Kestrel National Championship at Filey Sailing Club

 

Three days of very close racing, excellent race management, challenging P courses, good socials and the final outcome determined on the second last leg of the eight race series. It does not get better!

Teams from the south east, the midlands, the south coast and Scotland were welcomed to Filey SC. For a small voluntary club hosting a championship is a big effort and Filey did the Kestrel class proud. The friendly welcome and the help provided to competitors and families through the event was exceptional.

Day one provided the freshest conditions with three races in wind building from 11kn to 15kn. Race one was won by Sam McKay and James Vyse Chase SC in their first appearance at the nationals. Howie Enkel and Danni Tebbutt were second and went one better to take the second race. When Sam and James won the last race of the day, with Howie and Danni dropping to fourth, it looked as if they were on their way.

Saturday dawned with a very light south easterly which took some time to settle. The tricky conditions suited the Maylandsea Bay team, Howie and Danni and they posted first places in races four and five.

Tay duo Malcolm and Dannielle Worsley, last years winners, had been consistently in third place in every race until this point but they went better with a second in race four and then a first in race six.

Going into the last day the event was still very open. The Chase SC team and the Maylandsea Bay SC teams were tied on equal points. The Tay duo were a few points behind and would need two wins, with the others down the pack to retain the title.

Their was a further tie for fourth place between Richard LeMare and Stewart Murdoch.

And so it was, the Worsley's pulled out all the stops. They did what they had to do and won race seven. Howie and Danni were still ahead overall posting a second, but Sam and James had a painful one finishing seventh.

In the final race, the Worsley's were on fire extending their lead at every mark. Stuck in traffic Howie and Danni rounded the first mark in seventh place. They clawed back places on each round, but it was only on the last off wind leg that they were able to get to third position. Their third place finishing position gave them the championships by one point. Theirs was a popular win. They have nearly been there in several occasions, they sailed a consistent series, and showed great capacity to recover when not at the front.

Their crews race was won by Martin Walbank from Starcross.

The trophy for greatest improvement since the last championship went to Richard LeMare and Tom Moore.

The best placed all women team was Karen and Lauren Grice.

The Masters Trophy was awarded to Malcolm Worsley.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 Pts

1st 1574 HOWIE ENKEL DANNI TEBBUTT MBSC 2 1 ‑4 1 1 3 2 3 13

2nd 1638 MALCOLM WORSLEY DANNIELLE WORSLEY ROYAL TAY YACHT CLUB 3 3 3 2 ‑4 1 1 1 14

3rd 1628 SAM McKAY JAMES VYSE THE CHASE SAILING CLUB 1 2 1 3 2 2 ‑7 6 17

4th 1650 RICHARD LE MARE TOM MOORE EMSWORTH 4 4 2 5 6 4 4 ‑7 29

5th 1648 STEWART MURDOCH MHAIRI MURDOCH ROYAL TAY YACHT CLUB 5 6 ‑7 4 3 5 3 5 31

6th 1472 CHRIS GRICE KENNY HOBBS MAYLANDSEA ‑7 5 6 6 5 6 5 2 35

7th 408 KAREN GRICE LAUREN GRICE MAYLANDSEA SC 8 7 ‑9 9 9 7 6 4 50

8th 1636 STEVEN WORF DAVID HEARSUM CALSHOT SC 6 ‑10 8 7 7 9 8 8 53

9th 1652 MARK POLLARD MARTIN WALBANK STARCROSS SC ‑9 8 5 8 8 8 9 9 55

10th 1605 PAUL WILKINSON JANE O'BRIEN MAYLANDSEA BAY SAILING CLUB ‑10 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 69

RNIYC’s Karaboudjan Wins J/109 UK Nationals at Dartmouth

 

Peter McConnell and Aaron Goodman-Simpson’s Karaboudjan, racing under the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club burgee, scored four race wins to take the J/109 UK National title at Dartmouth.

Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club’s Karaboudjan, owned by Peter McConnell and Aaron Goodman-Simpson, has won the 2026 J/109 UK National Championship at Dartmouth.

The championship was sailed as part of Dartmouth Royal Regatta Sailing Week, with seven races completed for the 14-boat J/109 fleet.

Karaboudjan finished on 10 points after discard, three points clear of John Smart’s Jukebox on 13, with Oliver Love’s Frank 4 third on 14.

McConnell and Goodman-Simpson’s crew put together a notably consistent series, with their discarded third place equal to their worst result of the championship.

