These tables are the first for 2019 - based on finishing positions at the end of the 2018 season. The Southern Ladder will be used to calculate the winner of the Dan Newton Trophy, which rewards the person who climbed the greatest number of steps up the ladder from now until the start of the UK Championships in September.

There are several likely candidates who have shown good progress in 2018. Grafham are strongly represented, with Julia Winter and Jane Scott showing a lot of racing potential and of course the 2018 winner was Jack Ginn, also from Grafham. Scottish sailors are becoming more enthusiastic for events south of the border too, with Duncan Greenhalgh and Stephen Thomas Bate scoring in 2018. It would be great if Groups running events in 2019 would allow visitors to borrow spare boats, which might encourage those, such as the Scots who have to travel a long way. One enthusiastic and talented Scot is Jessica Campbell, who also races Hansas and has performed well in the Scottish Topper fleet. She was 6th and Best Newcomer in our UK Championships,  second in the Hansa TT Series and was in the top ten at the 2018 Hansa World Championships so, if she decides to travel, she might give the English top 10 Challenger sailors something to think about!

There is definitely more interest in regattas at the moment. The 27 boat turnout for the 2018 Championships was very encouraging and, as well as Grafham, we have seen sailors racing from Rutland, Ogston and even Girton Sailing club near Newark so let’s hope 2019 is even better!