Fast Racing and Sinking Pontoons at the JOG Stoneways Poole Weekend

 

The Stoneways Poole Weekend delivered another memorable chapter in the JOG Coastal Series, with 55 boats signed up for two days of racing between Cowes and Poole.

Near peak spring tides, conditions ranging from light airs to more than 20 knots, and a packed Saturday night in Poole gave competitors plenty to contend with both on and off the water.

Saturday, Cowes to Poole

Saturday morning presented the Race Committee with an immediate challenge. With an exceptionally strong tide running and very little wind at the scheduled start time, racing was briefly postponed to allow the breeze to establish and give the fleet a fighting chance of making progress against the tide.

Once the wind arrived, the fleet was away.

The opening stages took competitors east from the start before rounding a mark and turning back west for the passage out of the Solent. By the time the fleet reached Hurst, conditions had changed considerably. The breeze continued to build into the low twenties, producing a fast, windy and increasingly bumpy exit into Christchurch Bay.

From Hurst, the fleet charged west across Poole Bay towards Peveril Ledge buoy. With the stronger breeze now well established, there was some excellent sailing across the bay before boats rounded at Peveril and enjoyed a fast power reach towards Poole and the finish at the Stoneways Marine mark.

The majority of the fleet crossed the line between 15:30 and 17:00 before heading into Poole Quay Boat Haven, where the marina team did a remarkable job of accommodating the large JOG fleet.

Attention then quickly turned from racing to the 18:00 dock party. Crews gathered on the pontoons for well-earned drinks from local Purbeck Brewery and to celebrate the day's racing. Such was the turnout that one pontoon found itself briefly underwater, with crews from across the fleet catching up after a lively day on the water.

Sunday, Poole to Cowes

Sunday brought more settled conditions for the return race, with around eight knots of breeze at the start, increasing to a steady 12-14 knots as the day progressed.

From the start at Stoneways, boats faced a short upwind leg to Stoneways Marine before turning downwind for the long run home.

What followed was an excellent downwind race across Poole Bay, through Hurst and back into the Solent. The fleet continued beyond Cowes before rounding the final turning mark and setting up for one last short upwind leg, this time with the tide, to the finish.

After Saturday's stronger and more physical conditions, Sunday presented a very different challenge, with plenty of tactical decisions and opportunities for gains throughout the fleet.

Across the two days, the Stoneways Poole Weekend offered just about everything, from huge tides and light airs to building breeze, lumpy seas, fast reaching and long downwind sailing, alongside the close competition and sociable atmosphere that are hallmarks of JOG racing.

Weekend winners:

Saturday, Cowes to Poole

IRC Class 1: Dusty P, Richard Patrick

IRC Class 2: RORC Griffin, Jesssica Jarman and Henry Redmond

IRC Class 3 & IRC OVerall: Javelin, Richard Newsom

IRC Class 4: Sailfish, Oli Hawkins

Double Handed: Rockit, Chris Hanson

Women's Sailing Series: With Alacrity, Chris and Vanessa Choules

Generation JOG Henri-Lloyd winner: Elaine Again

Sunday, Poole to Cowes

IRC Class 1: Dusty P, Richard Patrick

IRC Class 2: Unruly, Charles Bull

IRC Class 3: Nightjar, Lulu Wallis

IRC Class 4 & IRC Overall: Stan the boat, Toby Gorman

Double Handed: Joyride, Ed Rogers

Women's Sailing Series: With Alacrity, Chris and Vanessa Choules

Full results can be found at myjog.jog.org.uk/results

A huge thank you goes to Stoneways Marine for sponsoring the weekend and helping to make another successful JOG race weekend possible.

Thanks also go to Poole Quay Boat Haven, whose team did an exceptional job of fitting the JOG fleet into the marina and looking after boats as they arrived throughout Saturday afternoon, and to Parkstone Yacht Club for providing its committee boat, which was invaluable for the finish of Saturday's Cowes to Poole race and the start of the return race on Sunday.

One final race weekend

There is now just one Coastal Series weekend remaining in the 2026 JOG season, with the fleet heading out for one final hurrah on 26 and 27 September. Entries remain open here.

After that, attention turns to the JOG Awards Evening at the Harbour Hotel Southampton on 31 October, when crews will come together to celebrate the 2026 season. With the year's trophies and awards to present, dinner, drinks and dancing into the night, there will be plenty to celebrate after another memorable season of JOG racing. Find out more here.