After third places in the opening two races, Karaboudjan took consecutive victories in Races 3 and 4.

A third in Race 5 was followed by two more bullets as the RNIYC entry won Races 6 and 7 to seal the championship.

The resulting scoreline of (3)-3-1-1-3-1-1 gave Karaboudjan four victories from seven starts and no counting result outside the top three.

The winning crew included Peter McConnell, Nick Meadow, Rory Comeford and Conor Galligan among its Irish contingent.

Karaboudjan was racing under the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club burgee, bringing the J/109 national title back across the Irish Sea.

Jukebox was the closest challenger and won Race 5, but a retirement in the final race was discarded as Smart's crew finished three points behind the champions.

Frank 4, helmed by Oliver Love, was another consistent performer, taking the Race 2 victory and finishing a further point behind Jukebox to complete the championship podium.

Tasar European Championship 2026

 

The Tasar fleet head to Hythe and Saltwood Sailing Club on the 3rd of September for their European Championships. The event will be held over three days with three races per day for a full series.

With a strong representation from Germany and Constantijn Udo's team from the Netherlands, there shall be some added interest in catching up with old acquaintances and making new friends

The forecast currently for the venue will be a breezy west - SW'ly Friday suiting the heavier teams leading into the usual 2026 summer experience for Saturday and Sunday. One thing will be certain, it will not be over till the Fat Lady sings on Sunday. Rankings are based on current form and the predicted weather for the series.

Depth of talent on show will be good with multiple 2026 champions from several classes taking part.

Sponsors for the series are Britannia Coaches, Barefoot Gardening, Folkestone and Hythe Council and Holiday Extras. With a full social scene ready from Thursday onwards, there will be plenty to keep the sailors occupied over the event.

Hamble Winter Series - Early Bird Entries close on September 4th!

 

The 45th Hamble Winter Series is coming to a Solent near you in October and those who value a bargain have until September 4th to snap up an Early Bird entry. There will be racing every Sunday from 4th October to 28th November, with one lay weekend on November 1st, to allow competitors to rack up some brownie points at home.

Entering the full series now will gain entry to the Hamble IRC Autumn Championships at no extra cost, on the weekend of 9th & 10th October.

The Hamble Winter Series is a great time test your IRC rating for next season. We are anticipating running three IRC Classes as usual to cater for any size of yacht. Once again, there will be day prizes every Sunday from our fabulous Day Sponsors and of course cheesy chips and beer.

To enter got to: www.hamblewinterseries.com

Waldringfield Cadet Week 2026

 

Waldringfield Sailing Club, on Suffolk's River Deben, throws open its Cadet Week for another year this Friday, with four days of racing, socialising and messing about on the water for the junior double-handed class.

Cadet Week keeps to a simple formula the club knows well: close racing across the fleets, a coached regatta division for newer crews, evening socials for sailors and parents alike, and the traditional Crews race, Ex-Cadets race and Old Gaffers race that are as much a fixture of the week as the sailing itself. Every competitor goes home with a goodie bag and an event rash vest.

Cadets were first sailed at Waldringfield in 1950, and the very first Waldringfield Cadet Week was competed for in 1957, making this year's event the 69th edition of a fixture that's run every summer since. Waldringfield Cadets remains one of the most active Cadet squadrons in the UK.

Schedule

Friday 28 August - Three trophy races in the afternoon, followed by a BBQ.

Saturday 29 August - Briefing at 11am followed by three event races. After sailing there are games on Church Field, and Curry for dinner in the clubhouse.

Sunday 30 August - Four event races followed by the Ex-Cadets and Old Gaffers races once racing is complete. After sailing we have the raffle draw, treasure hunt and quiz in the evening.

Monday 31 August - Crews race followed by two event races, with prize-giving scheduled for 15.30.

The event consists of nine races for the championship fleets, plus the traditional crews race and the ever-popular Ex-Cadets and Old Gaffers race, open to any pairing with a combined age of 70 or more.

Ethan Davey will be coaching the Regatta Fleet this Cadet Week. An ex-Cadet sailor himself, Ethan coached the GBR Cadet World Team at Plymouth in 2024 and is now a professional sailor, recently competing on the J-Cup series and the European Match Racing Tour. Expect some sharp coaching on the water, alongside skills sessions before and after racing!

