2026 Fireball Worlds - The Greatest Show on Earth

 

The Fireball World Championships 2026 in Torbay are almost upon us, and the race to become the fastest, cleverest and luckiest sailors on the planet is well under way.

Following the revolutionary 2025 redesign, Fireballs have become undeniably sleeker and sexier. The new boats look absolutely fantastic: carbon is now in the hulls, the rear decks have slimmed down, and the one-string raking systems have made life so easy that even some helms can now adjust their rigs without asking their crews which bit to pull.

With teams arriving from all corners of the globe, Torbay is preparing for one of the biggest and most fiercely contested sailing events of the year. Entries are rapidly approaching the magical 90-boat barrier. That's 180 sailors, thousands of tactical opinions and at least three arguments over whether the wind has gone left.

Of course, this isn't just a UK benefit gig... half the fleet will be coming from overseas. The local Torquay watering holes are importing Fosters in industrial quantities because we all know that the Aussies don't give a XXXX for any other type of beer, the Continentals will be arriving en masse....as long as they can find the M3 junction off the M25, and the Irish are confident of a win because, well, how can you compete with the luck of the Irish?

Off the water, there will be enough stories, rumours and questionable race analyses to keep the bar entertained long into the evening. Friendships will be strengthened, excuses perfected and at least one sailor will claim they "would have won if it hadn't been for that shift."

For anyone thinking about joining the fun, entries are still open, but boats are becoming harder to find than a Fireball sailor admitting they were over the line.

So what are you waiting for?

Whether you're a seasoned World Champion, a club hero, or someone who just likes going very fast with a friend while getting spectacularly wet, Torbay 2026 is the place to be.

90 boats... fifteen nations... countless stories... and somewhere among them, one crew will earn the title of Fireball World Champion and everyone else will simply blame the tide.

Come and join the greatest show in dinghy sailing because life's too short to sail boring boats.

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).

More information can found at: 2026.fireballworlds.com

Royal Highland YC Launches Season With Mull Muster

 

Perfect spring weather provided an ideal backdrop as Royal Highland Yacht Club members launched their 2026 sailing season with two popular gatherings on Scotland's west coast. The season opened with a Social Sailing Network cruise to the annual Mull Music Festival in Tobermory.

Yachts arrived on 24 April and took advantage of the harbour facilities provided by Tobermory Harbour Association. The three-day festival, held across venues throughout the Isle of Mull, featured a wide range of Scottish music from folk to contemporary rock and dance. Three days of uninterrupted sunshine helped make the event a memorable start to the season both afloat and ashore.

Just two weeks later, members gathered again for the club's annual opening muster in Loch Spelve. Yachts began arriving on 8 May for a pre-muster barbecue ahead of the main weekend event. While strong katabatic winds tested crews at anchor, sunny conditions continued and numbers steadily built throughout the weekend.

By Saturday evening, 50 RHYC yachts were anchored in Loch Spelve.

A highlight of the muster was the traditional gathering ashore at Inverlussa Mussel Farm, hosted by Douglas and Helen Wilson. Members enjoyed locally produced mussels from the Grade A waters of Loch Spelve while renewing friendships and discussing plans for the season ahead.

The club's next muster will take place at Lochaline on the Morvern Peninsula on 11 July. A fundraising collection during the gathering raised £1,107 for the Tobermory RNLI Station.

Ospreys at the Tenby Regatta

 

Seven Ospreys attended the Open Meeting at Tenby over the weekend of 13th and 14th June as part of the Tenby Regatta. After weeks of cold and rain Pembrokeshire lived up to its reputation and it was a pleasant weekend of warm and sunny weather.

Three races around the cans were held on Saturday with the "Round Caldey Island" long distance race scheduled for Sunday.

The breeze on Saturday was North Westerly coming over the land, varying in strength and direction giving a combination of champagne sailing interspersed with bits of high frustration.

The first race was definitely at the frustrating end of the spectrum with several examples of great skill in picking out the shifts to gain places followed by great misfortune while sailing into a hole watching others overtake. Dave Griffiths and Maurice Clarke won the race to retain the magnificent Galleon trophy. Fortunately Mrs Griffiths will not have to find anything else to fill the gap on the mantelpiece.

The second race was largely champagne. Ted Lewis and Lucas Boissevain led around the first lap but had clearly forgotten about the tide after a lay off from sailing. Their attempt to lasso the leeward mark with a spinnaker sheet and cause mayhem behind would have been successful but the mark tipped over and released the sheet. Dan Jackson and Matt Goldwait were clearly enjoying the conditions, in fact so much that they didn't want it to stop and instead of crossing the finish line sailed on for an additional lap. Strangely they were awarded first place - perhaps there is a local variation in Rule 28!

