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Sunday, 28 December 2025
The Lark Class looks forward to a bumper 2026
The Lark Class has had a really strong 2025, but 2026 already looks to be even stronger.
40 to 50 boats expected for the Lark Nationals in Fowey (26th-29th July 2026)
With 32 boats already pre-entered for the 2026 Musto Lark National Championship and over 40 boats already having booked their accommodation, it is set to be largest Lark Nationals in over a decade . People are returning to the Class who left 20 years ago, more youth teams getting boats, and lots of local interest. This will build on the 33 entries in Abersoch in 2025, and the Class has booked Looe in 2027 and Weymouth in 2028.
Newcomers to the Class can buy a competitive second hand boat that could win an Open Meeting or get you in the Top 10 at the Nationals (Yachts & Yachting Gear Guide). This is attracting a new generation of Lark sailors from youth classes, those leaving university, and others attracted by the low cost of a new boat and strong competition. The Class also has growing Club fleets at Barnt Green, Frensham, Shustoke, South Staffs, Netley, Weymouth, Waldringfield and Banbury and Littleton, and a growing interest in refurbishing old Larks found in dinghy parks and eBay/Facebook for next to nothing.
The Class is making a welcome return to the RYA Dinghy Show in Farnborough from 21st - 22nd February 2026. We will have a brand new Synergy boat on the stand, so why not come and find out how you can try a Lark and get involved.
The future is bright for the Lark Class as it looks forward to a phenomenal 2026, why not come and see what you are missing, visit larkclass.org.
Saturday, 27 December 2025
Friday, 26 December 2025
2026 IRC European Championship Notice of Race now available on the Poole Regata website
The enviable track record Poole Regatta has built for hosting unmissable regattas continues in 2026, and the two Notices of Race are now published on the regatta website for these prestigious events to be held in May - the IRC European Championship, and the IRC Southern Area Championship as part of the International Paint Poole Regatta.
In the IRC classes, already 100 boats have registered their interest and a total IRC entry of 125 to 150 boats is expected. Competitors have a lot to look forward to:
22 - 25 May (4 days)
IRC rated yachts with Endorsed Certificates racing for the IRC European Championship with racing scheduled in both Poole Bay and Bournemouth Bay.
23 - 25 May (3 days)
IRC rated yachts racing for the IRC Southern Area Championship
Plus a 2 Handed Class
Racing will be over 5 separate race areas and all racing will be managed to the highest standard by experienced race management teams, with a strong emphasis on fair competition and quality racing.
A full shoreside programme and preferential berthing arrangements complete the welcoming environment for competitors. Read more on the IRC website.
Entries will open soon, and you may register your interest now on the regatta website, pooleregatta.co.uk
Thursday, 25 December 2025
Wednesday, 24 December 2025
2026 Fireball Worlds Entry Open Now
The Notice of Race has been published on the Official Notice Board of the event website (2026.fireballworlds.com) and entries are now being accepted.
Entries made up to 30th April 2026 are eligible for the Early Bird entry fee.
About the 2026 Fireball Worlds
The event is being hosted by Royal Torbay Yacht Club and is preceded by the UK Nationals. The Nationals run from Monday 20th to Friday 24th July (including inspection/measurement days) and the Worlds from Saturday 25th to Friday 31st July (including inspection/measurement days).
The event website can be found at 2026.fireballworlds.com and contains the provisional schedule and details of accommodation options. Further content will be added to the site in the lead up to the event.
Tuesday, 23 December 2025
Flying Fifteen Review of the Year
The 2025 UK Flying Fifteen season will be remembered for exceptionally close racing across variable conditions at all five major events. Overall, 104 boats contested at least one 2025 championship event, including a robust National Championship fleet of 65 boats. While turnout at the four regional championships was naturally lower than last year's World Championship qualification series, participation remained strong for the post-Covid era with sailors appreciating the close tactical racing that the Flying Fifteen offers.
Many congratulations are due to this year's event winners. Ben McGrane, racing the evergreen 4002, secured two major titles: the Inland Championship at Draycote Water, sailing with Scott Dawson, and the National Championships in Weymouth, sailing with Russ Clark, in the lead up to the Worlds.