Follow the action on Instagram at @waldringfieldcadets and on Facebook at waldringfieldcadetsquadron. Entries and the Notice of Race are available at waldringfieldsc.com

What to expect at this year's Southampton International Boat Show

 

A marine festival is returning to Southampton for 10 days of boating, water sports, and family fun.

The 57th edition of the Southampton International Boat Show will run from September 18 to 27 at Mayflower Park, promising a packed programme of activities and attractions for all ages.

Earle Stanner, chief executive of British Marine, said: "Every year, our aim is to get people out on the water and give them a brilliant day on the waterfront.

"Whether visitors are lifelong sailors or bringing the family for a day out on the water, we can't wait to welcome everyone to the show."

With approximately 500 watercraft and more than 700 marine brands on display, including a raft of UK and world debuts such as the Nautitech 41 Type S, Dragonfly 40 Carbon, Duchy 45, and Fairline Targa 58 GTO.

Visitors can step aboard everything from historic vessels to cutting-edge racing yachts. The event also offers free hands-on experiences through the popular Try-a-Boat programme, giving visitors the chance to test a range of boats.

There are also opportunities to try paddleboarding, kayaking, or diving in the Andark Dive Tank.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Mike Golding OBE, Pip Hare, and Monty Halls will deliver expert talks and demonstrations on the Boating Stage.

Following its 2025 debut, the Wooden Boat Stage returns with an expanded schedule, featuring talks from award-winning boatbuilder Daniel Lee and Mary Montagu-Scott, director of Buckler's Hard Maritime Museum.

A new addition to the 2026 show is the Key Yachting J/70 Invitational Cup, a competitive sailing event supported by the Royal Thames Yacht Club and British Marine.

12 teams will compete throughout the day, with winners crowned in front of the crowd.

Live music will fill The Shipyard every day, with headline performances from Blue Water Giants and Britain's Got Talent finalist The Gloria Estefan Experience.

Entry starts from £29 for adults, with free admission for children aged 15 and under.

Our Top 6 Areas for a quiet Mediterranean Sailing holiday

 

If peace and quiet are your priority, there are still some wonderful parts of the Mediterranean where you can sail for hours, anchor in empty bays and avoid the big flotillas. The trick is to avoid the famous hotspots and, if possible, avoid July and especially August. June and September are generally much quieter.

🥇 1. Alonissos & the Sporades — my favourite for tranquillity

This would be very high on my list for you.

The Alonissos Marine Park is particularly special: there are numerous small islands and islets, exceptionally clear water and secluded bays, with very little development. It's also a protected area for Mediterranean monk seals.

A lovely week could be:

Skiathos → Skopelos → Alonissos → Peristera → Kyra Panagia → Skopelos → Skiathos

You get considerably more greenery than the Cyclades, beautiful swimming spots and some wonderfully peaceful evenings at anchor.

🥈 2. Datça & Bozburun, Turkey — best for secluded bays

If your definition of a perfect sailing holiday is:

Sail for a couple of hours → find a completely quiet bay → swim → lunch on board → swim again → sunset → barbecue

…I'd seriously consider south-west Turkey.

The Datça peninsula is relatively remote and has a coastline packed with little bays accessible primarily by boat. Bozburun is another particularly peaceful area.

It also has a big advantage over the Cyclades: more sheltered sailing and fewer big charter crowds.

🥉 3. Lastovo, Croatia

If you like the idea of Croatia but don't want Hvar, Split or Dubrovnik crowds, look much further south.

Lastovo is one of Croatia's more remote inhabited islands, with a very different atmosphere from the busy Dalmatian hotspots. You can combine it with Mljet, Korčula and the Lastovo archipelago.

The drawback is that Croatia's most popular islands can become busy in July/August, so this is particularly attractive in June or September.

4. Small Cyclades, Greece

For a classic Greek sailing experience, I'd look at:

Naxos → Iraklia → Schinoussa → Koufonisia → Kato Koufonisi → Amorgos

Rather than the big-name Cyclades.

The tiny islands have a much slower pace, beautiful beaches and plenty of opportunities to anchor away from the main villages. Koufonisia is particularly lovely, although it has become more popular in recent years.

One caution: the Meltemi wind can be strong in July/August, so this is better suited to experienced sailors.

5. Dodecanese — Tilos, Lipsi & Astypalea

This is the Greek option I'd investigate if absolute tranquillity matters more than seeing the famous islands.

