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.

Tasar European Championship 2026

 

The Tasar fleet head to Hythe and Saltwood Sailing Club on the 3rd of September for their European Championships. The event will be held over three days with three races per day for a full series.

With a strong representation from Germany and Constantijn Udo's team from the Netherlands, there shall be some added interest in catching up with old acquaintances and making new friends

The forecast currently for the venue will be a breezy west - SW'ly Friday suiting the heavier teams leading into the usual 2026 summer experience for Saturday and Sunday. One thing will be certain, it will not be over till the Fat Lady sings on Sunday. Rankings are based on current form and the predicted weather for the series.

Depth of talent on show will be good with multiple 2026 champions from several classes taking part.

Sponsors for the series are Britannia Coaches, Barefoot Gardening, Folkestone and Hythe Council and Holiday Extras. With a full social scene ready from Thursday onwards, there will be plenty to keep the sailors occupied over the event.

Hamble Winter Series - Early Bird Entries close on September 4th!

 

The 45th Hamble Winter Series is coming to a Solent near you in October and those who value a bargain have until September 4th to snap up an Early Bird entry. There will be racing every Sunday from 4th October to 28th November, with one lay weekend on November 1st, to allow competitors to rack up some brownie points at home.

Entering the full series now will gain entry to the Hamble IRC Autumn Championships at no extra cost, on the weekend of 9th & 10th October.

The Hamble Winter Series is a great time test your IRC rating for next season. We are anticipating running three IRC Classes as usual to cater for any size of yacht. Once again, there will be day prizes every Sunday from our fabulous Day Sponsors and of course cheesy chips and beer.

To enter got to: www.hamblewinterseries.com

Waldringfield Cadet Week 2026

 

Waldringfield Sailing Club, on Suffolk's River Deben, throws open its Cadet Week for another year this Friday, with four days of racing, socialising and messing about on the water for the junior double-handed class.

Cadet Week keeps to a simple formula the club knows well: close racing across the fleets, a coached regatta division for newer crews, evening socials for sailors and parents alike, and the traditional Crews race, Ex-Cadets race and Old Gaffers race that are as much a fixture of the week as the sailing itself. Every competitor goes home with a goodie bag and an event rash vest.

Cadets were first sailed at Waldringfield in 1950, and the very first Waldringfield Cadet Week was competed for in 1957, making this year's event the 69th edition of a fixture that's run every summer since. Waldringfield Cadets remains one of the most active Cadet squadrons in the UK.

Schedule

Friday 28 August - Three trophy races in the afternoon, followed by a BBQ.

Saturday 29 August - Briefing at 11am followed by three event races. After sailing there are games on Church Field, and Curry for dinner in the clubhouse.

Sunday 30 August - Four event races followed by the Ex-Cadets and Old Gaffers races once racing is complete. After sailing we have the raffle draw, treasure hunt and quiz in the evening.

Monday 31 August - Crews race followed by two event races, with prize-giving scheduled for 15.30.

The event consists of nine races for the championship fleets, plus the traditional crews race and the ever-popular Ex-Cadets and Old Gaffers race, open to any pairing with a combined age of 70 or more.

Ethan Davey will be coaching the Regatta Fleet this Cadet Week. An ex-Cadet sailor himself, Ethan coached the GBR Cadet World Team at Plymouth in 2024 and is now a professional sailor, recently competing on the J-Cup series and the European Match Racing Tour. Expect some sharp coaching on the water, alongside skills sessions before and after racing!

Follow the action on Instagram at @waldringfieldcadets and on Facebook at waldringfieldcadetsquadron. Entries and the Notice of Race are available at waldringfieldsc.com

What to expect at this year's Southampton International Boat Show

 

A marine festival is returning to Southampton for 10 days of boating, water sports, and family fun.

The 57th edition of the Southampton International Boat Show will run from September 18 to 27 at Mayflower Park, promising a packed programme of activities and attractions for all ages.

Earle Stanner, chief executive of British Marine, said: "Every year, our aim is to get people out on the water and give them a brilliant day on the waterfront.

"Whether visitors are lifelong sailors or bringing the family for a day out on the water, we can't wait to welcome everyone to the show."

With approximately 500 watercraft and more than 700 marine brands on display, including a raft of UK and world debuts such as the Nautitech 41 Type S, Dragonfly 40 Carbon, Duchy 45, and Fairline Targa 58 GTO.