Just as it looked like the breeze may have settled it reverted to frustrating again for the start of the third race although champagne conditions did return.

It was a very enjoyable day sailing especially the champagne bits and followed by a great Osprey curry evening, at which Kenny proved he can eat three nan bread and a curry, finished off the day very well.

Despite a promising breeze on Sunday morning for the Caldey Island race this died to nothing when the fleet was around 50m from the beach and the race was abandoned. Disappointing as this race can be an awesome sail in an Osprey, but the correct decision in the circumstances.

As usual the Osprey sailing was very close with the final results all hinging on the result of race 1 where three boats crossed the line within a second. After a recount Paddy Lewis and Mike Priddle were declared the winners half a point ahead of Dave Griffiths and Maurice Clark who were a further half point ahead of Oscar Chess and David Downs. Although not entirely Osprey weather the Ospreys did well in the General Handicap results with the first boat in fourth place.

Overall Results:

1st 1386 Paddy Lewis and Mike Priddle 6.5 pts

2nd 1365 Dave Griffiths and Maurice Clark 7 pts

3rd 1348 Oscar Chess and David Downs 7.5 pts

4th 1380 Dan Jackson and Matt Goldwait 9 pts

5th 1338 Kenny Brown and Chris Butters 16 pts

6th 1342 Ted Lewis and Lucas Boissevain 17 pts

7th 1330 John McKellar and Alastair Knibb 21 pts

Royal Lymington Yacht Club X IOCA Optimist Development Weekend 2026

 

On the 13-14 June thirty young optimist sailors from around the south arrived at the Royal Lymington YC to attend a development weekend. Development weekends are regular events in the fleet's calendar but often focused on the more experienced sailors.

This weekend, organised with IOCA, was different. It was targeted at those new to the fleet with the objective of showing them that coaching weekends can be for them, that training can be fun and to leave them wanting to do more: sailing, coaching and racing.

The sailors were in very capable hands with a coaching team led by Lola Andrews, IOCA's regular coaching regatta lead, and Richard Mills, head of RLymYC's training centre.

Saturday was a test for the sailors. First, they had to navigate the Lymington river, busy with ferries, yachts, motor cruisers and other traffic, then they were out into the Solent. This was the first time sailing in the Solent for most of these young sailors so quite an experience. They sailed to Oxey Lake, part of the shallow water edging the Lymington-Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve, where the day's activities took place.

These included elephant ears, tack on the whistle and other exercises familiar to those that have come through the junior ranks. There was a break for lunch with Oppies tied up to coach boats giving the sailors a well earned rest. This was necessary as after lunch the day got even more exciting as the sea breeze kicked in and the wind began to build.

There were a few capsizes and some deep breaths but the sailors showed their resilience until finally the wind built enough that they were towed back in for a well earned BBQ on the club balcony.

Sunday started more calmly, with not a lot of wind but then it swung to the south and the sea breeze kicked in giving the sailors a day afloat in glorious sunshine and a perfect 8 knots of breeze. Early exercises were followed by an early lunch and then a very competitive race series.

Then one last exciting sail back up the river to the club, avoiding the ferry and trying not to go aground in the process. It was great to see the smiles on the sailors faces as they returned ashore, a little weary but with a strong sense of achievement.

The weekend introduced the sailors to lots of elements that are core to development weekends and IOCA events: coach briefings, rig checks, tallies, coaching exercises, lunch afloat, being towed and debriefs. This experience, over a whole weekend, means that these sailors know what to expect at any coaching weekend or event and, thanks to the efforts of the great coaching team, they can appreciate that these weekends are fun, not intimidating.

Thank you to the Royal Lymington YC for hosting, to IOCA for supporting and the excellent coaches.

Yare & Bure One Designs, Yeomans and Mixed Keelboats at Norfolk Punt Club, Barton Broad

 

Centenary events at this idyllic club continued this weekend with an open meeting for Yare & Bure One Designs (YBODs) and Mixed Keelboats which comprised Broads One Designs (BODs), a Yarmouth One Design and Yeomans who were sailing for their own trophy.

Five visitors made the journey from Wroxham Broad, including last year's YBOD winner, Fox sailed by Chris Bunn and Nikki Tansley. On Saturday they and a handful of others defied the F4 westerly and its hefty gusts by sailing the usual 2-up and with full rig. Others decided to take an extra crew and/or reef and some sat it out; everyone knew their limits. There were screaming reaches, nosedives on the downwind legs, and some weaving round on the gybes.