Elsewhere, former World Champion Steve Goacher took the Northern Championship at Windermere in 4021 with long-time crew Tim Harper. Class legend Greg Wells mastered trying conditions at Hayling Island to win the Southern Championship with David Tulloch in 4112. Finally, the Scottish Championship was awarded to Mike Preston, who scored three bullets with Karl Sloane in 3802 at Loch Tummel.
It is a testament to the build quality of the modern Flying Fifteen that the Scottish Championship was won by a 22 year old boat, while the National-winning hull was launched back in 2012. And on the subject of older boats the Classic & Silver Championships, now held separately from the Gold fleet events, continues to thrive. This year the event was sailed at Dovestone SC and saw Andrew McKee & Emily Kippen win the Classic division with Tim Allen & Iain McNeill taking victory in the Silvers.
Finally, special mention goes to the season's "frequent fliers": Adrian Tattersall and John Mathie (4130) who contested all five events, followed by Gary Stuart and John Wayling (3903) as well as David McKee and Mal Hartland (4065) who each competed in four.
2026 promises another exciting season of championship racing, culminating in the Europeans in Mallorca:
Inland Championship - Grafham Water Sailing Club (18-19 April)
Southern Championships - Royal Torbay Yacht Club (16-17 May)
Scottish Championships - Loch Earn (tbc)
National Championships - Tees & Hartlepool Yacht Club (9-12 July)
Northern Championships - Ullswater Yacht Club (5-6 September)
European Championships - Club De Mar, Mallorca (6-11 October)
Monday, 22 December 2025
Burghfield Sailing Club offers new Winter Membership for 2026 Frostbite Series
Burghfield Sailing Club (near Reading) is looking forward to its annual frostbite series, which runs from 4th January to 8th March 2026.
This year Burghfield SC is offering a new winter membership at a reduced rate to allow sailors from other clubs to join the frostbite racing.
The winter membership offer covers the 10 weeks of the frostbite series, plus the remaining days up to the end of March, at a cost of £75, including boat parking. All dinghy classes are welcome apart from catamarans, foilers and twin trapeze boats.
There will be two races each Sunday; the morning race will include starts for spinnaker boats, fast handicap, slow handicap and Solos. When the wind direction allows the spinnaker class will sail a windward/leeward course. In the afternoon there will be a second race where we have the excitement of all classes starting together.
All levels of racers are welcome, with good competition expected in Oks, ILCAs (Lasers), Blazes and Solos. Our café will be open for breakfasts and hot lunches, ideal before and after a winter's morning race.
Burghfield SC is located west of Reading in Theale, close to Junction 12 of the M4.
This offer is a great opportunity to polish up your skills over the winter and hit the ground running for the 2026 season!
To apply for winter membership or get further details please contact office@burghfieldsailing.org; for general information about the club please visit www.burghfieldsailing.org.
Notts County Sailing Club First of the Year Race 2026
Notts County Sailing Club has an annual First of the Year race, a well known tradition going back decades.
Sunday, 21 December 2025
Female 29er: Edwards and Hiscocks hold on for gold
The female 29er top two were also separated by one point, with Great Britain's Lila Edwards and Amelie Hiscocks holding off the challenge of Poland's Antonina Puchowska and Alicja Dampc.
The British pair finished third in the opening race and their 18th-placed finish in the final contest was discarded, while Puchowska and Dampc recorded back-to-back runners-up finishes.
Edwards said: "We have worked so hard and I am so glad it has paid off.
"Our aim going out there was to keep it simple and sail the best race we could. In the first one, we managed to do that, the second one went not quite to plan. But luckily we had done enough."
Hiscocks said: "It doesn't feel real yet. It is great for the whole team, we have won some other medals and had a bit of a celebration in the water. It hasn't sunk in and I don't think it will for a while."
Bronze went to Argentina's Carolina Barcelo and Agustina Arguelles ahead of French pair Victoire Papin and Tsippora Jouan, who won both races on the final day.