Big Winds at the UKLA East ILCA Grand Prix at Grafham Water Sailing Club

 

Conditions at the UKLA East ILCA Grand Prix Open at Grafham Water Sailing Club matched the formidable forecast of a South-Westerly breeze of 12 knots, gusting up to a vicious 27 knots under changing cloud cover and bright intervals.

The wind conditions prompted several of the 38 entrants to change down a rig size before launching to maintain control. The race management team ran three back-to-back races over a trapezoid course. Due to the high winds, the fleet was glad that the opening race of three laps was shortened to two laps for the remaining two races.

ILCA 4 Fleet

In the ILCA 4 fleet, Will Keys-Batson (NBYC/WOBYC) put on a spectacular display of heavy-weather boat handling, winning all three races to take the class victory with 2.0 net points. His score also secured him the overall handicap title for the event. Isobelle Johnson (WOBYC) finished second overall with a 2-2 recovery in the final two races, finishing ahead of Ella Bonnett (Orford Sailing Club) in third.

ILCA 6 Fleet

The 22-boat ILCA 6 fleet proved to be the largest and fiercest contest of the day, demanding boat speed and pinpoint downwind control.

Nathan Clark (WOBYC) won all three races to take first place overall. Ciara Murphy (Cayman Islands Sailing Club) finished second with two 2nd-place finishes after discarding an initial 5th. Kieran Vanhoutte (Ely Sailing Club) took third overall. Local Grafham sailor William Swann finished fourth overall, securing two 4th-place finishes in the final two races after a difficult opening race.

ILCA 7 Fleet

John Elder (Grafham Water Sailing Club) won the opening race of the ILCA 7 fleet. However, Daniel Bull (Rollesby Broad Sailing Club) won the class outright on 2.0 net points after winning both Race 2 and Race 3, recovering from a 7th-place finish in Race 1.

John Elder (1-3) and David Gale (2-2) finished tied on 4.0 net points. Elder took second place overall on the tie-break due to his opening race win, placing Gale in third. Marcellus Pryor (Draycote Water Sailing Club) finished fourth overall, helped by a 2nd-place finish in Race 2.

Conditions and Capsizes

The 27-knot gusts made handling difficult across the course, causing two mast failures during the event. Capsizes were frequent across all fleets, with one competitor recording at least 20 capsizes over the three races before reaching the finish line.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks from the competitors to the race officer, safety boat crews, and shore volunteers for managing the heavy weather conditions safely.

Grafham Water SC extends an invitation to all ILCA sailors to join them for their winter series running from November to March offering big courses and fleet racing every Sunday.

Overall Results:

ILCA 4 Fleet

1. Will Keys-Batson (NBYC/WOBYC) - 2.0 net pts (Overall Handicap Winner)

2. Isobelle Johnson (WOBYC) - 4.0 net pts

3. Ella Bonnett (Orford Sailing Club) - 5.0 net pts

ILCA 6 Fleet

1. Nathan Clark (WOBYC) - 2.0 net pts

2. Ciara Murphy (Cayman Islands Sailing Club) - 4.0 net pts

3. Kieran Vanhoutte (Ely Sailing Club) - 5.0 net pts

4. William Swann (Grafham Water Sailing Club) - 8.0 net pts

ILCA 7 Fleet

1. Daniel Bull (Rollesby Broad Sailing Club) - 2.0 net pts

2. John Elder (Grafham Water Sailing Club) - 4.0 net pts (Won tie-break)

3. David Gale (Grafham Water Sailing Club) - 4.0 net pts

4. Marcellus Pryor (Draycote Water Sailing Club) - 7.0 net pts

Wayfarer International Rally 2026 at Loch Lomond

 

For 2026, it was the turn of the UK to host the Wayfarer Class International Rally. This remarkable cruising event has run for 35 years, and the International Wayfarer Class Associations take turns to host. 2025 was in Denmark, 2024 Friesland, 2023 Ireland and 2022 France.

So it was that 30 Wayfarers from across Europe and the UK, plus sailors visiting from North America and Canada, congregated at Loch Lomond on 5th September for a week of fun filled Dinghy Adventuring, renewing long standing friendships, and creating new ones.