By the third and final race of the day there were fewer gusts and the Yarmouth OD joined the Mixed Keelboat fleet. Of note in this fleet were the 6 youngsters in the two Yeomans, 2 in each boat being siblings. Sibling rivalry? Never. Emily Drew and Ella Elson swapped helms and crewed by Mark Elson took two 1sts and a 2nd to Henry Drew, Finn Elson, Bertie Walker and Ben Cohen. NPC is proud that these four represent our club in the national Feva class. With their light weight and the Yeomans' powerful rig all 6 youngsters showed a remarkable level of boat control.

Visitors Rob and Gill Johnson in their BOD Water Rail won all the Mixed Keelboat races from Kathy Gill and Simon Learmount, also swapping helms, in BOD Greenshank. In the YBOD fleet, despite Jack Barnham and Alice Palutikov in Peacock taking an initial lead in race 2, Fox took the lead from the first mark to the finish in all three races. First NPC boat was Silver Blue with Simon Daniels and Alastair Drew taking a third in race 3

The pleasant conditions on Sunday brought all 12 YBOD entrants to the water. Sunshine and a lighter wind more from the north enabled easier course setting and a long beat up the broad and goose-winging on the downwind legs. There was a distinct differing of opinion as to which side of the beat would pay. Those who chose the east side were proved right. James and Simon Driver in Grizzled Skipper on their first sail of the season led the pack to the windward mark from Swift sailed by James Dugdale and Rob Ferrier-Hanger, and Peacock, with NPC's Reed Leopard sailed by Matthew Scott and Caroline Dixey arriving fourth.

On the ensuing downwind leg there was some dramatic gybing and luffing at the front of the fleet, with Swift taking the lead from Grizzled Skipper and Fox and Reed Leopard also in the mix. Jack Copping and Marty Thompson in Scarce Copper had found themselves in a part of the fleet where they did not wish to be, so took their chance in looping round the east side of the island and tightening up for the mark, but it did not to pay. Fox took the lead followed by Swift and in the final 100 metres there was some extremely tactical beating between Grizzled Skipper and Peacock, who finished seconds apart in that order.

Meanwhile in the Mixed Keelboat fleet there was also a split on the beat with the BODs taking the eastern side of the beat and the Yeomans the west. Kathy Gill and Simon Learmount in BOD Greenshank arrived first followed by young Ella and Emily in the club Yeoman Razzle Dazzle. Despite Henry and the boys in their Yeoman Turnstone being close, a riding turn took its toll and they could not re-catch the girls. Water Rail recovered from being on the wrong side at the start to overhaul Greenshank, and the Yarmouth OD sailed by Simon Jenner and Murray Corke took third.

By the final race the wind had gone more northerly still and the course was tweaked accordingly. Scarce Copper immediately tacked onto the east side and took a good lead, followed by Peacock and Silver Blue. With some bad headers affecting the first three boats shortly before the finish, Peacock held the lead and Fox had pulled through for a close 2nd just seconds ahead of Swift.

This time Henry, Finn, Bertie and Ben in Turnstone had a clear win over the girls in Razzle Dazzle, but it was Ella, Emily and Mark who triumphed for the Helios Trophy for Yeomans, counting three 1st and a 2nd.

Counting all 1sts Rob and Gill in Water Rail won the Pleasure Island Trophy for the Mixed Keelboats. With their one discard, Chris and Nikki in Fox were able to discard their second place, counting four 1sts to take the Consortium Trophy for YBODs. James and Rob in Swift were 5 points behind for second place, and 4 points behind them in third were Jack and Alice in Peacock.

The Whelpton Trophy for first Norfolk Punt Club boat was won by Simon and Alastair in Silver Blue. With such perfect conditions the club's afternoon all-comers races sailed the existing course. When handicaps were converted to corrected time the first 5 boats finished within 13 seconds of each other; despite being tired from their previous 5 races Simon and Kathy in Greenshank were 2 seconds ahead of Phil and Liz Ollier sailing their new Yeoman Fire Opal and Bart and Rosie Sawyer's Norfolk Punt Cormorant only 4 seconds behind them. In the final race, sailing on the average lap system, Cormorant won from Harry Scott's Elver.

Race officer Simon Clayton thanked all the participants, with especial welcome to the visitors, and his teams in the rescue boats and tea hut.

