Poole Yacht Club host new Mirror sailing event in 2025

 

The Poole Mirror Open is a sailing event for Mirror dinghies, hosted by Poole Yacht Club, and is part of the club's regatta. It's a new event for 2025, where Mirror dinghies will have a separate start within the larger regatta. 

The event is open to both club members and visitors. 

Entries are available online and the organisers have received seven club boats entry already.

Mirrors will have their own start within the regatta, allowing them to compete amongst themselves.

The event is designed to be a fun and social occasion, with many other sailors around.

The event will take place over weekend on July 12 at 10.00 am and July 13 at 4.00 pm, with potential for entries to be for the whole weekend or just Saturday or Sunday.

Contact Poole Yacht Club for further information.

Budworth Sailing Clubs's Junior GP14 team wins Southport 12 Hour Race

 

The conditions were looking strong for this year's Southport 12-hour race at Southport SC with 12-15 kts constant and gusts up to 30 kts which provided a real challenge for the junior and youth teams taking part.

At 8am, the wind started strong to offer a real challenge for Fin and Rosanna to start on time and win the West Wood Cup for the fastest first two laps. With a good lead set by Fin and Rosanna, George and Matthew set out and after a capsize and spinnaker pole substitution continued to put distance between us and second place.

A quick change over and Fin and Iago were ready to go out for the noon race (not nude as Iago edgily thought it was). After winning the noon race and a change of crew for Will, more distance was pushing our lead further ahead as the hours of training building up to the event stated to pay off.

On shore Johnny's van supplied an endless amount of sausage baps to fuel not only the racing, but also Bill Kenyon's walks around the lake as he was enthusiastically shouting encouragement and scrutinising every manoeuvre by the Budworth boat.

Rosanna and Matthew swapped in for the female helm race at 16:00 securing the Macdonald Ladies Trophy for Budworth.

Racing continued into the early evening with Fin and Will being swapped in for an hour before George and Iago took control during which they managed to break a spinnaker pole and gain a penalty before finally swapping out in the last minutes of the race for Fin and Rosanna to win the Final Fling for the last two laps.

Overall, it was an amazing day with great competition from teams with abilities from beginner to advanced. We're all super excited to defend our title next year and hope other junior and youth sailors can join us!

Solo class Vintage Championship 2025 at Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club

 

Leigh on Sea Sailing Club is home to the largest fleet of Vintage Solos in the World and on Sat 12th July will host the seventh running of the Vintage Championship.

Like thoroughbred horses galloping around a make-shift course, unaware that they were laid out to pasture decades ago, these fine specimens just do not know when to quit. Their owners too, display similar traits, one could argue that some should have gone to the knackers yard years ago but the Solo is forever and technological advances in epoxy repairs, medicine and joint replacements keep Solos and they're sailors strong. Good job too as generation X, fed on T foils and Sail GP media, seem to have missed out on the fun you can have trying to push a 70kg hull through the water rather than over it.

The Solo, with its distinctive bow profile presents a challenge classes such as the Ok, Phantom and Streaker miss out on and that is to say, in a short chop it is nothing like putting a hot knife through butter.

The Solo design, first pencilled by Jack Holt in 1956 (next year is our 70th Anniversary) has seen plenty of development but like a small tributary, initially V-shaped and narrow has, over many decades and sometimes painfully slowly, evolved into a full blown river. This metamorphosis has only been possible through the clever + and - of 5mm tolerance Jack and the Solo Committee included in the first rules of the class, a tiny detail aimed directly at the amateur builder but providing huge scope for the professional builder to explore.

This Saturday, we celebrate the ingenuity of those early craftsmen who spent many late nights and early mornings struggling to find the magic formula that would propel their build to the front of the fleet. Whether you have a Holt, Stone, Beasley, Lovett, Uttley, Avacraft, Beckett, Severn Sailboats, Don Marine, Young, Crawshaw, Thresher, Miles or Gosling, you are now the ambassadors of the legacy that Jack created all those years ago.

Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta 2025

 

The 17th edition of the Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta held in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, over the past weekend (Friday 4 - Sunday 6 July), gave the fleet of 198 competing boats a showcase in how tricky the Western Solent can be.

Both Black and White Groups started Race 1 of the regatta on Saturday off the Mainland shore; White Group just to the west of the Lymington River, Black Group slightly to the east. A WSW breeze twitching between 19-23 knots and a deep swell with a horribly uncomfortable pattern from the final two hours of the ebb tide made the start line for both groups a severe challenge. Many in both racing fleets were carrying reefs, although the 20 boats in IRC 1 appeared not to be on the taking-a-reef mailing list.