On the whole the weather played ball; this being Scotland some rain was to be expected, and was delivered, along with plenty of sunshine and a good range of wind strengths in which to explore the islands at the southern end of the Loch. The wind bends and gusts around the island, so a degree of concentration is required, but not enough to detract from admiring the stunning scenery which was the backdrop to the sailing, whichever way you looked.

Lunches were of the picnic variety, while the group shared several organised evening meals, enjoying the traditional dishes of Scotland, and other world famous Scottish beverages and spirits.

On the day when the winds didn't co-operate, sailors either enjoyed walking parts of the West Highland Way, which runs adjacent to the Loch, or visiting some of the many places of interest in the vicinity.

The week rounded off with a beautiful downwind sail from Luss back to Loch Lomond Waterfront, Balmaha, where the rally was based - a wonderful sailing memory to take away.

In 2027, the Rally is going to Lake Ontario, Canada, before visiting Hayling Island for 2028.

Adventuring Rallies are a staple part of owning a Wayfarer dinghy, and to find out more about how to take part, visit www.wayfarer.org.uk or follow Wayfarer Association on Facebook.

Thanks as always to our sponsors - Craftinsure, Rooster and Allen for helping out.

Comet open meeting at Crawley Mariners Yacht Club

 

The weather forecast was looking promising, WSW 3-4, partly cloudy. The water levels at Hedgecourt Lake however were much lower than normal due to the prolonged drought so the race team set a smaller course to avoid the shallows near the edges. Twelve boats signed on for the racing, five visitors and seven home boats.

In race one, CMYC sailor, Jeff Smith led from the start and sailed an error free race to win from Simon Thompson, also CMYC, in second. Chris Robinson was third.

In the second race Jeff was too early on the short start line and had to gybe away to start on port behind much of the fleet. Now it was Eddy Pope's turn to lead the fleet round and to finish first with Simon in second and Chris in third.

By the afternoon the wind had increased with bright autumn sunshine and significant gusts which caused a few capsizes but also made for some exciting close racing. Simon led in race three and Jeff in second was unable to overtake. Chris sailed another consistent race to finish third.

In the final race Jeff established a commanding lead which he held to the finish. All in all it was a successful day for the home sailors.

Thank you to all on the race team and to the support boat crew for helping to make it such a successful and enjoyable day.

Overall Results:

Pos. Sail No Helm Club R1 R2 R3 R4 Points

1 872 Jeffrey Smith CMYC 1 4 2 1 4

2 809 Simon Thompson CMYC 2 2 1 2 5

3 377 Eddie Pope CSSA 13 1 4 4 9

4 867 Chris Robinson Burghfield SC 3 3 3 3 9

5 518 Mike Thompson CMYC 4 6 13 5 15

6 532 John Coppenhall Hunts SC 5 5 5 7 15

7 174 Meg Warren Chipstead S C 6 7 13 6 19

8 858 John Steward CMYC 9 8 6 13 23

9 868 Helen Evans Silver Wing SC 8 9 8 8 24

10 169 Richard Warnett CMYC 13 10 7 13 30

11 117 Mike Smith CMYC 7 13 13 13 33

12 506 Mike Wilson CMYC 13 11 13 13 37

Tom Semmens Secures British Sailing Youth Team Selection After Standout Summer

 

It has been an exceptional summer for Tom Semmens of Paignton Sailing Club, marked by major international results, a successful step up into a new class, and selection for the British Sailing Youth Team for the winter programme.

A Clear Goal for 2026

Tom's main objective for 2026 was to earn selection for the British Sailing Youth Team. Achieving that goal required consistent performances throughout the season and, ultimately, a successful transition into the highly competitive ILCA 6 class.

Early-Season Success in the ILCA 4

The year began with national ranking events in March. Already ranked number one in the UK in the ILCA 4 class, Tom won both events and used them as tune-up regattas ahead of the ILCA 4 European Championships in Mar Menor, Spain, in April.

Tom had previous experience in Mar Menor, having finished fifth and as the top UK sailor at the 2024 Topper World Championships. However, the ILCA 4 represents a major step up from junior classes into youth sailing and, ultimately, towards Olympic pathways. The international standard is exceptionally high.

At the ILCA 4 Europeans, Tom started strongly and improved as the week progressed. He became the first UK sailor for many years to win a race at the event and finished ninth overall out of 256 competitors. The next highest-placed British sailor finished 112th.