Overall Results:

Consortium Cup (YBODS) - Fox - Chris Bunn & Nikki Tansley

Whelpton Trophy for 1st placed NPC boat - Silver Blue - Simon Daniels & Alastair Drew

Helios Trophy (Yeomans) - Turnstone - Emily Drew, Ella Elson & Mark Elson

Pleasure Island Trophy (Mixed Keelboat) - Water Rail - Rob & Gill Johnson

Kestrel Scottish Championship 2026 at the Royal Tay Yacht Club

 

Hosted by the Royal Tay Yacht Club over the weekend 13th/14th June the fleet of 10 entries was reduced to 9 before the first race. First casualty of the forecast gale.

With 37 knot gusts on the Tay Road Bridge on the Saturday morning it was decided not to keep the fleet hanging about and to cancel all sailing for the day. This allowed for a root and branch tuning session on 1579 which was sporting a replacement mast.

The social programme was not affected by the weather and Friday evening's Italian meal was followed by an excellent Indian carry-out curry for 32 people on Saturday in the clubhouse.

Sunday could hardly have been more of a contrast. There was a brief postponement to allow the northerly wind to fill-in before the start of the first race which was an all class handicap for the Lawson Cup. This trophy has a long history on the Tay. In the 70's it boasted a start line with over 100 boats of all shapes and sizes.

This year's event was a more modest affair, but no less competitive, with the final positions for the Kestrel class being decided the last beat of the four race series.

The Lawson Cup was a foretaste of what was to follow. It was a day of sunshine and very variable gusts. There were place changes on most legs. The fleet bunched downwind and if you missed a shift up-wind you would be punished. Beating across the flood tide, with significant wind shifts, made for tricky decisions and determined the final positions.

Stewart Murdoch and Mhairi Murdoch finished first, closely followed by Malcolm and Danielle Worsley and Paul Barnet and Didac Lizardo. All three teams held their finishing positions on handicap finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

After a lunch break classes had their own starts and three back to back races were sailed. There were incidents, it was incredibly close racing, in race three after two rounds there were still 6 boats overlapped at the leeward mark. There were 5 different leaders at different points. The early leaders were pulled back into the bunch.

It was Malcolm and Danielle who were the most consistent winning two races. Stewart and Mhairi were always close finishing on equal points, and both had to follow Paul Barnett and Didac Lizardo home in race three.

Malcolm and Danielle are the 2026 Scottish Kestrel Champions, worth winners after a very enjoyable day's sailing and a very close event.

Steve Worf and Dave Hearsum were presented with medals as the furthest travelled entrant having driven from from Southampton and Norfork to take part.

Sceighlan Tilson the newest member of the class was presented with a bottle of wine for completing every race in his first Kestrel travellers event.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Boat Name Helm R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts

1 1638 Malcolm Malcolm Worsley 2 1 3 1 7

2 1648 Pure Dead Seathing Stewart Murdoch 1 2 2 2 7

3 1633 Purple Paul Barnett 3 6 1 3 13

4 1615 The boat with no name Alexander Bremner 4 4 5 5 18

5 1606 Alison Jane Angus Broadhurst 6 3 4 6 19

6 1636 Kestrel Steven Worf 5 5 6 4 20

7 1579 Gaa Sands Kenneth Scott Brown 7 7 7 7 28

8 1585 Abertay Sceighlan Tilson 8 8 8 8 32

9 1586 Mayhem 2 Katherine Lawlor 9 9 9 9 36

Jubilee and Elizabeth Mowbray Trophies at Overy Staithe Sailing Club

 

A beautiful evening for a gentle sail with sunshine and a force 2 northerly. In race 1 George crossed the fleet on port at the start but was overhauled by Will Worsley and Andy Turner by Houseboat buoy. However he was never far behind and got the lead back on handicap claiming the Jubilee Trophy.

In race 2 Will Worsley made the best start and held it all the way round, despite three kayaks being crowded round Norton buoy when the fleet arrived, winning the Elizabeth Mowbray Trophy.

Jubilee Trophy:

1st Laser Radial - George Smith

2nd Laser - Will Worsley

3rd OK - Andy Turner

4th Laser - Rob Archer

5th Laser Radial - Adam Mills

Elizabeth Mowbray Trophy:

1st Laser - Will Worsley

2nd Laser Radial - George Smith

3rd OK - Andy Turner

4th Laser - Rob Archer

5th Laser Radial - Adam Mills

Everyone is invited to Lymington Town Sailing Club for the 2026 Open Day

 

On Saturday 27th June, Lymington Town Sailing Club is holding an Open Day.

