Hornet Dinghy Exe Sails National Championship 2026 at Shoreham Sailing Club

 

The 15 boats competing were subject to a very well run championship by Shoreham SC and shared with the National 12s. The first day was quickly blown off with reports of 50 knot gusts on Worthing pier.

The racing got going on a suitably windy Sunday - undeterred by first race nerves (obviously a Hornet is more sedate than a 29er!) Jac Bailey & Morgan Rogers did a port tack flyer crossing the fleet by a few lengths. Unfortunately they went backwards as the race went on - more on that later!

The race results were a bit of an omen of what was to follow - Nathan Batchelor & Sam Pascoe led from start to finish with a close battle behind where Terry Curtis & Gavin Poullion finished ahead of the recently refurbished boat raced by locals Will McGrath & new crew John White.

Good to see previous Hornet champion Will making a return to the fleet in a borrowed boat, showing he hasn't lost his touch and recruiting a new crew to the Hornet class.

The second race had a port bias again with Justin Jones & Chris Anderson firing out on port tack. In race three, Hornet boat building master Tim Coombe despite his apparent long lead times, tried to add his own boat onto the job sheet with a tussle with Michael McNamara!

Despite the blistering start in race one, little was seen of youngsters Jac & Morgan - it transpires they were slowly sinking!

Back ashore the Hornet class camaraderie was apparent, event leader Sam Pascoe grabbed a grinder and ably assisted with materials & consumables from Terry Curtis had the boat stuck back together ready for racing the next day.

The second day of racing became more full on than the first - getting back into the harbour after racing was best described as fresh to frightening! Plenty of acrobatics were evident as crews were wiped off the gunnel with increasing sea state as the tide turned. 2 boats finished the day with no capsizing!

The final day of racing was picture perfect - a warm building breeze with fully powered reaches and less scared faces! Some different faces popped out at the sharp end of the fleet with Michael McNamara & Harry Chatterton and Jac Bailey & Morgan Rogers (now floating much higher) getting well stuck in.

A productive class meeting was held during the regatta, with eyes firmly on the classes 75th anniversary next year with the National Championships to be held at Stone Sailing club 9th - 12th July.

Shoreham Sailing Club use the strapline 'the home of real sea sailing' and the Hornet class wholeheartedly agree! A big thanks for all the many volunteers from SSC who put on a terrific event for the Hornet class.

Overall Results:

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

1st 2168 Nathan Batchelor Sam Pascoe Tynemouth SC ‑1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7

2nd 2093 Terry Curtis Gavin Poulloin Castle Cove SC 2 2 2 3 ‑5 3 5 3 20

3rd 2151 Will McGrath John White Shoreham SC 3 3 4 2 2 2 ‑6 5 21

4th 2109 Michael McNamara Harry Chatterton Rollesby Broad Sailing Club (RET) 6 3 5 8 4 2 2 30

5th 2165 Richard Garry Sam Woolner Starcross YC 5 4 5 4 3 ‑9 7 6 34

6th 2160 Nigel Skudder Keith Hills Starcross Yacht Club 6 5 6 (RET) DNS 6 4 8 51

7th 2103 Dean Saxton Adam Saxton Maylandsea Bay 7 ‑12 9 7 4 10 9 9 55

8th 2077 Tim Coombe Kevin Francis Starcross Yacht Club 8 9 (DNC) 6 RET 5 8 7 59

9th 2180 Jac Bailey Morgan Rogers PDSC 13 (DNC) DNC 8 6 12 3 4 62

10th 2155 Duncan West William West Starcross YC ‑11 10 7 10 7 7 11 10 62

11th 2157 Alex Adams Sarah Batchelor Tynemouth SC 10 8 8 9 (DNS) DNC DNC DNC 83

12th 2193 Justin Jones Christopher Anderson SSSC/ The Chase SC 4 7 10 (RET) DNC DNC DNC DNC 85

13th 2141 John Shelton Ivan Walsh Shoreham Sailing Club 9 11 (DNS) DNS DNS 8 13 DNC 89

14th 2190 Jon Williams Pippa Rogers Starcross YC 12 (DNS) DNC DNC DNC 11 10 11 92

15th 2185 Simon White Lewis Harris Maldon yacht club (DNS) DNC DNC DNC DNC 13 12 DNC 105

Emirates GBR's Fightback Falls Just Short in Valencia

 

Emirates GBR started the day third in Group A, with their sights firmly set on breaking into the top two. In the light conditions, getting around Mark 1 in the lead and staying on the foils was crucial. Once ahead, teams could build an almost unassailable advantage. As SailGP commentator Todd Harris described it, it was "like shopping on New Year's Eve with no one else in the store."

