Pudsey Bear sets sail from Hamble on round-Britain voyage

 

Pudsey Bear has set sail on his first ever round-Britain voyage - leaving from Hamble.

The ambitious Big Bear Voyage, launched on Thursday, May 14, aims to cover 2,200 nautical miles over three months to raise £70,000 for BBC Children in Need.

It was the idea of yacht owners Jonathan and Jackie Brewin, who wanted to mark Mr Brewin's 70th birthday with a meaningful challenge.

Mr Brewin, who will serve as skipper, said: "This year I turn 70.

"Rather than marking the occasion quietly, my wife Jackie and I decided to do something more purposeful – aiming to raise £70,000 for a charity that achieves so much for young people in need."

Pudsey is travelling aboard a 53ft yacht named Big Bear, which departed from Hamble today.

The route includes around 35 planned stops across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.

Along the way, Pudsey and the crew will take part in community events and fundraising activities to raise awareness for young people experiencing adversity, including mental health challenges.

The voyage has already raised more than £10,000 ahead of its launch.

"This voyage will help change young lives across the UK, and we’re honoured to have this support."

The journey comes just after Pudsey Bear spoke for the first time in 40 years, reinforcing the urgent need for support services and safe spaces for young people.

The voyage will also include community walks and fundraising activities.

Fans can follow Pudsey and the crew’s progress in real time through the YB Tracking platform,

 available at pro.yb.tl/bigbearvoyage.

The website shows the yacht’s current location and planned stops along the UK coastline.

Sail 4 Cancer Reaches Century of Respite Milestone

 Sail 4 Cancer, the marine charity based in Hampshire, has achieved its long-term objective of providing ‘100 years of respite days’ i.e. 36,500 days of respite for families affected by cancer.   

Founded in 2001, Sail 4 Cancer provides days out and holidays for families affected by cancer, the vast majority of which have a nautical element or focus.  From bespoke sailing days to longer holidays on canal boats and cruise ships, Sail 4 Cancer gives families something to look forward to during the darkest of times.

Commenting on the announcement, Andrew Hayward, Founding Trustee of Sail 4 Cancer said: “After losing my father to cancer on Boxing Day in 1999, I vowed to help other families who were living through similar experiences. Given my dad’s love of the sea (a former Royal Naval Commando) and my love of sailing, it seemed fitting to set up a charity in 2001 with a nautical connection.

“In early 2002 Sail 4 Cancer chartered a tall ship and challenged 50 people to climb the two 150ft (45m) masts.  As well as raising a large sum of money, three people on board that day were undergoing cancer treatment and their feedback was compelling. 

“Aside from having a tangible date in the diary to focus on, all three had not thought about cancer from the moment they had set foot on the ship.  They found solace in talking to the other cancer patients on board.  They achieved things they never thought their bodies would ever allow again. 

They came ashore with a renewed sense of confidence, re-energised and ready to continue the fight. Sail 4 Cancer had delivered its first three respite days.”

Fast forward to the end of 2025 and Sail 4 Cancer has just delivered its 37,000th respite day. Over 100 Years of Respite Days was an objective the charity aimed to deliver by the end of 2025. Despite now having a ‘Group’ of subsidiaries, hitting this 100 year target has been a formidable challenge given that the charity’s funding dropped by 90% since the onset of COVID.

Andrew concluded: “We would like to thank the vast number of people within the global sailing community who have enabled Sail 4 Cancer to reach this incredible milestone. To all the donors, volunteers, sailing clubs, class associations, trustees, ambassadors and sponsors, we would like to thank each and every one of you.

“We would also like to extend a special thank you to our Patrons for their considerable support. These include multi Olympic gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie, Australian sailing legend Nick Moloney, round the world yachtswoman Dee Caffari MBE and sailing philanthropist Andrew Pindar OBE. We would also like to thank the former First Sea Lord, Admiral of the Fleet, Baron Boyce for his considerable and significant support from 2001 until his death in 2022.”

To find out more about Sail 4 Cancer, visit their website at www.sail4cancer.org

The charity is especially keen to hear from anyone who can offer fundraising support or volunteer their time.

Rutland Foil Festival 2026

 

Rutland Sailing Club is delighted to be hosting the 3rd RSC Foil Festival over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, 30-31 May 2026. This exciting weekend promises a fantastic mix of racing, on-water demonstrations, and social sailing, all set against the stunning backdrop of Rutland Water.

Across the weekend there will be a lively programme featuring mixed-course racing alongside foiling demos, creating a brilliant opportunity to both take part and watch top-level foiling in action.