Whether you're completely new to the sport or looking to get back on the water, our Open Day is the perfect time to give it a go. We have a full programme of training, sailing and water sports activities planned for the 2026 season offering opportunities for all ages, from beginner to experienced racers. As an RYA Training Centre, Lymington Town Sailing Club offers recognised sailing and powerboat courses for both adults and juniors, making it an ideal place to start or develop your sailing journey.

"We're inviting everyone to come and see what Lymington Town Sailing Club has to offer. We are keen to show all the activities that we run from our historic Clubhouse. Lymington Town Sailing Club is a friendly, inclusive and family oriented Club," commented Heather Chipperfield, Commodore.

Starting at 10am, there will be a whole host of activities taking place with the Clubhouse bar being open all day and a range of food choices will be available from our galley team.

Sailing can be as physical or as relaxing as you want to make it. You can sail with others and make new friends, head out on your own, race competitively or simply potter about and enjoy the gentle escape of being out on the water.

Alongside the water-based activities, the Club also offers a wide range of social activities and events from Yoga, Cycling, Walking, Book and Bridge Clubs to themed suppers, Winter Talks, Quiz Nights, Band 'n' BBQs, Black Tie Balls and Children's Parties. The Club is also available for private hire to Members for a party in a room with the best waterfront view in town!

To find out more about the Open Day and upcoming training and sailing opportunities, visit www.ltsc.co.uk or follow Lymington Town Sailing Club on Facebook and Instagram.

Royal Thames Commodore Wins RORC Morgan Cup Offshore Race

 The Royal Thames Yacht Club's Commodore has claimed one of offshore sailing's most coveted trophies after a gruelling 112-nautical-mile race from Cowes to Dartmouth.

Richard Powell guided the First 40 *Rogan Josh* to overall victory in the 2026 Morgan Cup Race, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). The win is believed to make Powell the first serving Royal Thames Commodore in living memory to lift the historic trophy.

The race started in brisk south-westerly winds of around 20 knots, sending the fleet charging east down the Solent before turning south around the Isle of Wight. Competitors then faced a punishing overnight beat through the English Channel in heavy seas left behind by days of unsettled weather.

The challenging conditions took their toll. Sail damage and seasickness contributed to a number of retirements, although all competitors were accounted for.

"It was a really tough race," Powell said after the finish.

"Around the back of the Island it was very lumpy, and it stayed that way until three or four in the morning because there had been big storms for the previous two days. There was a lot of slamming."

The Morgan Cup was donated to the Royal Thames Yacht Club by the JP Morgan family in 1929 and became part of the RORC programme in 1958. It remains one of the club's most sought-after trophies.

"We have been there or thereabouts for a while," Powell said. "I think this is our first overall offshore win, which is great. To win the Morgan Cup is a huge thrill."

Powell paid tribute to his crew, stressing the amateur nature of the campaign.

"Of course, it is not me, it is the team," he said. "We never have professionals on board. It is strictly amateur, with Royal Thames members, young members and friends."

The overall podium featured two RORC Flag Officers. RORC Vice Commodore Derek Shakespeare's *Bulldog* finished second overall, while Rob Craigie's *Bellino*, co-skippered by RORC Commodore Deb Fish, completed the podium and also won IRC Three.

Multihull line honours and the MOCRA class win went to Dave Summers' Dazcat 1495 *DMS Vinyl*, skippered by Brendan Seward and Tom Gall. The catamaran completed the course in 20 hours, 11 minutes and 28 seconds.

Monohull line honours were claimed by Trevor Middleton's JPK 1180 *Black Sheep*, which crossed the finish line just four minutes later. The yacht went on to finish fourth overall and won IRC One ahead of two French rivals.

In IRC Two-Handed, youth took centre stage. Alaric Bates and Albert Barber, both in their twenties, won the class aboard Gavin Howe's Sun Fast 3600 *Tigris*.

"It was a really high-intensity race, especially at the start and then going back upwind in the big breeze," said Bates. "We were exhausted by the end, but the boat was great and it was a really good result for us."

The duo's performance continues a strong season for *Tigris* and provides further momentum ahead of upcoming offshore campaigns, including the Round Britain and Ireland Race.

In IRC Four, Mark Brown's JPK 1010 *Jetpack* secured victory ahead of Rob Cotterill's J/109 *Mojo Risin*, while Paddy Moriarty's classic Swan 44 *Astrid* completed the podium.

The Morgan Cup formed the eighth race of the RORC Season's Points Championship. Attention now turns to 20 June, when the East Coast Race and the Round Ireland Race begin, with 57 entries set to contest Ireland's premier offshore challenge.