Red Bull Italy led the fleet to the first mark, with Artemis and Emirates GBR battling behind. GBR eventually closed the gap to Artemis, but both boats fell off the foils, allowing New Zealand's Black Foils through and giving Italy the opportunity to extend their advantage at the front.

Then came a spectacular fightback from Emirates GBR. The British team found the speed to get back onto the foils, passing Artemis down the run before working their way past New Zealand and into second place. With Australia down in fifth, that position put Emirates GBR back in contention for a place in the Event Final.

Italy continued to stretch their lead and went on to take the race win, with Emirates GBR crossing the line second. The British team then faced an anxious wait to see where Australia would finish.

The final mark provided another dramatic twist. Artemis split from Australia and took the left-hand side, forcing the Swedish team to complete two manoeuvres before making the final run to the finish. The decision did not pay off, allowing Australia to finish ahead of Artemis and secure their place in the Event Final.

The Valencia result sees Emirates GBR drop to fifth overall in the Season Championship standings, but importantly the team gained ground on the top three as the battle to reach the winner-takes-all Grand Final intensifies.

"We stepped up, sailed the boat really well and fought our way back through the fleet. Ultimately, we didn't quite get it done, which is frustrating, but there are a lot of positives to take from how we sailed.

"We've dropped a place in the overall standings, but the reality is we're now closer on points to the top three and that all-important place in the end-of-season Grand Final.

"From here on in, it's going to be a huge fight to secure that spot. The fleet is incredibly close and so much can change from one event to another. We're right in the fight and we're going to give it absolutely everything."

Next up, SailGP heads to Geneva on 19-20 September for the second Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix.

Stewart Brewing RS400 Scottish Championship 2026 at Aberdeen & Stonehaven Yacht Club

This year Aberdeen and Stonehaven Yacht Club hosted the RS400 Scottish Tour Championship over the weekend of 15-16 August as part of their annual regatta. Five RS400s entered to decide who - for this year at least - is the champion of the Scottish Fleet.

Saturday dawned with a threat of light wind from the southeast, but mercifully little sea state. As race time came, the fleet enjoyed a surprisingly steady ~10kts. Race 1 got under way in a strong tide against the wind and a healthy measure of pin bias. Angus/Naomi were atypically early to the start, and alongside Matthew/Daniel were OCS with a fight against the tide to get back behind the line. Mark/Rachael + the Robertsons capitalised on the error to take a quick lead at mark 1, and proceeded to swap places on almost every leg before the Robertsons took the win.

In race 2 Angus/Naomi won the favoured pin end and by sticking left reached the top mark with their bow a few inches ahead of Mark/Rachael, but a tangle in kite lines meant politely surrendering the lead to the latter. Lap 2 proved eventful, with Angus/Naomi's tackline failing, and the Robertsons earning an undisclosed penalty turn allowing Mark/Rachael through to take the win.

With the fleet lightly refreshed and Gnasher carrying slightly less cargo, the breeze faltered for the last race of the day. Once again Team Robertson and Mark/Rachael fought tooth and nail at the front to lead, but an equally tight battle played out behind between locals Matthew/Daniel and newcomers Rhys/Stuart to take 4th. Matthew/Daniel sailed a defensive race to beat Rhys/Stuart across the line.

Some of the finest Stewart Brewing and ASYC's excellent BBQ kicked off the post-race analysis in the evening, but the real event of the night remains a mystery to all: Mark/Rachael remain tight-lipped about the karaoke competition at their accommodation, and no witnesses have been found to confirm or deny rumours they put another bullet on the scoreboard there...