As the wind continued to build through Saturday morning, White Group's course took the boats across towards the flatter water off the Island shore. Meanwhile, Black Group hammered it out in mid-Solent with the Race 1 downwind leg producing broaches, spinouts and spinnaker dramas forcing around eight boats to retire across the group's seven classes. As gusts peaked at 30+ knots at midday, the decision was made to cancel Race 2 for Black Group. Under one mile to the south, the 30-knot gusts arrived later in the afternoon and the six classes in White Group completed two races.

On Sunday morning, the Western Solent was a far calmer and less chaotic stretch of water for the second day of racing with the westerly breeze building swiftly from nine knots to gusts in the 20s towards noon. These conditions enabled the Taittinger RSYC Race Committee to slot-in Black Group's missing race from Saturday while White Group completed their scheduled, single race for Day 2.

At the prize-giving on Sunday, there were a number of repeat winners from last year's regatta: David Richards's J109 Jumping Jellyfish was back collecting silverware again with 1-1-1 victory; Tony Mack and crew of J111 McFly returned to the prize-giving table with a 1-2-2 scorecard and Peter Lloyd's Spirit C72 Gwenhyfar II triumphed for a second year in the IRC Classic Cruiser Class.

EAORA Offshore Regatta 2025

 

Fourteen boats started the RORC East Coast Race, the 120 mile Fastnet qualifier from Harwich to Ostend on Thursday June 26. Former EAORA chairman Tony Merewether started the race from his yacht Amazon, anchored west of North Shelf, a change of start line which allowed Richard Matthews' Carkeek 52 Oystercatcher XXXV, with 3.6 m draft, to remain in deep water at the pin end.

There were three Belgian entries: Ragazza (IV), Mills 37, owned by Jan Gabriel, commodore of the Royal North Sea YC, Anne Bonny, Swan 46, sailed by Sigrid Huyghe and an all-girl crew, the first ever all-female Belgian entry in the Fastnet, and Leda, sailed by Jan Toussein from the Royal Belgium SC. Chris and Karen Hames sailed south from Hull with their Classic Sparkman & Stevens designed Tramp of Airlie to take part in the race.

Oystercatcher XXXV took line honours in just over 11 hours and also won overall on corrected time taking the RBYC's Bob Stewart Memorial Trophy, RORC's Blackwater Trophy for Class 0/1 and RORC's Ailish Salver, for the first boat to finish.

Second overall was Sunstone, another Sparkman & Stephens classic owned by Will & Jenny Taylor Jones, with their son and daughter Samuel and Isobel playing a major part in the yacht's performance.

Simon Farren with A40 Warrior, top scoring EAORA boat in the recent RORC North Sea Race, was third overall, with ten men on board.

The course set by Race Officer Andy Wise took the boats down the Kings Channel and then back up to Long Sand Head, before crossing the North Sea. Initially conditions were benign, but as the fleet got closer to Belgium the winds increased and a few boats needed sail repairs when they arrived.

For full results of the regatta see :- www.eaora.org.uk

Shorter series:

1 Ape-X, Robert Leggett

2 Bushwakka, Simon Garner

3 Why Not, Richard Hudson

Longer series:

1 Sunstone, Will & Jenny Taylor-Jones

2 Warrior, Simon Farren

3 Spirit, Paul Scott

The Offshore Regatta saw 140 people enjoying Ostend and Ramsgate. A big thank-you to the Royal North Sea YC and the Royal Temple YC and their race officer Andy Kettingham. Haven Ports YC helped with the start and finish of the regatta. Five committee members helped with the logistics and there were two committee boats in Ostend: Andy Wise and Sally with their Fairey Huntsman Jayne, and my boat Windrunner. Unfortunately, both boats had problems after the event which is why there has been a slight delay with this report and the results going live.

EAORA thanks all the competitors for making it such a memorable weekend.

2025 Sailability Open off to a bang at Belfast Lough Sailability Centre

 

Over 35 sailors travelled to Belfast Lough Sailability Centre in County Antrim for the first Sailability Open of 2025. 

This event, held on 28 June, was the first of three Sailability Open events this summer which will provide racing opportunities for people of all abilities. The other events will take place at Lough Erne Yacht Club on 26 June and Foyle Sailability on 16 August

Ultimately, it is hoped that this will help to grow Sailability in Northern Ireland, engaging more people and clubs in this aspect of the club.

RYA Northern Ireland Sailability Officer, Oran Young, said: “Most of the time with Sailability you would be cruising so to see the competitive side to the sport is really good. There’s not really an opportunity out there as a pathway for Parasailing so this is great to see.