Large fleet gathering ahead of Wicklow start to Round Ireland Race

 

More than 60 Irish and international entries have been received by organisers ahead of this Summer’s Round Ireland Race that gets underway from Wicklow in eight day’s time (Saturday 20 June).

 

The non-stop race is a biennial attraction to Wicklow Harbour for thousands of spectators for the colourful start at 2pm as the competitors head southwards towards Wicklow Head lighthouse.

 

The fastest boats can expect to complete the 704 nautical-mile course in about three to four days depending on wind.  While first boat home wins “line honours”, the overall trophy is decided on ‘corrected time’ meaning small or less sophisticated boats that are well sailed by the crew can win overall.

 

But before victory can be considered, the main challenge is to complete the gruelling course.

 

The first night at sea usually sees most boats pass the Tuskar Rock lighthouse and set their sights on the famous Fastnet Rock, also known as An Carriag Aonair (The lonely rock) or the Teardrop of Ireland as the last sign of Ireland for the immigrants of times past.

 

The Round Ireland Race is often decided by what happens along the Western seaboard and whether the wind delivers a classic ‘sleigh-ride’ northwards along the spectacular Wild Atlantic Way.

 

At Malin Head, navigators have to take care to sail outside Innistrahull as the classic course is to “leave Ireland and its island to starboard” and it would be an easy mistake to miss the most northerly part of Ireland.

 

Before the closing stage can begin and thoughts of fresh food at Wicklow Sailing Club’s famous non-stop breakfast, the leading boats must negotiate Rathlin Island, the notorious tidal gate that can make or break a winning time.

 

Once through, a long stage down the Irish Sea follows back to the finishing line at Wicklow; boats that have made it this far rarely have to pull out though only in 1996 did all 55 starters actually complete the race.

 

So far for 2026, a fleet of 63 boats have entered but already several have had to withdraw, most due to equipment problems.  Safety inspection is also a critical factor and every boat must meet compliance standards before starting the race.

 

“Everything is coming together nicely for a terrific start that will be a spectacle,” commented Race Director Kyran O’Grady of Wicklow Sailing Club.  “It’s still a little early to be certain but there are positive signs of fine conditions for start day at least.”

 

Several notable sailors and boats will be competing in various categories including the largest entry Spirit of Shackleton, the sail-training vessel named by President Catherine Connolly and entered by Enda O’Coineen and Bobby Beggs.

 

Wicklow sailor Pamela Lee has entered her 40-footer Empowher but has attracted eight of her international colleagues to join this year.  Hiroshi Nakajima on Hiro Maru has returned once again as one of two American entries.

 

In terms of an overall winner, there is a deep field to choose from, perhaps as many as 12 boats.  If any is a favourite it would be Tom Kneen from the UK on Sunrise VI, a past winner of the Rolex Fastnet who sailed for Ireland in last Summer’s Admiral’s Cup.

 

Many local boats could be in the mix including John Trainer’s Dun Laoghaire entry Cristina and Mike Evans’ on The Big Picture from Howth Yacht Club.  And, as always the venerable Cavatina entered by Ian Hickey from the Royal Cork Yacht Club is certain to set a fast time but could keep the shoreside pundits guessing well after the first finishers are asleep.

Mirror Northern Area Championship 2026 at Sunderland Yacht Club

 

Sunderland Yacht Club welcomed twelve Mirrors to the 2026 Northern Area Championship over the weekend of 6th & 7th June. On Saturday, following careful examination of the conditions in Seaburn bay, the experienced SYC race officer (Mr David Addison) decided to organise sailing within the confines of Sunderland harbour.

Despite the continuous harbour dredging operations there was still enough room available to run a windward/leeward course on the falling tide. All twelve boats launched under grey skies with a fresh South-South-Easterly wind. The compact race course provided for close racing and some lively surfing on the downwind leg. Race one was won by Andy/Olivia Tunnicliffe from Phil/Lucy Smith, followed by Josh/Austin Gebhard. In view of the prevailing weather conditions and the falling tide the race officer decided to abandon sailing for the day and get everyone safely ashore. An afternoon of pool in the clubhouse and a trip to the ice cream shop ensued for many.

Sunday dawned with sunshine and a building breeze, and with the wind shifting to a SW direction a much flatter sea state. The fleet planned for four races to make up for Saturday and launched in 25kts of breeze, quickly heading out of the safety of the harbour into the open North Sea. Sailing past a pod of Dolphins on the way to the start helped kept the numerous young crews distracted from the reality of the conditions.

