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).

International Moth Scottish Championship at Loch Lomond Dinghy Weekend

 

The Garda of Scotland greeted the International Moth class on the 5th and 6th of September as part of Loch Lomond's Annual Dinghy Weekend.

The Regatta was split into 2 courses, with foiling boats (Moths and Waszps) on one and traditional boats on another. The breeze was shifty with lots of holes providing some difficulty in setting a course. Despite this, the race team, led by Duncan and the Hepplewhite family of Emma, Ellie, David, Kiara and Susie Edmond ran 4 outstanding races.

The first race started with James Sainsbury floating his P1 Aerocet onto the foils to take an early lead, unfortunately the breeze collapsed and the race was abandoned.

After a period of waiting, Race 1 restarted with freshening breeze, Joe Adams (Exploder V2) and Matt Lea (Aerocet) foiling off the pin. Adams took an early lead and proceeded to sail to the wrong windward mark, opening the door for Sainsbury to take the win ahead of his Rutland team mate Lea, with Donald Smith (Mach 2) cruising to a great 3rd place.

Race 2 started with Sainsbury pushing the line too hard and having to quickly gybe around the boat end. Lea and Adams drag raced out on port. Adams nailed the tack and hit the lay to take the lead, staying on the foils for the whole race to take a comfortable bullet. Lea and Sainsbury had a great battle managing the snakes and ladders, with Sainsbury ultimately linking the puffs better and taking 2nd place with Lea coming home 3rd.

Some drama between races, as Matt Lea’s new boat lost its rig. The safety crew led by Iain Hepplewhite and Simon Becket helped to recover the state of the art Aerocet to shore. Terrible luck for Matt, fortunately no lasting damage to man or machine and the boat was ready to sail again by the end of the day.

Race 3 kicked off with a stiffening breeze, which ended up dragging the windward mark downwind, resulting in a very skewed course, a rapid and exciting race! Adams hit the line fast and took a commanding lead from Sainsbury. The moths then led an exhilarating blast through the Waszp fleet who started 3 minutes ahead. Zigzagging through the Waszps at 27 knots was very good fun. Positions held, with Adams winning the race, Sainsbury 2nd and Phil Alderson (Exocet) coming through to take 3rd in his first ever Moth event.

Race 4 started low riding, but with breeze funneling from left and right, the fleet was optimistic that foiling was on the cards. Unfortunately the wind cancelled itself out and the race concluded with boats still not on the foils, Adams led from Sainsbury closely followed by Alderson for a very slow finish. Frustratingly, the breeze filled in shortly after.

By this stage, the fleet had been on the water for 4 hours and the decision was made to head in for beer and warmth.

Overall Joe Adams took the Scottish Champs ahead of James Sainsbury in a close 2nd with Phil Alderson coming 3rd.

The Moth Class is going from strength to strength, with affordable and competitive boats readily available and growth in all corners of the country, there has never been a better time to get involved.

Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is hosting a Moth demo weekend on the 3rd and 4th of October. If you would like to try a moth or look at moths for sale - this is the best chance to do so.

Following this, the Moths are concluding 2027 with the End of Season Championship hosted at Rutland Sailing Club on the 17th and 18th of October.

ILCA Open at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club

 

Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club welcomed 19 entrants to their annual ILCA open on Saturday 5th September, forming part of both the 2026 ILCA Lakeland & Borders Series and the ILCA Regional Youth Series (the latter being kindly sponsored by Rooster).

Competitors were welcomed by blue skies and a fresh breeze as they rigged ahead of a 12pm start with four races scheduled back to back. The forecast was for 14-25kts westerly, with the wind proving to be at the upper limit of that range throughout racing.

A mix of triangle, sausage, and triangle/sausage courses were sailed and the pecking order at the front of the fleet was soon established. On the water the racing at the front was close between the ILCA6 of Toby Waggett, Spirit Alderson and Henry Blades, and the ILCA7's of Alastair Conn and Greg Liggins. Further down the fleet, there was significant attrition of the fleet size, as a number of sailors re-evaluated their decision to sail, either on the blast downwind to the race area, or as racing progressed.

PRO Hender Blewett and team ran a prompt set of races with short turnarounds in between.

In the Lakeland Open event which is scored on a single fleet based upon PY, the top 3 were nothing but consistent as Toby took a string of bullets, followed by Spirit recording four second places and Alastair all third places.

For the Youth Series the results are awarded on the basis of separate rig fleets. Henry took third place in the male ILCA6 class after Toby and Spirit, with Alanna Starkie first female ILCA6. Generous prizes were provided by Rooster as sponsor of the ILCA Regional Youth Series.

Thank were noted at the prize-giving to the number of club volunteers who made the event possible. DRSC once again proved its ability to run quality racing in beautiful surroundings and the club looks forward to seeing the fleet return again in 2027.

Youth charity appeals for sailing equipment donations to support young people

 

 YOUTH sailing charity is appealing for help to support young people on life-changing sailing adventures.

Ocean Youth Trust Scotland (OYT Scotland) is calling on the public and businesses to donate equipment such as large holdalls and sleeping bags.

The charity is currently in need of 10 new or nearly-new sports holdalls or rucksacks—up to 80 litres in size and without a metal frame—as well as 10 sleeping bags suitable for two to three seasons.

OYT Scotland offers sail training voyages to young people, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds and may not have access to the right gear.

OYT Scotland said: "We want to keep our voyages affordable and accessible for everyone.

"Having a supply of spare kit helps us make sure that no young person misses out on the opportunity to sail with us because they don't have the right equipment."

The charity is asking individuals and businesses to consider donating the items to help ensure no young person is excluded.

Those able to help are encouraged to contact OYT Scotland by calling 01475 722722 or emailing office@oytscotland.org.uk.

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.