Hadron H2 National Championships 2018

The championships of the carbon composite singlehander dinghy were hosted by Herne Bay SC on 7-9 September. Seven races were sailed in winds of 10-20 knots. The 2018 national champion is Ian Sanderson, from Keyhaven YC.

[@DeeHutchy]

Great video of a wonderful boat. I've always wondered why the H2 isn't offered with a jib option for two up sailing. Maybe need an alternative mast step a little further back I guess.

[@hadronh2classassociation690]

Hutchy, thanks for your comment and your interesting question. I can answer it by asking another question: could you put a co-driver in an F1 racing car? When the H2 floats on its designed waterline it displaces sufficient volume of water to support the weight of the boat plus its one crew. Adding a second person would immerse the boat so much that its performance would be ruined. Yes, two kids would be OK but the cockpit layout is unsuitable for two persons and the mast would need to be placed further aft to take a foresail and remain in balance, so a new deck and cockpit mouldings would be required. HOWEVER, I am working on a new Merlin Rocket design which will have many of the characteristics of the H2, so keep an eye out on my KZbin channel for future developments!

[@DeeHutchy]

@@hadronh2classassociation690 Absolutely. As I thought. Thing is though, the new Merlin will be yet another three sail design will it not? What the UK needs, with its many river and small lake and estuary sailing clubs, is a new state of the art two sail two man dinghy. Mike Lyons tried it with the Icon (a one design centre board version of the Aussie NS14) but the timing of the launch in relation to the economy killed it. Shame. Can't sail Enterprises for another half century. The H2 hull is the nearest starting point for a new NS14 for the UK market.

[@hadronh2classassociation690]

@@DeeHutchy Yes, something along the lines of the NS14/Icon would be a very good option. But the reality is that 2-person dinghy sailing is in decline as people (especially the older ones) turn to singlehanders. I have in fact already sketched out a two-person version of the H2, which I have called (unsurprisingly) the H3.

[@DeeHutchy]

@@hadronh2classassociation690 if it's a two sail boat I for one would be interested. Sadly singlehanders are, through lack of sailors looking for a volunteer crew, killing off sailing in the UK.

[@rupertmiller4718]

@@DeeHutchy I have thought about this quite a bit. Having sailed a swallow , 3 man keelboat for years at itchenor. We have 2 H2s at itchenor though I haven’t sailed one yet. Running and organising the Swallow is time consuming and expensive- nothing like a cruiser mind you but I could buy a new H2 every 5 years with my share of the running costs . Having to,organise crew each week and liaise, fit around various other commitments is a chore whereas with a single hander you,can just decide to go sailing that day!