Race one started promptly with a windward/leeward course. Phil/Lucy Smith led from Andrew/Olivia at the windward mark with James/Felix Eastbury hot on their heels. A vicious gust on the run had James/Felix capsize to windward on the run and with it ended their days sailing after a swim in the very chilly North Sea. Brain failure on the part of team Smith led to rounding the leeward mark the incorrect way, with Andy/Olivia following suit. The rest of the fleet made no such mistake with David/Edward Gebhard sailing a solid race in building breeze to win from Tim/Benji Hall.

As the breeze and sea state continued to build, Andy/Olivia and Jethro/Evelyn Gebhard called it a day and followed James/Felix home. Race two saw Oliver/Naomi Smith lead at the windward mark, being overhauled by Phil/Lucy on the run who went on to win the race. A battle between David/Edward and Oliver/Naomi looked to be playing out in the Gebhard's favour, until the final short beat from the leeward mark to the finish line, when Josh/Austin and Becky Priest/Ella Saunders came storming through to take second and third respectively.

Race three saw a change of course to a triangle. Becky/Ella continued their good form, leading at the windward mark but being chased hard by Josh/Austin and Tim/Benji. The breeze was building and it's unclear whether some of the fleet were opting not to fly spinnakers due to conditions or gear failure. After a great race Josh/Austin pulled through to beat Becky/Ella on the finish line.

With deteriorating conditions, the Race Officer rightly called an end to the days racing. Everyone sailed home in challenging conditions, but the numerous dolphins sailing in and around the boats made for a fantastic experience that money couldn't buy.

As the scores were counted, Josh/Austin were declared deserved winners, with Phil/Lucy second, David/Edward third, Becky/Ella fourth.

Special mention to David Carpenter from SYC who sailed in his first event and very much threw himself into the spirit of the Mirror fleet by standing chest deep in the sea to aid other teams launch and recover.

A huge thanks to SYC - for the amazing onshore hospitality and first-class race management, as is standard from this great venue. The dolphins are a real bonus and delight too.

Date for the diary - Mirror Nationals 2026 will be held at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club with racing July 26th - 28th. This event is being held to remember and celebrate the life of Jackie Gebhard.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Crew R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts

1st 71036 JOSHUA GEBHARD AUSTIN GEBHARD 3 ‑5 2 1 6

2nd 71013 PHIL SMITH LUCY SMITH 2 ‑4 1 3 6

3rd 319 DAVID GEBHARD EDWARD GEBHARD ‑9 1 5 6 12

4th 70893 BECKY PRIEST ELLA SAUNDERS 7 ‑8 3 2 12

5th 70570 TIM HALL BENJI HALL ‑6 2 6 4 12

6th 7101 OLIVER SMITH NAOMI SMITH ‑8 6 4 5 15

7th 70668 ANDY TUNNICLIFFE OLIVER TUNNICLIFFE 1 3 (DNC) DNC 17

8th 71037 JETHRO GEBHARD EVELYN GEBHARD 4 7 (DNC) DNC 24

9th 71069 JAMES EASTBURY FELIX EASTBURY 5 (DNF) DNC DNC 31

10th 70969 DAVID CARPENTER 10 (DNF) DNC DNC 36

11th 70579 NEIL FERGUSON 11 (DNC) DNC DNC 37

12th 37894 BARRY FISHER 12 (DNC) DNC DNC 38

Corsica boasts over 1,000 km of stunning Mediterranean coastline featuring a variety of landscapes from sandy beaches to rugged cliffs and secluded coves and Ports

 

For a balanced week with good sailing, memorable anchorages, and plenty of time ashore, I'd suggest a west-and-south Corsica loop from Ajaccio. It avoids long offshore passages, includes Corsica's most dramatic scenery, and offers a mix of hiking, historic towns, beaches, food, and wine. The west coast is often considered the island's most spectacular cruising area because of the red cliffs of Scandola and Piana, the fishing village of Girolata, and the citadels of Calvi and Bonifacio.

Day 1 – Ajaccio → Cargèse

Sailing: 15–20 nm

Ashore

Explore the Greek-Corsican village of Cargèse.

Walk between its unusual facing Greek and Latin churches.

Sunset drinks overlooking the bay.

Sample Corsican charcuterie and local cheeses.

A gentle first day that lets everyone settle into the boat before longer passages.

Day 2 – Cargèse → Girolata

Sailing: 20–25 nm

Pass the dramatic red cliffs of the Calanques de Piana and enter the UNESCO-listed Scandola area.