A Change of Plan: Stepping Up to the ILCA 6

Following that result, the plan was to defend Tom's ILCA 4 national title and target a top-ten finish at the ILCA 4 World Championships. However, British Sailing Youth Team selection required sailors to finish in the top eight at the UK Nationals in the ILCA 6 rig. Because the dates clashed and Tom's ILCA 4 performance could not be used for selection, he had to change course and compete in the ILCA 6 UK Nationals instead.

This was a significant challenge. The ILCA 6 is the women's Olympic single-handed boat and the transitional class towards the ILCA 7, the men's Olympic boat. The standard of competition is intense.

Tom's first ILCA 6 event had taken place only a few months earlier, in February, at the Sailing South West Series "Cracker", hosted by Paignton Sailing Club. In the tightest of finishes, he won overall against a high-quality fleet.

The ILCA 6 Nationals also went extremely well. Tom won a race and, most importantly, secured his place on the British Sailing Youth Team.

Winter Programme and Upcoming Events

This winter, as part of the British Sailing Youth Team, Tom is committed to nine training events, alongside a busy racing schedule.

Europa Cup, Malta, in December

ILCA 6 European Championships, Hyères, South of France, in April

National ranking event in East Lothian, Scotland, in two weeks' time

Endeavour Trophy, Burnham-on-Crouch, sailing with Ben Flower, winner of the RS Aero 7 National Championships

Two further national ranking events in Portland in October

The Endeavour Trophy is a prestigious event open only to reigning national or Olympic champions. This will be the fourth time Tom has competed, making the coming months another demanding period of training and racing.

Balancing Sailing and GCSEs

Alongside sailing, Tom also completed his GCSEs earlier this summer. Balancing racing, training and revision was always going to be challenging, but after returning from the ILCA 4 Europeans in Spain, Tom worked extremely hard and achieved excellent grades. Given the demands of his training and competition schedule, this was a particularly impressive achievement.

To round off the summer, Tom also completed his RYA coaching qualifications last weekend. This will allow him to support younger sailors as they begin their own sailing journeys.

Thanks and Support

Tom's progress has required significant commitment, much of it driven by his own determination. His family are incredibly proud of everything he has achieved.

It is also a financially demanding programme. Although British Sailing Youth Team training is subsidised by the RYA, the majority of the costs are still met by Tom's parents. The family are immensely grateful to Rockfish for their continued support. Without Rockfish's help, Tom would not be able to compete at the level he does, and his selection for the British Sailing Youth Team is directly linked to that support.

Thanks also go to Tom's coaches, especially Charlie Linsell from the Andrew Simpson Performance Academy, who has helped Tom make a rapid transition from Topper sailing into the ILCA class. Charlie says there is still plenty to work on, but the progress has been remarkable.

The family are also grateful to Churston Ferrers Grammar School for their understanding and support with time away from school.

Many thanks to everyone who has supported Tom. It is hugely appreciated.

Firefly at 80: Anniversary raffle lifts turnout across the country

 

The National Firefly Class Association's 80th anniversary boat draw was designed to get Fireflys sailing again, not simply to find one lucky winner. Club fleets that had gone quiet are back out racing.

Open meeting attendance across the 2026 season has run 45% up on last year. Twenty-seven boats went to South Staffs in April. Thirty-six raced the South Western Championship at Restronguet over the late May bank holiday. The Tideway 80th Anniversary Firefly National Championships at Tenby in August drew an entry of 116 boats, the biggest Firefly nationals since 1974. Taken together, it is the strongest run of event figures the class has seen in years.

The headline prize is Firefly F4444, a race-ready boat built by Ovington Boats and supplied complete with Selden spars, Hyde sails and covers, a Sea-Sure rudder and a Sailboat Trailers launch trolley, all donated by the class's supporters. The second ticket drawn wins a Sailteck compass.

But the numbers that matter most are the ones at club level, because you do not have to travel to be in the draw. Tickets can be earned by racing a Firefly at your own club, and that is the part that has quietly put boats back on the water week in, week out.

At West Kirby Sailing Club, weekly Firefly fleet racing returned this season after an absence of several years. Five club boats went afloat, every one of them helmed by a junior, turnout encouraged directly by the anniversary draw and the chance for young sailors to earn a ticket simply by racing.