Sunday's forecast was not promising, but a short postponement led to better breeze than expected, and a repeat of the course from the day before where the following tide offshore was the favoured upwind route. The 1st/2nd battle was back on between Team Robadobs and Mark/Rachael, but the Robertson's experience in the lighter air showed. Matthew/Daniel must have been training all night, as Angus/Naomi struggled to keep them behind despite having launched with an empty cargo hold.

In race 5 Team Robertson almost missed the start, handing the pin end and the left side to Mark/Rachael who dominated all the way to the finish. Once again Angus/Naomi fought to keep Matthew/Daniel behind just long enough for Rhys/Stuart to start threatening and get Matthew/Daniel looking astern instead of ahead.

With the wind shutting down, race 6 began with Matthew/Daniel trapped down-tide and OCS. Rhys/Stuart won the pin end and caught a zephyr on the left side, however Angus/Naomi managed to squeeze ahead to lead at the first mark. Then as the fleet rushed (at a sedate pace) to the easier tide inshore, Angus/Naomi kept out in the breeze and held the lead through to the finish, taking the prestigious final race win.

Congratulations go to Mark Powell and Rachael Scarfe for defending their Scottish Championship title for another year, Stewart and Sarah Robertson for taking second place, and to Rhys Gorman and Stuart Dallas for winning the endeavour trophy. The pintles of shame go to Angus Marshall, for failing to award them to anyone else over the course of the weekend. Many thanks go to Scottish Tour sponsors Stewart Brewing for their continued support, and to National Tour sponsors Rooster for providing prizes.

After an excursion south of the border for the medal trio to this year's RS400 nationals, the RS400 Scottish Tour will round out 2026 at Dalgety Bay Sailing Club 19-20 September. The Scottish demo boat will be available for anyone looking to try out the class, and we look forward to seeing everyone there!

Overall Results:

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

1 1370  Mark Powell Rachael Scarfe Largs SC 2 1 1 2 1 2 7

2 1463  Stewart Robertson Sarah Robertson Royal Forth YC 1 2 2 1 2 3 8

3 763 Angus Marshall Naomi Moran Dalgety Bay 3 3 3 3 3 1 13

4 1060  Matthew Park Daniel Clarkson ASYC 4 4 4 4 4 5 20

5 879 Rhys Gorman Stuart Dallas Port Edgar YC 5 5 5 5 5 4 24

 

Musto Skiffs battle it out at Stone Sailing Club's Essex Sailing Championships 2026

 

The Musto Skiff fleet descended on Stone Sailing Club over the August Bank Holiday weekend for three days of racing as part of the Essex Sailing Championships 2026. With the Blackwater estuary providing its usual mix of challenging breeze and strong tide, the fleet was treated to a varied weekend that tested both speed and decision-making.

The four scheduled races were completed over the three days, in a social and (pleasantly) different format of racing to what the class is used to.

Ben Clegg ultimately emerged as the dominant force, winning three races and finishing second in the opening race to take the overall victory. Gareth Davies finished second overall, with Eddie Bridle third. Ben Harden and Richard Smith rounded out the Stone weekend in fourth and fifth respectively.

After three races the shore-based race committee got race 4 under way as the fleet thumped their way up to the top mark. A few seasoned Musto Skiff sailors experienced some difficulties, which led them to dropping out of the race. Interestingly, some of the newer faces in the fleet were those who stuck it out the longest. James Crook was showing some excellent form, and Ben Harden (who only joined the class earlier this year) safety-gybed his way into a very respectable second place in race 4.

Ben Clegg took the honours in this race, followed by Ben Harden, Tom Scott and Gareth Davies.

A special mention must be made for Stone Sailing Club who put on a wonderful regatta. The fine gourmet food, the lively entertainment and the friendly atmosphere shone this homely, unassuming club in a very positive light.