I'd particularly look at:

Kos → Nisyros → Tilos → Chalki → Alimia → Rhodes

or, for an even more remote feeling:

Kos → Lipsi → Leros → Patmos → Arki → Marathi

You can have lovely little harbour evenings without the scale of tourism found on Santorini/Mykonos.

6. Menorca

Don't overlook Spain.

Menorca is considerably more relaxed than Ibiza and much of Mallorca, with numerous beautiful calas and a more natural feel.

I'd concentrate on the north and east of Menorca, rather than basing the trip around the busiest southern beaches.

One important point: when you go matters almost as much as where

If you're able to choose your dates, I'd rank them:

🥇 September – warm sea, lovely weather, noticeably fewer boats

🥈 June – excellent combination of warmth, wind and relatively low crowds

🥉 May – wonderfully quiet, but sea can still be cool

😐 July – perfectly possible, but increasingly busy

❌ August – hardest month to achieve genuine solitude

The difference can be enormous. The Med in September can feel like a completely different place from the same anchorage in August.

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Osprey Open at Mumbles Yacht Club

 

As the National Championship at Mount's Bay fast approaches, seven teams gathered at Mumbles for some last-minute racing ahead of what promises to be a big four days in Cornwall next week, with significantly more wind than we had in Swansea Bay this weekend.

The race officer put on four excellent races on Saturday afternoon, with two laps per race so we could get them all in. All four races were extremely close across all seven boats entered. The wind was swinging about like mad, so picking the right side of the beat was critical.

Dave Griffiths & Maurice Clarke showed us the way with two 1sts and two 2nds, demonstrating good boat speed off the line and an ability to pick the shifts well. Alex & Nick Willis were also going well, taking race 2 and a couple of 2nds in races 1 and 4.

Sunday was a write-off, sadly, due to lack of wind, which allowed us all plenty of time to poke around the boat park to find out the latest set-up tips from the front of the fleet.

Thank you to all at Mumbles Sailing Club for a wonderful weekend - it's the most fantastic spot and only the second time I've sailed at Mumbles, and I love it. I hope we are back with you next year for another open meeting on the Welsh Riviera!

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Boat Name Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts

1 1365 Carpe Diem Dave Griffiths Maurice Clarke Tenby SC 1 ‑2 2 1 4

2 1291 WAIMANU Alex Willis Nick Willis Hayling Island SC 2 1 ‑3 2 5

3 1386 Farfar Paddy Lewis Mike Priddle Datchet Water SC 3 ‑5 1 3 7

4 1116 Lethal Weapon David Carroll Steven Carroll Deben YC 4 3 ‑5 4 11

5 1348 Jammy Dodger Oscar Chess Anthony Harvey Mumbles YC

                        5 ‑7 4 5 14

6 1328 Bingo Ros Downs David Downs Tata Steel SC ‑6 4 6 6 16

7 1336 Cariad Y Mor Jason Taylor Matthew Taylor Tata Steel SC ‑7 6 7 7 20

Solo Open at Oxford Sailing Club

 

Saturday 22nd Aug saw the return to the Solo Class to Oxford Sailing Club for an Open Meeting shared with the British Moths and Lightning 368s.

A small fleet of eight boats with helms of mixed experience and age range started race 1 in the light and variable conditions with Andrew Turberfield making the best start and crossing the fleet from the pin end. His boat number and name implemented perfectly. 4321 Go! However, Mark Maskell sailed a canny first beat to round in the lead from Tony Thresher and Andrew. By the end of the first lap of the Trapezoid course Mark and Tony had pulled clear. By the start of the 3rd lap Tony had closed a little on Mark who decided that left was the way up the beat which gave Tony the chance to work to the right and round in the lead at the top. He then managed to extend his lead on the next run which he held to take the win with Mark in 2nd. Mike Barnes in Top Drive came through in a tight finish to take 3rd.

Race Officer George Barker got the 2nd race under way quickly in the knowledge that the wind was due to drop later. Tony made the best of the first beat towards the right hand side and rounded mark 1 in the lead with Richard Willetts and Mark chasing. Tony extended once more on the run and won the race. Behind the fleet got very spread out due to the variable conditions across the reservoir. Staying in the channels of wind whether by luck or judgement was at a premium. Once again Mark came 2nd with Michelle Collier-Brooks using her local knowledge in a borrowed boat 3rd. As the rest of the fleet finished and made for the shore for lunch the wind began to fade and we wondered whether a 3rd race would be possible?