“Days like this are a confidence builder. When you’re out there and you get racing and you’re in the competitive side of things, it really does build your confidence as well as your skills. 

“RYA Northern Ireland have only recently appointed a Sailability Officer, so Sailability is a very ‘untapped resource’. I’m really looking forward to growing the sport over the next couple of years. I’ve been working hard with clubs and hopefully we’ll see some new clubs on board too.”

Racing was closely contested across the day in strong winds which provided challenges for the competitors, but all demonstrated impressive skills out on the water.

When the racing finished, Team Lough Erne were crowned the overall Belfast Lough Sailability Open winners for their performances in the Hansa class, and ‘Tamaraid’ finished as first Hawk. 

After racing, competitors and volunteers had the chance to socialise together during a BBQ before the prizegiving took place. 

One of the founding members of Sailability in Northern Ireland, Bob Harper MBE, hailed the social element of Sailability. He said: “The amount of friendships I’ve gained from it has been incredible. It’s also a feel-good factor from a volunteer’s point of view. 

“It’s just been amazing to watch the growth of Sailability in Northern Ireland and fantastic to see the number of friends I’ve made across the island of Ireland.”

RYA Northern Ireland would like to congratulate all of the competitors and thank all of the volunteers at Belfast Lough Sailability and further afield for making the event happen. 

If you would like to learn more about Sailability in Northern Ireland contact oran.young@rya.org.uk

Junior National Schools Championship at Itchenor Sailing Club

 

The 2025 Junior Schools Week at Itchenor Sailing Club, sponsored by Magic Marine, brought together 89 RS Fevas for exhilarating youth sailing in beautiful Chichester Harbour. Despite some challenging wind conditions, the Race Team managed to get six great races away and the young competitors rose to the occasion, with exciting and high calibre racing across the fleet.

Defending champion Cassius Day from Ryde School, crewed by Fallon Day, retained his title in style with a near-perfect scoreline of five bullets and a third place across the six races. Their consistent dominance reaffirmed their place at the top of junior school sailing.

The contest for the remaining podium positions was closely fought, with Zoe Lomas-Clarke and Will Ahlheid of Weydon School finishing second, just ahead of Thomas Knight and Ted Reynolds from Chichester Free School, who took third overall.

The Junior National Schools Championships play a vital role in developing the UK's youth sailing talent, and 2025's edition was yet another showcase of the passion, skill and sportsmanship of the next generation.

Many thanks to Magic Marine for sponsoring the event and the prizes, to Paul Ward (RO) and the race management team for running an excellent regatta, to the Itchenor house Team lead by the exceptional Chef Danny for providing breakfast and post-race supper for 180 competitors, teachers and helps each day, and, finally, to all the teachers and parents who supported the sailors.

Prize Winners:

1st - Cassius & Fallon Day (Ryde School) - Feva Event Trophy Winners

2nd - Zoe Lomas-Clarke & Wil Ahlheid (Weydon School)

3rd - Thomas Knight & Ted Reynolds (Chichester Free School)

4th - Rafe Bradley & Hannah Yates (Cowes Enterprise School)

5th - Freddie Jones & Freddy Woodruff (Churcher's College)

All-Girl Prize: Iris Pearce & Ava Popova (Sevenoaks School)

Team Prize (best 3 boats from a school): Chichester Free School

Thomas Knight & Ted Reynolds

Rupert & Felix Garlick

Callum Aldridge & Arthur Reynolds

Hit The Bay Sail All Day

Sailing event return this weekend for 40th anniversary

 

A sailing event is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary in Jersey with a series of races.

The Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club (RCIYC) has set up the event which will include surf relay racing, a hull flying competition and races around St Ouen's Bay.

Organisers said the event had not been able to take place for several years due to logistics and restrictions around moving boats from their base in St Aubin's bay.

They said there had been "growing enthusiasm to reintroduce the racing in St Ouen's Bay".

Organisers said the island's Hobie Fleet will also take to the water at the weekend.

Hobie Cats, a type of sailing catamaran, were first introduced into St Ouen's Bay in the 1980s.

Organisers said: "It will be action packed, including surf relay racing, a hull flying competition and races around the bay."

The racing will begin on Saturday at 11:30 BST, with the Hobie Cat Dash race back to St Aubin's bay on Sunday starting at 12:00 BST.

Organisers added the race area, north of Le Braye and towards El Tico, could be viewed from the beach or sea wall.

Cheer on Island sailing crews as Rolex Fastnet Race starts from Cowes

 

An Isle of Wight sailing spectacle is set to attract hundreds of spectators as the Rolex Fastnet Race will start in Cowes later this month.