Overall Results:

Pos Entrant Sail No. R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts

1st Ben Clegg 657 2 1 1 1 5

2nd Gareth Davies 615 3 4 3 4 14

3rd Eddie Bridle 655 1 2 2 11 16

4th Ben Harden 294 5 7 6 2 20

5th Richard Smith 632 4 8 4 10 26

6th Andrew Whittle 588 6 5 7 10 28

7th Finbar Anderson 310 8 6 5 10 29

8th Brennan Robinson 561 11 3 10 10 34

9th James Crook 138 7 9 8 10 34

10th Tom Scott 639 11 11 11 3 36

🌴 Our suggested 8-day family Thailand sailing adventure

 

 I'd start and finish around Phuket, travelling through Phang Nga Bay, Koh Yao, Krabi, Railay and Phi Phi, with plenty of time off the boat.

Day 1 — Phuket → Koh Yao Noi

Sailing: 2–3 hours

Settle aboard the catamaran and sail east into the wonderfully sheltered waters of Phang Nga Bay.

Family activities:

Swimming and paddleboarding

Snorkelling from the yacht

Take the dinghy ashore

Explore a small fishing village

Thai dinner on the beach

Koh Yao Noi is particularly attractive for families because it feels much more relaxed and authentic than Phuket. The island is known for quiet beaches, coconut plantations and traditional villages.

Day 2 — Koh Yao → Phang Nga Bay

This is the big adventure day.

Sail among the extraordinary limestone pinnacles of Phang Nga Bay.

Activities ashore/on the water:

Kayak through sea caves

Explore hidden hongs (lagoon caves)

Visit James Bond Island

Visit Koh Panyee, the spectacular village built on stilts over the sea

Have lunch in a local restaurant

Swim from the yacht in the afternoon

The combination of kayaking, caves and the floating village makes this one of the best days for children.

Day 3 — Phang Nga → Koh Yao Yai

A deliberately easy day.

Sail south through the islands, stopping whenever you find a beautiful beach or snorkelling spot.

Once ashore on Koh Yao Yai:

Hire bicycles

Cycle through coconut plantations

Visit a local village

Stop for a Thai lunch

Visit a rubber plantation

Have a beach afternoon

Sunset dinner overlooking the bay

This is the day I'd keep relatively unstructured—the children can have some independence while the adults enjoy the scenery. Cycling and exploring the villages are among the activities commonly suggested for the island.

Day 4 — Koh Yao Yai → Koh Hong → Railay

Sailing: around 3–4 hours, broken up with stops.

Stop at Koh Hong for a morning swim and kayak into the spectacular lagoon.

Then sail towards Railay Beach.

Afternoon ashore:

Explore the beaches

Walk through the jungle

Visit the famous caves

Try introductory rock climbing with an instructor

Explore the little restaurants and shops

Railay is particularly good if you have teenagers—it adds a genuine adventure/sport element rather than simply another beach stop.

Day 5 — Railay → Phi Phi

Head south towards the famous Phi Phi Islands.

I'd avoid spending the whole day around the busiest areas and instead have the skipper look for a quieter anchorage.

Activities:

Snorkelling

Paddleboarding

Cliff jumping where safe and permitted

Beach exploration

Sunset from the boat

The journey from Krabi to Phi Phi is roughly 25 nautical miles on typical itineraries, making it a proper little sailing adventure without being an enormous passage.

Day 6 — Phi Phi exploration day

This would be your no-sailing day.

Take the dinghy or a local boat to explore:

Maya Bay

Phi Phi Leh

Monkey Beach

Hidden coves

Snorkelling reefs

Viewpoint hike

For younger children, I'd concentrate on swimming and snorkelling; for teenagers, the viewpoint hike and kayaking make the day more adventurous.

Day 7 — Phi Phi → Koh Racha

This is your tropical-island finale.

Sail towards Koh Racha Yai.

Spend the afternoon doing absolutely nothing—or:

Snorkelling

Paddleboarding

Swimming

Beach football

Fishing from the boat

Sunset barbecue

I'd make this a particularly relaxed evening aboard the yacht.

Day 8 — Koh Racha → Phuket

Have one last swim after breakfast and sail back towards Phuket

If your flight isn't until the following day, I'd actually recommend adding one night in a Phuket hotel rather than going directly from yacht to airport. It gives everyone a chance to have a proper shower, explore Phuket and recover from the sailing adventure.