Visitors can step aboard everything from historic vessels to cutting-edge racing yachts. The event also offers free hands-on experiences through the popular Try-a-Boat programme, giving visitors the chance to test a range of boats.

There are also opportunities to try paddleboarding, kayaking, or diving in the Andark Dive Tank.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Mike Golding OBE, Pip Hare, and Monty Halls will deliver expert talks and demonstrations on the Boating Stage.

Following its 2025 debut, the Wooden Boat Stage returns with an expanded schedule, featuring talks from award-winning boatbuilder Daniel Lee and Mary Montagu-Scott, director of Buckler's Hard Maritime Museum.

A new addition to the 2026 show is the Key Yachting J/70 Invitational Cup, a competitive sailing event supported by the Royal Thames Yacht Club and British Marine.

12 teams will compete throughout the day, with winners crowned in front of the crowd.

Live music will fill The Shipyard every day, with headline performances from Blue Water Giants and Britain's Got Talent finalist The Gloria Estefan Experience.

Entry starts from £29 for adults, with free admission for children aged 15 and under.

Our Top 6 Areas for a quiet Mediterranean Sailing holiday

 

If peace and quiet are your priority, there are still some wonderful parts of the Mediterranean where you can sail for hours, anchor in empty bays and avoid the big flotillas. The trick is to avoid the famous hotspots and, if possible, avoid July and especially August. June and September are generally much quieter.

🥇 1. Alonissos & the Sporades — my favourite for tranquillity

This would be very high on my list for you.

The Alonissos Marine Park is particularly special: there are numerous small islands and islets, exceptionally clear water and secluded bays, with very little development. It's also a protected area for Mediterranean monk seals.

A lovely week could be:

Skiathos → Skopelos → Alonissos → Peristera → Kyra Panagia → Skopelos → Skiathos

You get considerably more greenery than the Cyclades, beautiful swimming spots and some wonderfully peaceful evenings at anchor.

🥈 2. Datça & Bozburun, Turkey — best for secluded bays

If your definition of a perfect sailing holiday is:

Sail for a couple of hours → find a completely quiet bay → swim → lunch on board → swim again → sunset → barbecue

…I'd seriously consider south-west Turkey.

The Datça peninsula is relatively remote and has a coastline packed with little bays accessible primarily by boat. Bozburun is another particularly peaceful area.

It also has a big advantage over the Cyclades: more sheltered sailing and fewer big charter crowds.

🥉 3. Lastovo, Croatia

If you like the idea of Croatia but don't want Hvar, Split or Dubrovnik crowds, look much further south.

Lastovo is one of Croatia's more remote inhabited islands, with a very different atmosphere from the busy Dalmatian hotspots. You can combine it with Mljet, Korčula and the Lastovo archipelago.

The drawback is that Croatia's most popular islands can become busy in July/August, so this is particularly attractive in June or September.

4. Small Cyclades, Greece

For a classic Greek sailing experience, I'd look at:

Naxos → Iraklia → Schinoussa → Koufonisia → Kato Koufonisi → Amorgos

Rather than the big-name Cyclades.

The tiny islands have a much slower pace, beautiful beaches and plenty of opportunities to anchor away from the main villages. Koufonisia is particularly lovely, although it has become more popular in recent years.

One caution: the Meltemi wind can be strong in July/August, so this is better suited to experienced sailors.

5. Dodecanese — Tilos, Lipsi & Astypalea

This is the Greek option I'd investigate if absolute tranquillity matters more than seeing the famous islands.

I'd particularly look at:

Kos → Nisyros → Tilos → Chalki → Alimia → Rhodes

or, for an even more remote feeling:

Kos → Lipsi → Leros → Patmos → Arki → Marathi

You can have lovely little harbour evenings without the scale of tourism found on Santorini/Mykonos.

6. Menorca

Don't overlook Spain.

Menorca is considerably more relaxed than Ibiza and much of Mallorca, with numerous beautiful calas and a more natural feel.

I'd concentrate on the north and east of Menorca, rather than basing the trip around the busiest southern beaches.

One important point: when you go matters almost as much as where

If you're able to choose your dates, I'd rank them:

🥇 September – warm sea, lovely weather, noticeably fewer boats

🥈 June – excellent combination of warmth, wind and relatively low crowds

🥉 May – wonderfully quiet, but sea can still be cool

😐 July – perfectly possible, but increasingly busy

❌ August – hardest month to achieve genuine solitude

The difference can be enormous. The Med in September can feel like a completely different place from the same anchorage in August.

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