"In my mind this is exactly what the draw to win a Firefly was intended to achieve," said nationals coordinator Jim Bramley.

West Oxfordshire Sailing Club tells a similar story. All six of the club's Fireflys have been out fleet racing on Wednesday evenings this season, with at least four or five afloat most weeks.

That is the point of it. The anniversary raffle was never really about one boat going to one lucky winner. It was about giving clubs a reason to pull the covers off the Fireflys, find crews, and rebuild fleets that had gone quiet.

Clubs: make sure your results reach the NFA

There is one thing club sailors have to get right. A ticket earned at your own club only counts if the racing is reported. Club sailing secretaries must email their Firefly results to fireflyswarm.sailing@gmail.com before 14 November 2026. Results that are not submitted cannot be counted towards the draw, however many Wednesday evenings it filled.

Every helm and crew must also opt in individually at forms.gle/MSeCVBpEpvcyQp1v7 by 14 November to validate their tickets. Club racing earns one ticket per four days sailed, up to a maximum of five. Open meetings and the Nationals earn a ticket for each helm and each crew. Full terms are on the class website. www.fireflyclass.co.uk/80th-anniversary-year

An eighty-year-old design that still works

Designed by Uffa Fox and first launched in 1946, the Firefly remains a true one-design, in which a seventy-year-old hull can still win a race. Combined with a deliberate push to bring younger sailors into the class, that has shown up in the make-up of the fleet as much as in its size. At Tenby, more than 40% of helms were under 21, and 22 boats were helmed by women.

"We are proud that the Boat Raffle to celebrate our 80th Anniversary has got so many Fireflys out of the boat park and onto the water," said Jenny Smallwood, Chairwoman of the National Firefly Association. "It is amazing that both open meeting attendance and weekly club racing has been boosted this year. If you've got a boat being overgrown by weeds at your local club, get it out sailing this autumn!"

How to take part

Five open meetings remain before the deadline, beginning with the Inland Championships on 19 and 20 September, and every one of them is a chance to add tickets. The draw takes place at the NFA 80th Anniversary Dinner on Saturday 21 November 2026 at the Royal Thames Yacht Club, made in public and witnessed by NFA officers and class sponsors.

The 2026 Tideway 80th Anniversary Firefly National Championships were supported by Tideway Wealth, Gill, Ovington Boats, Selden, Hyde Sails, Sailboat Trailers, Craftinsure and Marlow Ropes.

Allspars Final Fling Dinghy Regatta

 

For the ninth year running, the Allspars Final Fling Dinghy Regatta returns on the 17th & 18th October 2026. Bringing with it the excitement, camaraderie and competitive spirit that have made this end-of-season regatta a favourite among dinghy sailors across the UK, building on the momentum of previous years, where sailors from clubs nationwide descended on Plymouth for two days of lively racing, with new courses.

Competitors can once again expect a full and dynamic weekend of sailing, with multiple races scheduled across both days. Historically, the event has delivered a mixture of short-course competition and a longer challenge such as the iconic Around the Breakwater race, creating a regatta that tests skill, stamina and teamwork in equal measure.

Supported proudly by Allspars and hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club, the regatta has grown into one of the UK's favourite end-of-season dinghy events, attracting an incredible variety of boats and sailors. With that growth has come valuable feedback, and we've been listening.

For 2026, our new Principal Race Officer is developing updated race course formats designed to improve the on-water experience for all competitors, particularly where faster and slower handicap fleets share the same race area. The aim is simple: more great racing, fewer frustrations, and plenty of fun, whether you're sailing a Mirror, Merlin Rocket, Phantom, B14, Moth, Skiff or anything in between.

We're also delighted to confirm that the 2026 Final Fling will host:

B14 Traveller Series event

Phantom Open Meeting

Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller event

And of course, we'll be looking to bring back the ever-popular Round Breakwater Race, weather permitting.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the event over the years. Your feedback helps us continue to improve and grow.

Top Three Winter Sun Sailing Options

 

🥇 1. British Virgin Islands — my first choice

If you want a 7-day sailing holiday where the sailing itself is a major part of the experience, I'd put the BVI at the top.

You get:

Short, enjoyable sailing legs

Lots of sheltered anchorages

Warm water around 26°C

Reliable trade winds

Fantastic snorkelling

Beautiful beaches

Plenty of good restaurants and beach bars

Very little need for long passages

January–March is particularly good, although February is often considered one of the best months.

