Simon Payne… UK National, European and World Championship Moth Sailor …and Abarth Ambassador

Following a winter of gruelling and intensive training Simon Payne is in great shape to compete and continue as an Abarth Ambassador in 2012. With the Olympics and Paralympics this summer, sailing and yacht racing is going to hit the headlines and Simon, himself an ex-Olympic sailor, will be attempting to lift his third World Championship and sixth European Championship titles to firmly secure his place in the history books among some of the UK’s most accomplished sailors and sports men and women. Simon will be driving his Abarth Punto Evo to most of the events listed here with his Mach 2 Moth on the roof-rack so keep your eyes open if you are driving and see him near Hayling Island Sailing Club where he does most of his training.

Simon commented, “This is going to be a busy year for sure; competing in all the major championships demands a huge commitment in time – both on and off the water. Although age is a consideration I am in possibly the best position to fight for wins with my fitness great and my Mach 2 Moth fast. Training in the early part of 2012 has proved difficult with cold conditions and light winds but I’ve been hitting the gym and, as I said, I’m as fit as I’ve ever been. It is great having some great brands behind me, Zhik and Abarth are great partners in this program… thanks to them and family and friends for all the support – I’ll be doing my best to bring some trophies home. Good luck to all the GBR Sailors at the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics… this should be a great year for British sailing.” We will keep you updated on his progress here so please keep checking in… Good luck Simon, we’re all cheering you on!

2012 Goals
To win for the third time the Moth World Championship to be held at Campioni, Lake Garda, Italy in August.
To win for the 6th time the Moth Europeans Championships to be held at Campioni ,Lake Garda, Italy in August.
To win the Nationals Championships Restronguet SC Cornwall in June

Provisional 2012 racing calendar – UK Moth Racing and Grand Prix Series

Mar – Queen Mary – London GPS
Apr – Parkstone – Poole GPS
May – Ullswater – Penrith Inland Championships
Jun 21/24 – Restronguet – Falmouth National Championships
Aug – Parkstone – Poole Part of Poole Week
Aug – Campione; Lake Garda World Championships
Sep 08/09 – Castle Cove – Weymouth GPS
Oct – Hayling Island – Hampshire GPS
Sep – Paignton/Torbay GPS
Oct – Corus – Port Talbot GPS
GPS = Grand Prix series

Queen Mary Sailing Club – Race Report; UK Moth Grand Prix Series

Light wind racing at Queen Mary Sailing Club at the weekend on a day that looked as if Spring had also entered for the first Moth GP of the year. I managed both of my goals, one was to win some races and the other was to not get wet. Queen Mary is like a mile wide cereal bowl and launching a Moth is the same as flicking a cornflake from the rim. Still, we had four races in marginal foiling conditions. It was good practice though and a balance between low riding in the right direction or foiling in the wrong one. We’ve sailed championship races in these conditions before, so it was relevant and it was good for me to be racing people like Jason Belben and Chris Rashley, who was in his new boat. I scored a 2,1,1,1 which I was pleased with. My Mach2 was fast, I had the MSL10C/stiff mast rig and after a bit of tuning after the first race I was up really early and sailing tactically quite well in that stuff. That night, with the wind all but gone and the forecast even lighter for the next day I went back to the south coast. Others left too but I’m sure they raced yesterday. I really enjoyed the racing on Saturday and these little boats are great. Despite the v light winds I still hit just under 19 knots in my Mach2.

S
Simon Payne