The 100th anniversary of the race will start on the Island and finish in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, with crews taking on the 695 mile course.

Several Island crews are expected to take part in the event, which is the largest offshore race in the world.

The race begins on Saturday, July 26 from the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes.

The best spots for spectators to see the start of the race will be along Cowes Green and Egypt Esplanade.

The course then takes crews out on the Solent, with sailing boats visible from Yarmouth.

The Rolex Fastnet Race then follows the coast to Land's End in Cornwall, before rounding the Fastnet Rock off the South coast of Ireland, and returning west to Cherbourg in France.

Dart 15 sailing at Shanklin Sailing Club, Isle of Wight, UK

Sardinia a Jewel in the Mediterranean

 

Sardinia offers an incredible mix of turquoise waters, rugged coastline, charming coastal towns, and rich culture. 

Day 1: Olbia to Porto Cervo (Costa Smeralda)

Sailing time: ~2–3 hours

Highlights:

Cruise up the Costa Smeralda.

Stop at Spiaggia del Pevero for swimming.

Onshore Activity:

Explore Porto Cervo, Sardinia’s glamorous marina town.

Enjoy dinner at a chic seafood restaurant.

Optional: Wine tasting in the nearby vineyards (e.g., Vermentino wines).

Day 2: Porto Cervo to La Maddalena Archipelago

Sailing time: ~3 hours (with stops)

Highlights:

Anchor off Caprera Island for snorkeling.

Explore Budelli Island and the famous Spiaggia Rosa (Pink Beach - protected area, can't disembark).

Onshore Activity:

Dock at La Maddalena town.

Stroll the old streets, visit Garibaldi Museum on Caprera.

Day 3: La Maddalena to Bonifacio (Corsica)

Sailing time: ~4–5 hours (crossing to Corsica)

Highlights:

Stunning cliffs and fjord-like entrance to Bonifacio.

Onshore Activity:

Walk the medieval citadel of Bonifacio.

Hike the Staircase of the King of Aragon (if you're up for it).

Try Corsican charcuterie and cheeses in town.

Day 4: Bonifacio to Santa Teresa Gallura

Sailing time: ~2–3 hours

Highlights:

Scenic sail back to Sardinia across the Bocche di Bonifacio.

Onshore Activity:

Visit the Longonsardo Tower.

Relax on Rena Bianca Beach.

Try local specialties like porceddu (roast suckling pig) for dinner.

Day 5: Santa Teresa to Castelsardo

Sailing time: ~5–6 hours (longer leg)

Highlights:

Coastal sailing past dramatic cliffs and hidden coves.

Onshore Activity:

Explore the charming medieval town of Castelsardo.

Visit the Doria Castle and old town streets.

Try artisan baskets and crafts from local shops.

Day 6: Castelsardo to Alghero

Sailing time: ~4–5 hours

Highlights:

Stop at Porto Ferro for a quick swim.

Onshore Activity:

Stroll Alghero’s old Catalan-influenced streets.

Sunset aperitivo on the city walls.

Optional: Cave tour to Neptune’s Grotto (by dinghy or hike).

Day 7: Alghero to Olbia (via van transfer or local flight)

Option 1: Sail back to Olbia (long sail: ~10–12 hrs or split into 2 days)

Option 2: Disembark and return to Olbia by van transfer (3–3.5 hours) or local flight.

Optional Activity (if time):

Visit an inland winery or Nuraghe archaeological site on the way back.

Tips:- 

Best Time to Go: May–October (July has warmest waters but more crowds).

Boat Type: Catamaran for comfort and stability or monohull for traditional sailing.

Required Permits: Some islands (like Budelli) are protected — check mooring permissions.

Would you like help planning your next trip?

Please let us know about your sailing experience and where you're planning to go by using our Contact Form on this Blog, with your requirements to receive immediate help and assistance and using our Vast Knowledge and Experience to Help and Guide You.

WITH 12,000 RENTAL SAILING YACHTS AND MOTOR YACHTS 

ACROSS 60 COUNTRIES WHICH ONE WILL YOU CHOOSE ?

Registration open for the Chichester Yacht Club Optimist Open

 

Registration is open for this year's Chichester Yacht Club Optimist Open on Sunday the 13th of July. Visitors are very welcome to come and enjoy the clubs facilities while watching the racing from CYC's lawns.

There will be two fleets, a Regatta Fleet for the less experienced sailors and a Main Fleet for the more competitive. A race briefing will be held at midday in the sloop with the first race due to start at 1pm.

Register via :- www.cyc.co.uk/event/optimist-open-1