With the clock nearing 2pm the lunchtime chatter of sailors from the three classes was interrupted by George who told us that he and his crew were aiming to start the 3rd race at 2.15! This seemed unlikely and one or two decided de-rigging was a better bet than rigging and getting on the water. Be that as it may most of the sailors found their way to the starting area to find a gentle breeze as the morning out of the North that eventually stabilised sufficiently to get the racing under way.

Mark Maskell made the most of being able to tack out early onto port in good wind and lead at the first mark from Richard Willetts. There then followed 2 laps of very light wind racing that tested sailors patience and ability to pick up every little bit of pressure available to them. In the end Mark held his nerve and negotiated the conditions best to take the win from Tony Thresher who found some extra pressure just before the last mark to sail away from Mike Barnes and round inside Richard to take 2nd.

All in all an excellently run Meeting which we hope the Solos will be able to join again next year. Given a better forecast and scheduling the meeting as part of the Solo Class Midland Series a larger number of Solos will travel to what is, even with the drought this year, a good sized inland water.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Boat Name Helm R1 R2 R3 Pts

1st 4927 Stimela Tony Thresher 1 1 ‑2 2

2nd 6007 Pussy Galore Mark Maskell ‑2 2 1 3

3rd 3847 Top Drive Mike Barnes 3 ‑4 4 7

4th 4978 T T Special Michelle Collier‑Brooks 4 3 ‑6 7

5th 5687 Stiflers Mom Richard Willetts 5 ‑6 3 8

6th 4321 Go Andrew Turberfield ‑6 5 5 10

7th 6019 Graham Bowser 7 7 (DNC) 14

8th 4358 Grendel Nick Clarke ‑8 8 7 15

100th Anniversary Norfolk Punt Championship at the Norfolk Punt Club

 

The weekend of the 22nd-23rd of August saw sailors from across the country and beyond congregating on Barton Broad in Norfolk to compete in the Norfolk Punt Championship, this year's competition having added significance and celebratory atmosphere as the Norfolk Punt Club celebrates its 100 year anniversary.

With 35 entries this was one of the most well attended and largest gatherings of these special boats in recent memory if not ever, and made for a unique snapshot of almost all of the major innovations and developments in small boat design over the last 100 years. From clinker built gaff rigged boats, through to the introduction of Bermuda rigs, plywood stitch and glue post ww2 'hard chines', glass fibre, and moulded Phil Morrison design boats in the 90s, the introduction of carbon fibre rigs to the more experimental contemporary boats all represented on the water. Everyone competes on a well established handicap system allowing a fair and level playing field for all ages of boat. This year there was a notable presence of recently restored re-found and re-built boats with Tom Scott having restored number 57 'Avocet', originally built by his father in 1970, John Friend saving number 14 'Pintail' (1929) from an almost certain bonfire, Paul Bowen relaunching 21 'Flight' also originally built in 1929 and the welcome return to the water of former championship winning boat number 90 'Saker' built in 1995 that had been hidden away in storage for the last 25 years.

Having made their way out onto the Punt Clubs floating clubhouse situated in the middle of Barton Broad sailors were met with a gusty northerly breeze running straight down the length of the broad. PRO Kath Mason sensibly gauged the memory capacity of the fleet laying an unusually simple (in Broadland terms) windward leeward course running the full length of the broad incorporating static obstacles (the clubhouse and island, not to mention reed-beds flanking the broad) and less static obstacles in the form of holiday makers and recreational traffic on the water! A committee boat start line was set spanning almost the entire navigable width of the broad ready for racing to commence.

After the handicaps had been applied and discards taken into account Andrew and Robert Friend sailing Blackbird retained their 2025 title as overall champions and winners of the 'Progress cup' for fastest boat over the water, second place overall and winners of the Hard Chine Salver were Ed Clifford and Alex Standley sailing Greylag, followed by Charlie Stewart and Alice Boreham in third place overall sailing Snow Goose. The Broadshaven cup for traditional boats was awarded to Simon and Rachel Clayton sailing Decoy. Competition in the Cuckoo Cup for under 18 helms and crews was tight with the overall trophy being awarded to helm and crew Henry Drew and Finn Elson sailing Goosander, crew John Whitefoot in Comet took second and crews' (or should that be sirens?) Ella Elson and Emily Drew Took third singing (and sailing) Snark. A special centenary print was also awarded to Jonny Rudd and Wolfie in Flamingo for keeping the safety crews entertained in the breeze on Saturday.