Ideal itinerary: Tortola → Norman Island → Peter Island → Cooper Island → Virgin Gorda → Anegada → Jost Van Dyke → Tortola.

🥈 2. Seychelles — spectacular tropical sailing

The attraction is that the sailing is combined with extraordinarily beautiful islands: granite cliffs, enormous boulders, jungle, deserted beaches and excellent snorkelling.

December–March brings warm temperatures around 29°C and generally lighter winds, typically around 5–15 knots, with occasional short rain showers.

Best for: a relaxed luxury catamaran + swimming + exploring ashore holiday rather than hard-core sailing.

🥉 3. Grenadines — perhaps the most romantic

Ideal itinerary: 

St Vincent → Bequia → Mustique → Canouan → Tobago Cays → Mayreau → Union Island.

The Tobago Cays are a major highlight — turquoise water, reefs, turtles and small uninhabited islands.

I'd choose the Grenadines over the BVI if you want the holiday to feel more remote and less developed.

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2026 Specsavers International Cadet UK Inland Championship at Rutland Sailing Club

 

A new chapter begins at this year's Specsavers International Cadet Inland Championship as Rutland Sailing Club prepares to welcome the UK's best young Cadet sailors for a weekend of close racing on 19th and 20th September.

There has been a changing of the guard. With many of the class's established helms now taking a well-earned bow from Cadet sailing, moving on to exciting new challenges in other classes. Their departure leaves behind not only impressive results, but also an opportunity for the next generation to make their mark.

Next weekend, the spotlight shifts to the sailors ready to step up. Former crews will be looking to prove they can lead from the back as they take the helm, while a talented group of up-and-coming helms will be eager to show exactly what they're capable of. In the regatta fleet, expect plenty of fresh faces, growing confidence, and some fiercely contested racing as tomorrow's stars begin to emerge.

With 2027 marking the 80th anniversary of the International Cadet Class, this new season promises to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. The class is on a genuine upward trajectory, with growing fleets, renewed enthusiasm, and a clear vision for the future. The goal is ambitious but achievable: 80 boats on the start line at the 2027 National Championship in Brixham, Devon, next August - a fitting celebration of eight decades of one of the world's greatest youth sailing classes.

Rutland's open water has a reputation for producing tactical, exciting racing, and with the fleet more open than it has been for years, predicting a winner is harder than ever. One thing is certain: by the end of the weekend, new names will have announced themselves as the ones to watch.

The road to the 80th anniversary starts here.

Official Notice Board and Online Entry is located at www.cadetclass.org.uk/events

Supernova class at the Loch Lomond Dinghy Weekend 2026

 

Five Scottish Supernova sailors registered for the Loch Lomond Dinghy Weekend from both Castle Semple and Port Edgar. Unfortunately, Calum didn't manage to get there but did post a picture of his space saver spare wheel on the car to explain why. Now we were four.

Saturday started flat calm with a breeze gentle breeze forecast. We got on the water at 12.30 and had a gentle sail to the race area. We were 3rd start with the low rider Moths behind the Blazes and fast handicap. Pete Sykes took the lead from Andy MacDonald followed by Rob Plant and Gary O'Conner. Rob sailed the wrong course and just thought he was in the lead until he realised and consequently scored a DNF.

Race two was delayed as the wind shifted about 90 degrees to the west and the RO team re-laid the marks. This time the pin end of the line was favoured but as Andy discovered, it was overrun with Moths. Pete took the gap at the committee boat end and found clear air. This time Rob got ahead of Andy after a bad shift left him in a hole with nowhere to go. Race three was similar to race one, but this time Rob sailed the right course and at the end only one minute covered all 4 boats.

There then followed a wind-less interlude with many competitors willing the RO to let us sail back to shore and the RO apparently saying "Give it 10 minutes and see what comes" more than once. When it did come the wind went from 2 to 20 kn in the space of a minute and as it had shifted back 45 degrees, the course was re-laid for the final, rather windy race. Later that evening the Supernova sailors visited The Oak Tree in Balmaha for dinner with Andy and Garry then moving to the clubhouse bar.