The important thing is not to make it a sailing holiday where everyone is stuck on the boat all day. Thailand is at its best when you alternate short sailing passages with genuinely interesting things to do ashore.

⛵ What I'd choose for the boat

For a family I'd look for a 40–50 ft crewed catamaran with:

3–4 cabins

Air conditioning

Large shaded cockpit

Good dinghy

Kayaks or SUPs

Snorkelling equipment

Plenty of water toys

Experienced local skipper

Cook, if budget allows

A catamaran is especially appealing here because it gives you shallow-water access, lots of deck space and considerably more stability than a monohull.

There are already 5–8 day itineraries operating around essentially this route, including Phang Nga, Koh Yao, Krabi, Railay, Phi Phi and Racha.

☀️ When I'd go 

For this particular family adventure, I'd choose November to April. The Andaman Sea is generally much more settled during this period, with clearer water and better conditions for family sailing, although the exact weather always needs checking before departure.

My personal sweet spot would be February–March: warm, relatively dry, and excellent for swimming and snorkelling.

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K1 fleet at the Bala Sailing Club August Bank Holiday Regatta 2026

 

Set against the majestic backdrop of Llyn Tegid, which with its balmy waters after the hot summer felt like North Wales's very own Lake Como, Bala Sailing Club hosted an outstanding Bank Holiday Regatta from August 29th to 31st.

An impressive fleet of 54 boats gathered for three days of high-calibre racing across K1, RS Vareo, Mirror, Asymmetric, and Fast Handicap fleets.

The weather provided a progressive test for all competitors over the long weekend:

Saturday (Aug 29): Light, technical breezes ranging from 4-10 knots (gusting 13 knots) rewarded keen tactical eyes and physical agility.

Sunday (Aug 30): Conditions filled in slightly to a steady 6-10 knots (gusting 15 knots), offering ideal medium-air tactical racing.

Monday (Aug 31): The final day delivered thrilling, high-octane conditions, with breeze pumping 8-12 knots and squally gusts reaching 18 to 23 knots.

While the overall scores show consistent scorelines, the raw numbers mask just how fiercely fought the action was on the water—particularly within the competitive K1 fleet.

On Day 1, the light, shifty air favoured the athletic sailors. Doug McCusker (Shropshire SC) mounted an aggressive push to overtake eventual event winner Richard Sims (Carsington SC), who had to dig deep to hold off McCusker by mere seconds at the line, while Eddy Jackson (South Windermere SC) was at times, right behind them.

Overnight leader Chris Swallow (Burton SC) held early momentum, but after a few costly missteps on Day 2 allowed competitors to pounce, Richard Sims re-established his dominance at the front. He was hotly pursued by Jeremy Hudson (Avon SC), though local sailor David Ansell (Bala SC) put in a standout performance to power into 5th place in race 6.

Monday's freshening 23-knot gusts brought dramatic downwind action. Simon Lewis and Doug McCusker both made their presence felt in the heavy air, with McCusker pulling off a spectacular downwind pass on Hudson. Ultimately, Richard Sims claimed overall victory in the K1 class, closely trailed by Jeremy Hudson in 2nd and Chris Swallow in 3rd. Local honour was upheld by Steve Pooley as top Bala SC boat in 4th overall. Meanwhile, Eddy Jackson's effort earned him a well-deserved 1st in the BYPP (beat your predicted place).

Off the water, Bala SC proved once again why it remains a favorite destination for visiting fleets, with once again great camaraderie throughout the park and clubhouse. The social program kept energy high all weekend, starting with a Saturday night BBQ, followed by freshly made wood-fired pizzas and a competitive club quiz on Sunday evening. With fuel provided by the galley's hot breakfasts each morning and a lively, well-stocked bar running every night, the shore-side camaraderie matched the top-tier racing on the water.

Thanks to Ovington Boats and Craftinsure for their continued support.