Overall it was a fantastic weekend of racing, camaraderie and celebration of this very special class and club. Next up is the Punt Club open regatta and NBYC Punt open meeting followed by the end of season downriver Athene Cup race in October.

Overall Results:

Pos Boat Name Sail No Helm Crew Handicap R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Pts

1 Blackbird 74 A. Friend R. Friend 847 1 1 2 15 4 8

2 Graylag 50 E. Clifford A. Standley 884 2 3 6 1 5 11

3 Snowgoose 96 C. Stewart L. Boreham 884 6 5 1 4 2 12

4 Decoy 40 S. Clayton R. Clayton 926 3 2 8 2 15 15

5 Wild Goose II 103 J. Pye C. Drew 884 8 7 7 5 3 22

6 Comet 102 R. Whitefoot J. Whitefoot 884 4 10 4 8 11 26

6 Saker 90 R.Anderton R. Daniels 847 17 20 5 3 1 26

8 Woodpecker 99 M. Scott H. Scott 884 10 4 10 6 25 30

9 Jackdaw 100 M. Dixey A. Hare 847 21 8 3 14 6 31

10 Redwing 98 R. Reddington S. MacKay 884 12 19 9 7 9 37

11 Gamecock 37 R. Owen J. Owen 952 7 6 16 12 19 41

12 Shoveller 61 W. Johnston K. Davy 884 16 14 13 10 14 51

13 RazorBill 73 R. Parker R. Snelling 879 5 11 36 9 29 54

14 Swallow II 35 E. Daniels W. Daniels 893 36 9 18 18 10 55

15 Pipit 58 J. Drew P. Leventon 884 9 25 14 26 8 56

16 Rushlight 27 C. Dixey S. Clayton 976 11 13 24 19 18 61

17 Snark 49 M. Elson E.Elson & E.Drew 884 13 15 21 20 16 64

18 Grebe 66 C. Haslam H. Hardy 884 18 16 20 24 13 67

19 Goldeneye 25 D. Roe K. Dulieu 996 36 36 12 13 7 68

19 Merlin 82 D. Wilton J. Clarke 847 14 12 27 25 17 68

21 Avocet 57 T. Scott T.Riviere 884 36 21 11 11 26 69

22 Wahoo 106 P. Gliddon J. Gliddon 856 22 28 15 21 12 70

23 Cavendar 32 D. Conway H. Bedford‑Payne 926 36 18 17 23 20 78

24 Comorant 88 B. Sawyer E. Bolton 847 20 27 28 16 23 86

25 Goosander 89 H. Drew F. Elson 925 23 22 23 30 24 92

26 Peregrine 86 N. Bradshaw E. Vaughan 847 15 29 30 32 22 96

26 Elver (P) 1 H. Scott 1010 36 22 22 22 28 96

28 Flamingo 92 J. Rudd B. O'Dwyer 925 24 17 29 28 30 98

28 White Eagle 95 J. Holland G. Smith 847 19 23 25 31 32 98

30 Prawn 19 B. Glover A. Glover 1117 36 36 26 17 21 100

31 Grayling 81 M. O'Dwyer M. Lovell 884 25 26 31 34 33 115

32 Martin 46 K. Gill S. Learmonth 1023 36 36 36 27 27 126

33 Pintail 14 J. Friend S. Jenner 1117 36 36 19 36 36 127

34 Rainbow Trout 75 T. Vincent H. Leverick 884 36 36 36 33 31 136

35 Shuck (P) 28 C. Balls P. Durrant 996 36 36 36 29 36 137

Irish Griffin Graduates Point Way as RORC Opens 2027 Pathway

 

The Royal Ocean Racing Club is opening its 2027 Griffin Offshore Pathway to a new generation of young sailors, with recent Irish successes providing evidence of where the programme can lead.

Dublin sailor Nicole Hemeryck and Cork's Joe Griffiths, both Griffin graduates, have just completed the 1,805-nautical-mile RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race aboard Rob Craigie's Sun Fast 3600 Bellino, taking a provisional third place in IRC Two despite racing the final 200 miles without a mainsail after breaking their boom.

Kerry sailor Eimer McMorrow-Moriarty has also used Griffin to develop her offshore racing career. The 22-year-old Fenit sailor joined the programme after already accumulating extensive ocean experience and was selected for the eight-strong Griffin youth team for this month's Round Britain and Ireland Race.