Ashore

Wander through tiny Girolata.

Hike up to the Genoese fort for views over the gulf.

Swim and snorkel in exceptionally clear water.

Evening

Anchor rather than use a marina for one of the most atmospheric nights of the trip.

Day 3 – Girolata → Calvi

Sailing: 25–30 nm

Ashore

Spend the afternoon in Calvi.

Activities:

Walk the impressive Genoese citadel.

Explore the old streets and waterfront.

Visit local wine bars in the Balagne region.

Optional e-bike ride into the surrounding countryside.

Dinner

One of the better restaurant nights of the week.

Day 4 – Calvi → Saint-Florent

Sailing: 20–25 nm

Cruise along the Balagne coast toward Saint-Florent.

Ashore

Wine tasting in the Patrimonio vineyards.

Hike into the Agriates Desert.

Beach walk at Saleccia or Lotu.

The Patrimonio wine region is one of Corsica's best-known wine-producing areas.

Day 5 – Saint-Florent → Propriano

Sailing: 35–40 nm

This is the longest sailing day and rewards you with a quiet side of Corsica.

Ashore

In Propriano:stroll the marina and old town.

Visit prehistoric sites such as Filitosa if transport is available.

Enjoy a relaxed seafood dinner.

Day 6 – Propriano → Bonifacio

Sailing: 20–25 nm

Arrive beneath the spectacular limestone cliffs of Bonifacio, arguably Corsica's most dramatic harbour.

Ashore

Explore the medieval citadel.

Walk the ramparts.

Descend (or admire) the famous King of Aragon Staircase.

Take an evening walk along the cliff edge.

This is usually the high light town of the cruise.

Day 7 – Bonifacio → Ajaccio (or nearby final anchorage)

Sailing: 30–40 nm depending on route

Final-day options

If conditions are favourable:

Stop at the Lavezzi Islands for swimming.

Enjoy a final long lunch at anchor.

Return toward Ajaccio for evening disembarkation or overnight.

The Lavezzi Islands are one of the most beautiful protected marine areas in southern Corsica.

Best Onshore Activities During the Week

Historic towns Bonifacio, Calvi

Wine tasting Saint-Florent / Patrimonio

Coastal hiking Girolata, Agriates

Beaches Lavezzi Islands, Saleccia

Local food Cargèse, Bonifacio, Propriano

Snorkelling Scandola, Girolata, Lavezzi

Photography/scenery Piana, Scandola, Bonifacio

Practical Notes

Total sailing distance: roughly 170–190 nautical miles.

Best season: late May–June or September.

The prevailing Mistral/Maestrale winds can make the west coast lively, so keep the itinerary flexible. Sailors familiar with the area often recommend treating the Bonifacio Strait and west-coast headlands with respect when strong winds are forecast.

Reserve marina berths in Calvi and Bonifacio well ahead during summer.

This route gives you a very "Corsican" week: dramatic scenery, authentic villages, good sailing legs, wine country, hiking, beaches, and two of the island's finest historic towns without feeling rushed.

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One month countdown to Round the Island Race 2026

 The iconic Round the Island Race is just a month away and there’s still time to be involved.

Over 600 boats have already signed up for this year’s race, which takes place on Saturday 11 July. The 50-nautical mile race circumnavigates the Isle of Wight, involving competitors from all over the globe. Entries are open until Wednesday 8 July, with cheaper, standard entry fees available until 24 June.

Dave Atkinson, Race Director, said: “As always, we’re very excited about the race and really looking forward to welcoming everybody. It’s a very special day to be part of, so whether you’ve taken part before or thinking about it for the first time, we would love you to be there with us.”

Setting off from the famous Royal Yacht Squadron Line in Cowes, this year from 7.30am, the event is known for bringing together world-renowned sailors with families and first-time racers. The course record for a monohull boat, set by Mike Slade on ICAP Leopard in 2013, is 3h 43m 50s, while Ned Collier Wakefield set the multihull record of 2h 22m 23s in 2017, on Concise 10.

“The race itself is different each year but regardless of the conditions, we all enjoy a good day’s sailing. The camaraderie and companionship of the fleet going round make it very special, so don’t delay, get signed up and enjoy the Round the Island Race 2026 with us.”

In addition to the race, entertainment will be on offer in the newly-extended Race Village on Cowes Parade throughout the weekend, while spectators can enjoy the race from a host of official venues across the Isle of Wight.

For all the information about Round the Island Race 2026, and to enter, visit roundtheisland.org.uk