Overall Results:

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

1st 180 Richard Sims Carsington SC 1 ‑4 3 1 1 2 1 2 11

2nd 202 Jeremy Hudson Avon SC 2 1 2 2 ‑3 1 3 1 12

3rd 181 Chris Swallow Burton SC ‑5 2 1 3 2 3 2 3 16

4th 150 Steve Pooley Bala Sailing Club 3 3 ‑4 4 4 4 4 4 26

5th 204 Doug McCusker Shropshire SC ‑6 5 5 5 5 6 5 6 37

6th 60 Simon Lewis Bala Sailing Club 4 6 6 6 6 ‑7 6 5 39

7th 30 Eddy Jackson South Windermere SC 7 7 7 8 8 8 (DNC) 7 52

8th 42 David Ansell Bala Sailing Club 8 8 8 7 7 5 (DNC) DNC 53

9th 19 Kevin Sandover Bala Sailing Club (DNC) DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 70

Royal Ulster Yacht Club hosts ladies’ races

 

THE Healthodontic Ladies’ Races were held at Royal Ulster Yacht Club on Sunday, featuring five entrants in the Spinnaker YTC/IRC class and three in the Whitesail YTC class.

The aim of the event is to showcase women getting out on the water and enjoying some relaxed racing, with the hope of encouraging others to do the same.

The only criteria for the event is to have at least one woman on board at the helm, plus more crewing. In fact, several boats even managed a fully female crew.

Race officers sent the fleet round separate courses, with the Whitesail boats sailing a short course inshore and the spinnaker class going further out.

The already lacking wind dropped off dramatically during race one, meaning the course had to be shortened to keep within the time limit.

Vicky Dews, at the helm of Plover, and with an all-women crew, came away with two wins in the Whitesail Class, ahead of the Sandra Christie-helmed Sunflower.

The competition was intense in the spinnaker class, with Suzanne Crain driving brother Rory’s Sonata and taking two first victories.

Eva Gilpin, at the wheel of Pippa VI, put up a great challenge and got line honours, but the races were too short to get far enough ahead for a win on handicap.

The visitors were Whitehead featured another allfemale crew, in the form of Sheela Lewis and her Ruffian 23 Icicle team.

This class had two more all-girl crews, with eight on board each of Charlotte Eadie’s Sigma 33 Mithril and Sinead Byrne’s Beneteau 31.7 Caesium.

The prize-giving took place at the club after lunch, with everyone able to relax, enjoying the live music, and each participant receiving McWilliam bags and drybags.

Weed hampers sailors taking part in the Grounds Trophy

 Despite the recent rain having put just enough flow on the river to push the surface weed towards town, where it has totally blocked the water taxi, there was still a lot of submerged weed to challenge the sailors from Welland Yacht Club on Sunday.

Eight boats came to the start for race one of The Grounds Trophy and leading the fleet away was Alan Chapman in his Laser Radial, but he lost a couple of places on the beat to buoy three.

Approaching Shelly’s Bush Corner a combination of a wind shift and weed caught out Alan Cox, also in a Laser Radial, and saw the only capsize of the day.

On their first run back to buoy 1 it was Helen Boyd, in her Solo, followed by new sailors Paul and Emma McGuire in their Lark, James Ramp (Laser Radial), Adam Stabler (Laser), Alan Chapman, Gerri Van Haren (Phantom), Alan Cox and Geoff Tibbs (Solo).

At the end of the second lap the positions on the water remained unchanged.

Following the application of class handicaps Boyd managed to hold her first place but below that it was all change with Ramp in second place, Chapman third, the McGuires in fourth, Stabler fifth, Alan Cox sixth, and Van Haren and Tibbs in joint seventh.

Van Haren decided not to race because of the weed, and Chapman was first away again in race two, followed by Ramp, Cox, Boyd, Stabler the McGuires and Tibbs.

There was some very close racing on the beat up to buoy 3 and what looked, from the clubhouse, to be a very near miss between Cox and the McGuires as they approached Shelly’s Bush Corner.

The weed proved troublesome again and Chapman decided to retire from the race.On lap two, Cox also fell foul of the weed and retired.

By the final rounding of buoy 1 it was Boyd followed by Ramp then the McGuires and these positions were unchanged after handicaps were applied.

After lunch, with the wind shifting and picking up a little, only five of the original eight boats took the start.