On Sunday we woke to calm before the storm. As we sailed out expectations were low as the committee boat had the AP flying. But the wind filled from the south and/or southwest, occasionally west and a course was laid after with just a couple of adjustments as the wind gods made their minds up. The first beat was long and Andy and Pete battled ahead. Rob and Garry were now getting much closer to the front two.

On the second beat, Pete somehow decided that orange was the new yellow and opted to sail on the longer beat on the wrong side of the course rather than the shorter beat on the correct side. Andy got the win this time and while Pete caught Rob at the last leeward mark, he then managed to tack onto starboard to avoid sailing under two GP14s only to find they tacked too. This blocked his return to port tack while Rob spotted the shift and got lifted all the way to the line .

For race 2 on Sunday, the wind was still building and swinging about. The beat was hard with knockdown gusts, then suddenly nothing closely followed by back to heavy wind. Andy had the lead until the short last beat where a hole of nothing swallowed him up letting Pete and Rob through with Andy only to recover and beat Rob by a fraction of a second.

Race 3 was thankfully a quieter affair and the RO managed a course change again to cope with the new wind direction (more south this time) The course was shorter and sailors were soon heading back to harbour. When, of course, the wind dutifully shifted back to west, giving a dead run in a strong wind onto a busy slip with more than one competitor getting their first capsize of the weekend on arrival.

Overall, an excellent weekend of fun and learning for all (Calum remember a real size spare tyre) congratulations to Pete Sykes on 1st, Andy MacDonald 2nd, Rob Plant 3rd and getting faster and Gary O'Connor who was right on the tail of the fleet by the end. Also, a massive thank you to Loch Lomond Sailing Club for hosting such a great event and to the ROs for excellent race management in some really challenging conditions.

Overall Results:

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

1st 1372 Pete Sykes PEYC 1 1 1 1 ‑3 1 1 6

2nd 1175  Andrew Macdonald  Castle Semple SC 2 ‑3 2 2 1 2 3 12

3rd 548   Robert Plant Castle Semple SC (DNC) 2 3 3 2 3 2 15

4th 1059 Garry OConnor PEYC 3 (RET) 4 4 4 4 4 23

5th 1204 Calum Robertson PEYC DNC (DNC) DNC DNC DN DNC 29

Just 67 seconds separate top sailing crews in thrilling Cowes-France race

A THRILLING race from the Isle of Wight to France ended with just over a minute separating the leading yachts, as Midnight Blues claimed overall victory in the 2026 RORC Nautical Cloud Cherbourg Race.

The 75-nautical-mile offshore contest, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and JOG, started from Cowes on Friday last week (September 4), before crews crossed the English Channel to the finish in the French port of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin.

French skipper, Jean-Eudes Renier, and Joe Lacey, guided the Pogo RC Midnight Blues to IRC Overall honours and monohull line victory after a dramatic battle with Gery Trentesaux's Courrier Pogo.

Midnight Blues crossed the line just 67 seconds ahead, but securing victory by 2mins 3secs after IRC correction.

Simon Bamford and Ben Ibbotson aboard Sun Fast 3300 Kestrel, completed the overall podium.

The race proved fiercely competitive, with the top 15 boats separated by little more than an hour on corrected time.

The victory earned Midnight Blues a notable treble — taking IRC Overall, IRC Two and Monohull Line honours.

Elsewhere, Jon McColl's Shuttleworth 34 Shockwave was the fastest multihull across the Channel, completing the course from Cowes to Cherbourg in 6hrs 33mins 25secs.

However, Didier Bouillard's Minor Swing claimed the multihull class win after time correction.

 

Hadron H2 National Championship at Keyhaven Yacht Club

 

The tenth National Championship of the Hadron H2 class, hosted by Keyhaven YC, will take place over three days, starting this Friday. The forecast, for light to moderate winds, with perhaps a little more on the final day, suggests that there might be quite a few helms among the more than twenty-one entries who will fancy their chances.

At last year's event, held at WPNSA, Richard Leftley and Richard Le Mare had a very close struggle for the top place in generally moderate to strong winds. Richard Leftley finished only 3 metres ahead of Richard Le Mare in two races and the final difference was just one point.