Against that Irish backdrop, RORC is now preparing to recruit sailors aged 18–30 internationally for its 2027 programme, with applications opening following an online launch on 22 September.

From Irish Dinghy Sailing to Offshore Racing

McMorrow-Moriarty's route illustrates the type of progression Griffin is intended to provide.

She began sailing at Tralee Bay Sailing Club before progressing through Optimists, Lasers and 29ers and into Team Ireland squads. She subsequently accumulated more than 20,000 offshore miles, including a circumnavigation, before turning to Griffin as a means of developing the competitive side of her offshore sailing.

As previously reported by Afloat, she described Griffin as the missing link between having offshore experience and knowing how to turn it into a racing career.

"My miles have given me such a solid foundation, but Griffin was like a golden nugget," McMorrow-Moriarty said. "I could see this was how I progress, how I get into offshore racing. It was the pathway."

Her 2026 programme included RORC races such as the Cervantes Trophy, Myth of Malham, Morgan Cup and Channel Race in preparation for the Round Britain and Ireland Race.

Offshore Experience Not Essential

For the next intake, however, RORC stresses that applicants do not need anything approaching McMorrow-Moriarty's offshore mileage.

The Griffin Offshore Pathway is open to sailors aged 18–30, including dinghy sailors, keelboat racers, students and club sailors as well as those already gaining offshore experience.

Selection will focus on attitude, commitment, teamwork and potential rather than simply the number of offshore miles already completed.

Successful applicants will enter a structured programme combining training, coaching and mentoring with participation in RORC offshore racing, weekend training sessions and potential opportunities to compete overseas in partner events such as the Nastro Rosa.

Griffin Graduates Making Their Mark

The progress of Hemeryck and Griffiths provides another Irish example of what can follow.

Both moved on from Griffin to race aboard Bellino with RORC Commodore Deb Fish in this month's Round Britain and Ireland Race.

Their crew remained competitive despite breaking the boom and sailing approximately 200 miles to Cowes without a mainsail, finishing with a provisional IRC Two podium position.

Meanwhile, the Griffin team's own Sun Fast 3600 completed the same circuit with its young crew shortly before 7am on Friday, 21 August.

More than 100 young sailors were involved in the Griffin Pathway during 2026.

September Webinar Opens 2027 Applications

RORC will formally launch the 2027 programme with a Zoom webinar at 1900 on Tuesday, 22 September.

Current and recent Griffin sailors will discuss their experiences, while organisers will outline the 2027 programme, selection procedure, commitment required and application process.

Applications will open following the webinar and remain open for two weeks.

Prospective applicants and those interested in supporting the programme can register through the Griffin 2027 launch webinar.

The programme is also seeking support from RORC members and the wider offshore community through boats for training and racing, sails and equipment, financial contributions, volunteering and mentoring.

2026 Hunter Impala National Championship at the Torbay Royal Regatta

 

The 2026 Hunter Impala National Championship arrived in Torbay as part of the Torbay Royal Regatta, bringing together ten entries from across the South Coast and beyond. Nine boats ultimately made it to the start line, creating a competitive fleet that showcased everything that makes the Impala class so enduringly popular.

While many sailors arrived hoping for classic sea-breeze conditions, Torbay had other ideas. The summer heatwave that had gripped the country continued throughout the championship weekend, delivering wall-to-wall sunshine, warm temperatures and, most significantly, light and often elusive winds. It was the sort of weather that rewards local knowledge, sharp tactical awareness and patient boat handling.

For the crews, success depended upon reading the bay correctly. Finding the subtle lifts, spotting the slightest bends in the breeze and keeping the Impalas moving through patches of pressure became the order of the day. Add in the occasional lumpy sea state left over from offshore swell, and competitors faced a championship that was far from straightforward.

Despite the challenging conditions, six races were successfully completed, providing an excellent test of consistency and versatility. At the front of the fleet, Hound Dog, helmed by Flynn Luxton of Royal Southern Yacht Club, proved the standout performer. A race record of 1, 3, 2, 3, 1 and 1 left the crew with an impressive nett score of just eight points and the national title.

Their ability to maintain boat speed in the lighter airs and stay out of trouble across the regatta ultimately made the difference.