This time it was Boyd away first, followed closely by Ramp, then Cox, the McGuires and Tibbs.The wind shift made it harder work for the sailors beating up-river to buoy 3.

It was still almost a dead run back to buoy 1 which saw Helen leading Ramp, Cox, the McGuires and Tibbs. Cox retired, due to the weed, but the remaining sailors carried on.

These positions were held until the final leg back from buoy 3 when weed, and an unexpected gust, saw Boyd lose control for a moment and get stuck on the bank giving James the chance to get past.

The final positions on the water were Ramp, Boyd, the McGuires and Tibbs and these were unchanged by the handicaps.

Overall, the Grounds Trophy was won by Boyd, with Ramp second and the McGuires third.

RS21 World Championship 2026 – Entries Open

 

Cannes awaits as the RS21 World Championship heads to France for the first time. With less than two months to go and entries now open, the RS21 International Class is counting down to the fifth edition of the Worlds, taking place from 28-31 October at the prestigious Yacht Club de Cannes.

Located in the heart of the French Riviera, Cannes offers the perfect backdrop for the championship, combining world-class hospitality, glamorous restaurants and shops with a sophisticated yachting culture. Its Mediterranean setting, stunning scenery and vibrant culture also promise plenty for sailors to enjoy away from the racecourse.

“We’re excited to be heading to this prime sailing destination for the RS21 Worlds 2026,” says RS21 International Class Manager Liam Willis.

The RS21 International Class is expecting a fleet of around 50 boats, with a strong line-up of international teams anticipated to compete.

2025 World Champions ‘Les Freaks’ (HKG 295), helmed by Marco Pocci, will be defending their title, while current UK & Ireland National Champions ‘Tiga Tiger’ (GBR 341), helmed by Tom Hewitson, will be among the teams looking to challenge for the championship.

With the RS21 fleet continuing to grow year-on-year, the 2026 World Championship is expected to welcome teams from across the globe, with representation already anticipated from Italy, France, Spain, UK and Ireland, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Poland, Greece, Turkey, Monaco, Hong Kong, Georgia, Australia and Canada, with hopes that a team from the USA will also make the trip to Cannes.

The championship promises a premium racing experience, with the Yacht Club de Cannes providing the venue and facilities while the RS21 International Class brings its own experienced Principal Race Officer (PRO) and MarkSetBot autonomous race marks.

Professional media coverage will be provided by Code Zero Digital, while the Vakaros race management system will support the sailors.

Away from the racecourse, competitors can look forward to a full social programme, including Après Sail food and drinks, daily prizegivings, the championship dinner and the final podium presentation with plenty of champagne sprays the class is known for.

For more information, including registration, the entry list, and championship noticeboard, visit the RS21 International Class website.

Charters, supplied by RS Sailing, are nearly sold out, with the final boats available through RS Sailing Club.

Hansa UK Travellers Trophy at Rutland Sailability

 

There were a record 34 entries for this Hansa TT event on the 22nd August 2026 at Rutland. A one-day race event for sailors from Sailability Clubs around the country who travelled to take part from as far as Scotland and Chesil.

The day was fine with sunshine forecast for the day, but where was the wind? Forecast for the day was 9 miles per hour from the north west. That was going to be a challenge for those who prefer stronger conditions. There was enough wind to sail, but the direction was very changeable. It was not just about sailing, it was looking where the wind was, and steering towards the wind.

There were three classes of boat taking part. The Hansa Liberty, a single seater boat, the 303's single seater and the two-seater version with helm and crew. All classes have a deep cockpit, heavy centre board but otherwise sail as a normal sail boat.

The course was set as a 'sausage' comprising a beat, a run then a final leg, an extended reach and a run through to the finish gate. There were three starts, one for each of the boat classes with. Starts were three minutes. The plan was for four races, two in the morning, followed by a further two in the afternoon.

The Liberty class enjoyed a competitive ding dong for position with positions changing during the four races. Ultimately David Durston (Whitefriars) came out the winner with Mike Everett (Frensham) and Allan Wall (Rutland) picking up the second and third slot. Allan did well, because he was coming to the TT as a relatively new comer.