We're excited to have confirmed participation from the International Moth, Switch, iQFOiL, and WASZP classes, with mixed-fleet racing planned. Importantly, all foiling craft are warmly welcomed, so whether you race regularly or are new to foiling, there's a place for you on the water.

The festival will also showcase a range of excellent demo boats and equipment, with support from leading UK suppliers and classes:

Shock Sailing will be bringing the Switch for demos, if you would like to book a test sail please email simon@shocksailing.com

Melges UK will be joining us with the Skeeta and Nikki, offering sailors the chance to see and try these exciting boats

Sail Power will be bringing the Birdyfish S, and IODA, representing some of the most innovative designs in modern foiling. Book now

The UK Moth Class will be on site with the UK demo Exocet, kindly provided by Maguire Boats. To book a session please contact manager@rutlandsailngclub.co.uk

The UK iQFOiL Class will be available throughout the weekend to talk about equipment, share knowledge, and offer guidance—particularly supporting youth sailors transitioning into adult iQFOiL equipment. 

If foiling is something you've always wanted to try or you're keen to give it another go, there's no better opportunity. With such a wide variety of boats and expertise available, the Rutland Foil Festival is the perfect chance to experience different foiling classes, talk to experienced sailors, and get time on the water.

Racing entry details can be found at www.rutlandsailingclub.co.uk/event/foiling-festival-

If you would like to get involved by bringing demo equipment or supporting the weekend in any way, please contact us at manager@rutlandsailingclub.co.uk

Sailing Club Open Day

 

Draycote Water Sailing Club is hosting a fun day, encouraging visitors to try sailing, windsurfing or paddleboarding – with experienced helms to show them the ropes.

Visitors will also be able to try windsurfing on a land simulator and afloat, and enjoy paddleboarding, depending on wind strength.

Event organiser Dave Rowe of Draycote Water Sailing Club said: “It’s a great opportunity for anyone wanting to give sailing or windsurfing a go, and we’ll also have lots of fun games ashore for families, including a chance to meet our resident pirate, who has a hoard of treasure and loves nothing more than a water fight!”

Severn Trent Water and Rugby Canoe Club will also exhibit at the event. Refreshments will be available from the club galley.

The event takes place on Saturday (May 16) from 10am to 2pm. Entry is free.

Visit www.draycotewater.co.uk/club-open-day for more information, and to book activities.

Norfolk Punt Open at the Norfolk Punt Club

 

The 9th and 10th of May saw the first Norfolk Punt open event of the year. Hosted by the Norfolk Punt Club, the weekend began on the Friday with a filming day for the documentary film being created about the class in the club's centenary year.

The filming day was attended by 14 punts with a range of designs from the class's history including 108-year-old Prawn. Organised by Gavin Smith and choreographed by Andrew Friend, the filming involved a number of race starts, tacks, gybes and spinnaker handling which gave the crews the chance to refresh their skills in perfect conditions ahead of the racing on the Saturday and Sunday.

When the racing began in earnest on Saturday morning, the fleet had swollen to 19 boats, the most at an open meeting for many years and a glowing endorsement of the health of the class. The glorious conditions gave the fleet three pulsating races including a long spinnaker run down the length of the Broad. Max Dixey in the Morrison-designed Jackdaw was able to utilise the long run most effectively and led for most of the race. Jackdaw could not however sufficiently shake off Charlie Stewart's newly-acquired Hardchine Snow Goose who won on handicap with Jackdaw second and Bart Sawyer in Cormorant third.

The second race start saw a big right shift which allowed the boats starting at the starboard end to round the windward mark without tacking. First to the mark was Jack Drew in Pipit but with a such a skinny lay that he was rolled by Jackdaw who led to the finish. Simon Clayton in the Traditional design Decoy was able stay close to enough to the leaders to win on handicap with Snow Goose in second and James Clarke's Wild Duck in third.

The third race saw Jackdaw first home again with a great battle over the water between Snow Goose and Cormorant. Charlie and Tom in Snow Goose sailed superbly again to win the race on handicap with Jackdaw second and Cormorant third. The class was treated to a wonderful and jovial party on the Saturday evening hosted by Rupert Redington and Bridget O'Brien.

Sunday presented a far greater challenge for the crews with 25 knot gusts manifesting as forecast. Norfolk Punts are already very overpowered boats carrying 49er-like sail areas but with narrow hulls and no wings or racks to create greater righting moment. It was hardly any surprise then that the two races on Sunday were littered with capsizes and swims.

Snow Goose again however showed her class to keep upright throughout and took two bullets to give her a perfect record minus the discard. Andrew Friend in Blackbird with fresh crew took second in both races with Jackdaw third in the first race and Wilum Johnston in Shoveller taking an excellent third in the final race after an attritional battle with Pipit.