Second place went to Atalanta, sailed by Stuart Higgins from Flushing Sailing Club. After a disappointing opening race, Atalanta bounced back strongly with a race win in the second contest and remained firmly in the hunt throughout the championship, finishing comfortably in the runner-up position and with their highest ever finish at the Nationals.

Completing the podium was Magic, helmed by Daryl Conyers of Plymouth Yacht Club. Magic demonstrated excellent pace at various stages of the event, including a race victory, and remained a constant threat to the leaders until the final day.

The battle behind the leading trio was equally intense. Rainbow, sailed by Mel Sharp, secured fourth place, narrowly ahead of Nyala and Shoestring, who ended the regatta tied on points. Further back, Zulu, Alchemy and Scallywag all enjoyed moments of success in what proved to be an exceptionally competitive fleet.

Nyala were also trophy winners, collecting the Benita Bowl, which was for the lowest scoring boat across the fleet competing with the most female crew.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Boat Name Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Pts

1st GBR9537 Hound Dog Flynn Luxton Royal Southern YC 1 ‑3 2 3 1 1 8

2nd GBR9567 Atalanta Stuart Higgins Flushing SC ‑8 1 6 1 2 6 16

3rd GBR9579 Magic Daryl Conyers Plym YC 6 2 1 4 4 (OCS) 17

4th GBR9601 Rainbow Mel Sharp Flushing SC 4 ‑6 5 2 3 5 19

5th GBR9553 Nyala Stewart Bowen Parkstone YC 2 ‑7 4 5 7 2 20

6th GBR9552 Shoestring Tye Wichard RCYC 3 5 3 ‑6 6 3 20

7th GBR9609 Zulu Kevin Palfreeman Tony Kehoe Plym YC 5 4 7 ‑8 5 4 25

8th GBR9608 Alchemy Omer Gurdogan Hamble River SC 7 ‑8 8 7 8 7 37

9th GBR9595 Scallywag Michael Dixon Exe SC ‑9 9 9 9 9 8 44

10th GBR9561 Uproar Dave Owens Mandy Owens Flushing SC (DNC) DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 55

Beyond the results, the championship highlighted exactly why Torbay remains one of the UK's premier sailing venues. Its stunning natural amphitheatre, spectacular scenery and famously tricky race area demanded the very best from sailors and race officials alike. In light winds, the differences between success and frustration could be measured in metres, making every shift and every puff of breeze critically important.

It is also important to recognise the outstanding work of Race Officer and the entire White Course race management team. In a week where light, shifting winds and tricky sea conditions tested everyone's patience and judgement, the team delivered a superb championship.

The fleet left Torbay with plenty of stories to tell: snakes and ladders on the leaderboard, gains and losses on every leg, and countless discussions about which side of the bay paid best. Most importantly, the event once again demonstrated the health of the Hunter Impala class. 9 Boats competing, close racing and a wide spread of well-sailed boats provided an excellent championship and a fitting showcase for one of Britain's most respected one-design keelboats, with a competitive future ahead.

Irish Flying Fifteen Western Championship 2026 at Rossaveel, Connemara

 

Flying Fifteens Connemara hosted a cracking Western Championships. On Friday evening the visiting sailors were invited to race a pair of legendary Galway Hookers setting up a weekend of tight racing and good company.

Saturday began under a dead-flat mirror finish. Race Officer Brian Matthews had his work cut out, but his patience paid off.

Race 1 was a bit one-sided but getting a score banked early was key. As the breeze settled into decent sailing conditions for races 2 and 3, local pair Niall O Brien and Dermot Flaherty (4092) found their stride, stringing together back-to-back bullets.

Race 4 was held with the breeze falling away, Ian Mathews and Keith Poole (4093) snatching the win just before the course was shortened.

Back on shore, Rossaveel and Carraroe proved to be a fantastic host venue. Saturday's championship dinner was top-class, giving everyone a chance to catch up and enjoy proper Connemara hospitality.

A brief postponement on Sunday morning gave way to a light breeze with the fifth and final race going to Emma Pierce and Ian Smyth (3892) - sealing the Silver fleet victory.

Overall Western Championship honours went to local hosts Niall O'Brien and Dermot Flaherty (4092) Andrew McCleery and Colin Dougan (4120) second overall, with Lee Statham and Andy Paul (4070) in third.

The Bronze Fleet victory went to Niall Bradshaw and Rory Scullion (3895).

A highlight of the prize-giving was the presentation of the Ben Mulligan Trophy which was awarded to TJ Clarke.