Ovington Boats and Ripe Craftinsure K1 Open at Broxbourne Sailing Club

by Graham Butler 27 Oct 17:26 UTC 25 October 2025

Andrew Wilson claims victory as gusty autumn winds bring tactical challenges and close racing to the final K1 event of the 2025 season.

Broxbourne Sailing Club hosted the final K1 Class Open Meeting of the 2025 season on Saturday, 25 October, proudly sponsored by Ovington Boats and Ripe Craftinsure. The event attracted a strong fleet of fifteen sailors from clubs across the country, with competitors travelling from as far afield as Datchet, Frensham, and Shoreham to enjoy a fine autumn day of close, competitive racing in the Lea valley.

A cool south-westerly breeze of 8–12 knots greeted the fleet, accompanied by bright intervals and the occasional passing shower — classic late-season conditions that kept sailors on their toes. Race Officer Pip Hudson, ably supported by the Broxbourne race team, set well-balanced courses that made full use of the shifting wind. His calm, efficient race management ensured three excellent races for the fleet, much to the appreciation of his younger brother, Jeremy Hudson, and all competitors.

Race 1 began in a gusty, unpredictable breeze that brought with it big shifts and equally big holes, creating true snakes and ladders racing. There were plenty of opportunities to gain — and lose — places on every leg. Leighton King (Netley) mastered the conditions best, finding pressure when it mattered and reading the shifts perfectly to establish an early lead. Andrew Wilson (Datchet) kept the pressure on throughout but couldn’t quite find a way through, finishing a close second. Behind them, Jeremy Hudson (Frensham and Barnt Green) climbed steadily through the fleet to take third, while Graham Butler (Datchet) and Richard Sims (Carsington) rounded out the top five.

The K1 once again proved itself the perfect boat for such gusty, shifty conditions. The ballasted keel dampens the rate of heel, keeping the boats stable and the sailors dry, allowing everyone to focus on tactics and enjoy the racing without fear of capsizing.

After a well-earned lunch break, the fleet returned to the water for Races 2 and 3, sailed back-to-back as the breeze strengthened and dark clouds gathered to the west.

Race 2 began in lively conditions, but midway through a sudden squall swept across the lake, bringing heavy rain and a sharp drop in temperature. Andrew Wilson kept his composure, showing excellent upwind pace to build a commanding lead that he held to the finish. Richard Sims maintained good speed to take second, while Leighton King secured another strong result in third. Further back, Graham Butler, Hilly King, and Geoff King enjoyed a close mid-fleet tussle, finishing within seconds of each other.

By the time Race 3 began, the squall had passed and the wind dropped significantly to around 6–8 knots, demanding a different set of skills. Staying in the pressure and managing boat speed became the key to success. Hilly King read the softening breeze beautifully, working the shifts and zephyrs with precision, only to be passed on the penultimate leg by both Jeremy Hudson and Andrew Wilson. Leighton King and Richard Sims again completed the leading group.

With results tight across the top, consistency proved key. Andrew Wilson’s excellent 2–1–2 scoreline earned him a well-deserved overall victory and the title of K1 Broxbourne Open Champion 2025. A delighted Jeremy Hudson took second on countback ahead of Leighton King, both finishing on equal points. Richard Sims (Carsington) placed fourth, and Graham Butler (Datchet) completed the top five after another solid showing. Further down the order, strong performances were seen throughout the fleet. Hilly King’s steady sailing earned her sixth overall, and Geoff King from Barnt Green secured seventh.

The coveted BYPP (Beat Your Predicted Place) prize went to Andrew Wilson with a score of 2.1, Doug McCusker who sailed consistently across the day and showed clear progress against the experienced fleet came second with a score of 1.17 and Jeremy Hudson third with a score of 0.75.

The Juniors Prize was awarded to Leighton King, recognising both his excellent results and his confident handling of the challenging conditions.

At the prize-giving, Andrew Wilson thanked Race Officer Pip Hudson, the safety crews, and all the volunteers at Broxbourne Sailing Club for their warm hospitality and efficient race management. Special thanks were also extended to event sponsors Ovington Boats and Ripe Craftinsure for their continued support of the K1 Class. The event provided a fitting finale to the 2025 K1 season — a day of shifting winds, tactical racing, and great camaraderie both on and off the water.

Overall Results:

Pos	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	Pts
1	Andrew Wilson	Datchet	2	1	2	3
2	Jeremy Hudson	Frensham/ Barnt Green	3	9	1	4
3	Leighton King	Netley	1	3	4	4
4	Richard Sims	Carsington	5	2	6	7
5	Graham Butler	Datchet	4	4	5	8
6	Hilly King	Datchet	6	6	3	9
7	Geoff King	Barnt Green	8	5	11	13
8	Dominic Hume	Shoreham	10	7	7	14
9	Ian Duke	Datchet	7	8	8	15
10	George Hoskins	Datchet	9	11	9	18
11	Jason King	Datchet	11	10	10	20
12	Doug McCusker	Shropshire	14	13	12	25
13	Martin Wayland	Broxbourne	13	12	DNC	25
14	Mike Beckett	Datchet	12	14	DNC	26
15	Richard Kurzyca	Broxbourne	DNF	DNF	DNC	32