Congratulations to Charlie Stewart in Snow Goose for winning the Ardea Trophy with Max Dixey in Jackdaw in second and Andrew Friend in Blackbird in third.

Overall Results:

Pos Boat Name Sail No Helm Crew R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Pts

1 Snow Goose 96 Charlie Stewart Tom Chandler 1 ‑2 1 1 1 4

2 Jackdaw 100 Max Dixey Adam Hare 2 4 2 3 ‑20 11

3 Blackbird 74 Andrew Friend Catherine Friend 4 ‑7 5 2 2 13

4 Cormorant 88 Bart Sawyer Eliza Bolton 3 ‑5 3 5 5 16

5 Razorbill 73 Richard Parker Robert Snelling 6 6 9 7 ‑20 28

6 Decoy 40 Simon Clayton Felix Dixey 5 1 4 ‑20 20 30

7 Goosander 89 Henry Drew Alastair Drew 8 11 8 6 ‑20 33

8 Shoveller 61 Wilum Johnston Kate Davies 12 ‑13 11 9 3 35

9 Pipit 58 Jack Drew Douglas Mileham 11 14 ‑15 8 4 37

10 Cavender 32 Darren Pike Humphrey Bedford‑Payne 13 12 14 20 ‑20 59

11 Snark 49 Mark Elson Kate Dulieu 7 8 11 ‑20 20 46

12 Redwing 98 Rupert Redington Steve Mackay 9 9 10 ‑20 20 48

13 Wild Duck 52 James Clarke Thomas Evans 20 3 6 ‑20 20 49

14 Peregrine 86 Noël Bradshaw Harry Leveridge 10 15 17 ‑20 20 52

15 White Eagle 95 Jack Holland Gavin Smith 15 17 16 10 ‑20 58

16 Prawn 19 William Glover Alison Glover 16 19 7 ‑20 20 64

17 Kookaburra 76 Charles Hare‑Winton David Lennard‑Jones 14 10 ‑20 20 20 64

18 Swallow II 35 William Daniels Rosa Bolton ‑20 16 13 20 20 69

19 Hobby 62 Philip Jenkins Crew ‑20 18 20 20 20 78

Make waves with sailing club

 

A sailing club is inviting members of the public to get on board with them.

Welland Yacht Club is hosting an open day at its River Bank base, off Cradge Bank on Sunday, May 17.

Anyone can pop along and enjoy a sailing sessions for free in one of the club’s boards.

“It’s just about giving people the opportunity to come down and have a look at what the club has to offer,” said sailor of over 50 years Andy Agar. “Anybody is welcome to come down and, if they want, they can have a go on the club’s boat.

“Hopefully people will come down and enjoy themselves.

“The days are well received and we had a particularly good reaction last year getting a number of new members, quite a few of whom are regularly taking part in our events.”

Welland Yacht Club has been operating for over 60 years, with Andy himself having been a member for over 20 years after moving to the area.

“We’re a predominantly family oriented club,” he said. “Membership for a whole family is around three of or four times cheaper than some other nearby clubs.

“We’re members of the Royal Yachting Association and can deliver qualified training to club members.

“We’re looking forward to seeing people there on the day.”

You can book your place in advance by visiting www.wellandyachtclub.co.uk/openday2026

There is also more information on the types of boats available at the club along with 20 per cent discount on membership.

RORC North Sea Race Set for Tactical Offshore Battle

 

The 2026 RORC North Sea Race starts on Friday 15th of May with an international fleet set for the 165-nautical mile crossing from Harwich to Scheveningen in the Netherlands. Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club with Royal Harwich Yacht Club, the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association and Yacht Club Scheveningen, the race remains one of offshore sailing’s longest-running contests.

First sailed in 1931, the North Sea Race forms part of the RORC Season’s Points Championship, regarded as the world’s largest offshore racing series. The route across the North Sea presents crews with shifting weather, strong tides, sandbanks, shipping lanes and offshore wind farms. Tactical calls around Smith’s Knoll and the Dutch coast are expected to prove decisive.

Around 50 boats are entered from Britain, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Among the fully crewed contenders are Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team’s Ker 46 Van Uden, the J/122 Moana, Michel Dorsman’s MAT 1070 Checkmate and Paddy Moriaty’s Swan 44 Astrid.