But there are several other strong candidates for the top place. Current leader in the 2026 Travellers Trophy series, with two wins and two seconds in the six events to date, is Tim Garvin, back into an H2 after a foray into the International Canoe Class. Tim Blackmore, newcomer to the H2 but with a fine reputation in other classes, will also be a significant challenger. Dave Barker has been a little out of practice lately but the weather will suit his lighter weight and he is more than capable of being near the top. But all the above will be keeping a close watch on Gavin Fleming, third in last year's Nationals and currently one point behind Tim Garvin in the Travellers Series.

Our favourite PRO, 'The Line is Mine' Dougal Henshall, will be keeping a firm grip on the fleet and is the ideal person to manage the rather challenging circumstances of wind and tide that are common at Keyhaven.

Holy Loch Sailing Club competitors battle light winds

 

HOLY LOCH Sailing Club competitors faced challenging conditions as the sailing season moved towards its conclusion, with 15 boats taking part in Wednesday evening’s racing.

A mere hint of a westerly breeze greeted competitors as they set off in a massed start, with sailors keen to make the most of the fading daylight.

Six boats contested the piper class, with Tom Piper, still buoyed by the recent Championship success, taking the early initiative with an excellent start.

The crew built a healthy lead during the first round, but the light air then deserted the fleet towards the end of the lap, allowing the boats to close up and effectively restart the race.

An easterly breeze then introduced itself and gradually increased in strength towards the finish.

Duncan Munro, Stuart Brown and Ali Gordon regained their advantage to take a well-deserved victory aboard Tom Piper.

Meanwhile, Staypuff, skippered by Robert Towart, made progress after a slow start to finish second.

The result sets up a final postponed race to decide the overall winner of the final series of the season, with Tom Piper and Staypuff now comfortably ahead on points.

Four flying fifteens took to the water for a closely fought race, with all fleets starting together.

Determined not to repeat a previous over-the-line disqualification, More Mischieff took a cautious approach and crossed the start on the third row.

Fortune soon turned in their favour, however, when the crew found their own private gust of wind and swept past the competition to establish a narrow lead by the first mark.

By the third mark, More Mischieff had built what appeared to be a comfortable advantage, but the fading breeze towards the end of the first lap allowed Good Moaning to dramatically close the gap.

More Mischieff responded strongly on the second lap, opening up another advantage and holding firm until the finish to secure victory.

Further back, Efficacious mounted a late challenge and pushed hard during the closing stages, but ultimately fell just short of catching Good Moaning, which held on for second.

Four boats competed in the White Sail fleet and struggled with the light wind on the massed start line.

The fleet enjoyed close racing, with Atia taking the win once handicaps were applied.

Elsewhere, six boats took to the water for Tuesday evening’s dinghy race in a fresh breeze which provided plenty of excitement and kept the rescue boat crew on their toes.

Victory initially appeared to be heading the way of Ali Gordon in his Solo, but a late capsize dramatically changed the outcome.

Harris Munns, sailing a Laser Radial, seized the opportunity to take the lead and secure victory.

Full results :-

Piper class: 1, – Tom Piper (Duncan Munro, Ali Gordon, Stuart Brown); 2, – Staypuff (Robert Towart, Caroline Clarke, Charmaine Boyd); 3, – Billie Piper (Iain Hurrel, Graeme Murray); 4, – Leander (Alan Waugh, James Heggarty); 5, – Selena (Alastair McLean, Abi); 6, – Talisker (Jamie Rogers, Matilda McLaren, Neil McLaren).

Flying fifteen class: 1, – More Mischieff (Chris Bowen, Marion Bowen); 2, -Good Moaning (Iain Sinclair, Kirsty Brown); 3, – Efficacious (Tommy McGeachie, Susan McGeachie); 4, – Woffle (Jim Maclean, Mr Iain)

White sail class: 1, – Atia (UFO 27) (Duncan Chalmers, Ali Marshall); 2, – Moonlight (Sonata) (Nigel Scriven, Derek Webber, Chris Wilson); 3, – Judicious (J30) (Jim Hoey, Andrew Leech, Ralph Houston, Clare); 4, – Mike Honcho (J24) (Fin Hurrel, Ross Noble, Harris Munns, James Russell).

Dinghy results: 1, – All the Gear (Laser Radial) (Harris Munns); 2, – Solo (Ali Gordon); 3, – Laser (Fin Hurrel); 4, – Black Jack (Laser Radial) (Barnaby Munns); 5, – Space Hopper (Mirror) (Andrew Leech); retired, – Laser Radial (Darcy Cameron).