303 singles were dominated by Rory McKinna (Clyde Cruising Club) who had travelled down from Scotland to take part. Sophie Brisley (Whitefriars) was hot in pursuit of Rory but achieved a good second place, followed by Leslie Philip (Tideway).

303 two-seaters enjoyed some close sailing with the "Swans" Lynne and Stuart taking first place, and Jazz Turner/Jane Thomphson bringing up a close second followed by Philip Hall/Deedee Bryant taking the third place.

The day was rounded off with a prize-giving. At the end Steve Sawford was given an impact award from the RYA to recognise his contributions to the Hansa Class UK over many years.

The season continues with the Europeans in Barcelona, and the final two Traveller Trophy events at Papercourt and Frensham.

Overall Results: (top three)

Liberty class

1st - David Durston (Whitefriars)

2nd - Mike Everett (Frensham)

3rd - Allan Wall (Rutland)

303 single person

1st - Rory McKinna (Clyde Cruising Club)

2nd - Sophie Brisley (Whitefriars)

3rd - Leslie Philip (Tideway Sailability)

303 two person

1st - Lynne Swan, Stewart Swan (Frensham Pond)

2nd - Jazz Turner, Jane Thompson (Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club)

3rd - Phil Hall, Dee Dee Hall (Chesil Sailability)

Bluebottle Adds to Her Remarkable Racing Legacy in Cowes

 

Royal Racing Yacht Bluebottle GBR192 has added another significant chapter to her remarkable history following an exceptional period of racing in Cowes, winning the 2026 Edinburgh Cup and International Dragon Association UK Grand Prix before securing third overall in the Marblehead Trophy.

Raced by Graham Bailey, Julia Bailey, Will Bedford and Killian Boag, Bluebottle’s performances across the two prestigious International Dragon events provided a fitting demonstration of the enduring competitive spirit of one of Britain’s most historically significant racing yachts.

For The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, custodian of Bluebottle, the results represent far more than another successful racing campaign. They underline the importance of preserving Britain’s Royal sailing heritage as a living legacy, with historic yachts maintained, sailed and raced in the environment for which they were created.

The Edinburgh Cup victory was particularly significant. Bluebottle was presented to the then Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip as a wedding gift by members of the Island Sailing Club in Cowes. Just two years later, in 1949, Prince Philip presented the Edinburgh Cup to the British Dragon Association as the trophy for the British Dragon Open National Championship.

More than seven decades later, Bluebottle has now won that trophy for the first time.

The 2026 Edinburgh Cup, hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron, brought together a highly competitive international fleet for four days of racing on the Solent. Bluebottle established herself among the leaders from the outset and secured the championship with a race to spare.

The victory marked Graham Bailey’s fourth Edinburgh Cup title and Julia Bailey’s fifth as a member of a winning team, but most significantly, it was a first Edinburgh Cup victory for Bluebottle herself.

Graham Bailey said following the win: “I’m just so pleased for the team, pleased for Britannia, pleased for everyone.”

Following her Edinburgh Cup success, Bluebottle immediately returned to racing for the Marblehead Trophy, also held in Cowes.

The international inter-club competition carried added significance for the team. In 2025, Bluebottle had secured the first successful British challenge in the history of the Marblehead Trophy, a victory that brought the event to British waters for the first time.

Representing the Royal Yacht Squadron in 2026, Bluebottle once again competed at the front of the fleet and recorded a race victory during the six-race series. The team eventually finished third overall, just one point from second place, completing an all-British podium.

Together, the two results completed an extraordinary seven days of championship racing for a yacht whose competitive career began more than 75 years ago.

Following an extensive restoration by David Heritage Racing Yachts in Cowes, Bluebottle returned to competitive sailing and today continues to race nationally and internationally against modern International Dragons.

Her continuing success demonstrates the philosophy behind The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust’s stewardship of its historic sailing yachts: preserving their heritage while ensuring they continue to be sailed, experienced and enjoyed.

Bluebottle’s 2026 Cowes campaign therefore represents more than an Edinburgh Cup victory and Marblehead Trophy podium. It is another chapter in a Royal racing story that continues to evolve, decades after the yacht first took to the water.

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.