The double-handed division is expected to produce one of the closest contests in the fleet. Rob Craigie’s Sun Fast 3600 Bellino, racing with RORC Commodore Deb Fish, returns after winning overall under IRC in 2025. They face strong competition from Astrid de Vin and Roeland Franssens aboard the JPK 1030 Il Corvo

Diederik Forma’s JPK 1030 Jetpack returns after finishing second overall last year, while John van der Starre and Robin Verhoef campaign the Dutch Xr 41 X-Esteem.

British entries also include the RORC Griffin team and Gavin Howe’s Tigris, racing double-handed with Griffin Pathway sailor Albert Barber.

The race also offers a preview of the challenges crews will face later this year in the 1,805-nautical-mile RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race. Prestigious prizes include the Goeree Challenge Cup for best corrected IRC time and the Golden Dragon Trophy for the IRC Two-Handed division.

Streaker Northern Paddle and Yorkshire Series Open at Ripon Sailing Club

 

Ripon SC hosted a Steaker Open meeting on 9 May, one of the Streaker class's Northern Paddle and Yorkshire series. The forecast for the event was not optimistic, rain and light winds only giving way to up to 16mph late in the day and this may have contributed to the rather lower than usual entry of 12 boats.

The day and the water were shared with a Supernova Open taking place at the same time. The decision was taken to postpone for 30 minutes for both classes to give time for the wind to perk up a little. A worthwhile wait as a better breeze did arrive and racing got under way with the Streakers off a few minutes ahead of the Supernova fleet. The course for both classes were the same but only at a couple of pinch points did they find themselves wanting the same part of the lake and by then both fleets had spread themselves out somewhat.

In the first race the start line favoured a port end start followed by an early tack onto port as soon as there was space to do so. This allowed boats from that end of the line to get away and build up a gap on the others, just so long as they read the shifts right. There were shifts aplenty to help or hinder this. Ian Priest took an early lead ahead of Chris Wright and Tim Coleman and on the long downwind leg back to the southern part of the lake was able to capitalise on his own personal corridor of breeze to set up a substantial lead. Some this lead was eroded in the later stages when the chasers received more favourable shifts up the final beat but he was never seriously under threat and those three finished in the order that they had raced in for vitually the whole of the race.

After a break for lunch race 2 got under way from a startline in much the same area of the lake as the previous race and again a port end start seemed favoured. However Chris Hampshire, sailing in a borrowed boat, worked the right hand side of the beat, rounded the first windward mark well clear of the others and was never challenged for the whole of the race to lead from start to finish. The wind strength increased throughout the race, giving occasional planing and with it Ian Priest climbed to second place ahead of Chris Wright. The Supernovas were well spread out behind the Streaker fleet though a gaggle of them arrived at the exit from the narrows, between the north and south lakes, at the same time as a gaggle of Streakers were headed in the oppostite direction. Everyone was well behaved though and there were no conflicts or even raised voices.

The third and final race proved eventful for some. There was no port bias on the line this time and towards the end of the countdown a group of boats near the committee boat end seemed determined to push each other over the line. Most made it back in time and a general recall was avoided but Ian Priest had to duck back, having been OCS. A change of course for this race saw a repeat use of several of the marks used in the previous races though there was one crucial difference. A buoy at the farthermost end of the course, that had previously been taken to starboard earlier in the day, was this time a port rounding. The first four boats to get there erroneously rounded to starboard and immediately had to try to unwind themselves and re-round without impeding the next group of boats to arrive ready to correctly leave it to port. Surprisingly they managed to do this without undue entanglement or problems but the pack was comprehensively shuffled. Ian Priest somehow managed to benefit from this potential mayhem to set up an event winning lead. Chris Hampshire at one point seemed to be in a position to challenge him but fouled another boat in the later stages and had to take penalty turns. Second boat home Tim Coleman crossed the finish line just ahead of Chris Wright but didn't get a finish signal, having been OCS at the start, so Lucy Priest took third place for this race.

Overall Results:

Pos Helm Sail No Club R1 R2 R3 Pts

1st Ian Priest 2106 Ripon SC 1 ‑2 1 2

2nd Chris Wright 2166 Ripon SC 2 ‑3 2 4

3rd Chris Hampshire 1970 Ripon SC ‑8 1 6 7

4th Lucy Priest 2117 Ripon SC 4 ‑5 3 7

5th Tim Coleman 2211 Ripon SC 3 6 (OCS) 9

6th Stephen Bristow 2197 Ripon SC 5 4 ‑7 9

7th James Ricketts 1863 Ripon SC 6 ‑8 4 10

8th Simon Cook 2182 Scaling Dam SC ‑11 9 5 14

9th Peter Kitchen 1914 Ripon SC 7 7 (DNF) 14

10th Mark Smith 2218 Ripon SC 9 ‑10 8 17

11th Edward Lilleyman 2234 Ripon SC ‑12 11 9 20

12th Andrew Hague 2225 Ripon SC 10 (DNF) DNS 23

2026 Phantom Inland Championship at Grafham Water Sailing Club

It's time for the Optimum Time Phantom Inland Championship and Craftinsure Super Series event! The Phantom fleet descends on Grafham Water this weekend for two days of great inland racing, tactical battles served up with a proper dose of Phantom banter.

