant PiggottMegan Smith
2014Grafham Water Sailing ClubTony StokesWilliam Smith
2015Grafham Water Sailing ClubJack ButtersJames King
2016Grafham Water Sailing ClubMatthew McRobbieMolly Desorgher

UK Youth National Champion

YearNationLocationHelmCrew
2011 Flag of England.svg Hayling Island Sailing ClubRupert WhiteNicola Boniface
2012 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Pwllheli Sailing ClubAndrew SinclairJoshua Potts
2013 Flag of Scotland.svg Largs Sailing ClubTom BritzAbbie Hewitt
2014 Flag of England.svg Weymouth & Portland National Sailing AcademySam BarkerRoss McFarlane
2015 Flag of England.svg Weymouth & Portland National Sailing AcademySam BarkerVictoria Akhurst
2016 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Pwllheli Welsh National Sailing AcademyJack ButtersJames King
2017 Flag of England.svg Hayling Island Sailing ClubWilliam SmithAbigail Clarke

Notable Sailors

Chris Rashley: International Moth UK National Champion 2015

Rupert White: SL16 ISAF Youth World Championships Bronze Medal (Helm) 2011 and SL16 ISAF Youth World Championships Gold Medal (Helm) 2012

Nicola Boniface: SL16 ISAF Youth World Champion (Crew) 2011

Tom Britz: SL16 ISAF Youth World Championships Gold Medal (Crew) 2012

James Henson: SL16 ISAF Youth World Championships Bronze Medal (Helm) 2013

Oli Greber: SL16 ISAF Youth World Championships Bronze Medal (Crew) 2013

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References

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/class/Spitfire http://www.spitfiresailing.org.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spitfire-Sailing-UK/127859340600800 http://www.youthcat.org.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/UKCRAyouth