Entries close Wednesday 13th May - if you're sitting on the fence, now's the time to commit. Big racing, proper competition, great food, cold beers and a fleet that always delivers both on and off the water.

The confirmed runners and the riders so far...

Leading the charge is Jon Rickard (Hooe Point SC), the current Phantom National Champion, coming in as the man to beat. Jon won the 2025 Phantom Nationals at Hooe Point, sealing the title with race wins in the decisive finale, showing composure and speed across the varied conditions. On form alone, if it's blowing Jon starts as a favourite.

Next up, the fittest man in the fleet, Sam Coxon (Chase Sailing Club). Sam has been one of the most consistent high performers of the past two seasons. He finished 2nd overall in the 2025 Phantom Super Series, with strong results across multiple venues. Regularly quick off the line and very hard to shift once in phase, Sam is particularly effective on inland waters and is a realistic challenger - It won't be long before he bags a championship!

THE Inland specialist, Adam Froggatt (Chase SC) has demonstrated outright dominance at open meetings across the Midlands and North, controlling the fleet throughout shifty inland conditions. When conditions suit and confidence is high, Adam has proven winning speed.

The Phantom Fleet's Top Gun - Ben Hawkes (Snettisham SC / RAFSA) is a proven championship-winning sailor, bagged a 2nd in a race at the 2025 Phantom Nationals. Fast Phantoms runs in the blood, and he's sure to be up there!

Back in the boat after a break, Will Gulliver (Northampton SC) has featured prominently at national-level events, including leading races at the Phantom Nationals before narrowly losing places late on. His pace is unquestioned, and if it's blowing he'll certainly be up there!

Magic Mike Webster (Castle Cove SC) is a long-time class stalwart and Class CEO (Chief Events Office) for the Phantom Class Association. He regularly competes at Nationals, Inlands and brings huge experience - Goes like lightning downwind, and particularly when conditions become tactical and testing. We've heard he's even been three-boat training!

Lining up against these racers and also on the list is a quality field packed with proven winners, series front-runners and inland specialists - including Phil Worth, Andy Smith, Phil Longley, Jim Hopton, Team Brookes with Terry & Michelle and Jeremy Deacon - all with the speed and experience to take chunks out of the leaderboard if opportunity arises!

Stop Press... Nursey's now on the list too... Richard Nurse is never far from the front, if not up there pulling away - Eastern Area Champion for several years running, knows the boat inside out and can't half make it shift... There's certainly going to be money on him!

Emirates GBR retain 2nd in 2026 Season Standings after finishing 4th at Apex Bermuda Sail Grand Prix

 

Emirates GBR missed out on the Apex Bermuda Sail Grand Prix final by one place after a challenging second day of racing in difficult and unstable conditions on the Bermuda Sound.

The fourth-place event finish means Emirates GBR retain second place in the 2026 SailGP Championship standings, with Australia's Bond Flying Roos extending their lead at the top after claiming back-to-back SailGP event victories in Bermuda, ahead of Spain's Los Gallos and the Germany SailGP Team in the event final.

Emirates GBR Driver Dylan Fletcher, reflected on the weekend:

"We left a lot on the table and certainly didn't sail to our best ability, but on reflection, even though it's not the result we wanted, fourth is a good damage-limitation finish. We're not where we want to be yet, but it's an improvement from Rio.

"It's a long season and we'll analyse the data closely, look at the video and onboard comms, and review what the teams ahead of us are doing better so we can understand where we need to improve. We need to constantly adapt and improve, that's the game in SailGP."

The British team continued to commit to their aggressive start strategy throughout the day, showing flashes of strong pace, particularly in Race 7 where they produced their best start of the event. GBR recorded finishes of fifth, eighth and fifth across the final three fleet races. However, costly manoeuvre errors, unstable breeze and a lack of clean air around the racecourse prevented the team from converting strong starts into podium finishes.

Emirates GBR Strategist Hannah Mills, commented on the final day of racing:

"The conditions were tough, particularly if you weren't around the first mark in clear air. If you were stuck in the pack, it was a difficult day for manoeuvres and staying on the foils in dirty air.

"It was important to come away with a solid overall points result for the season, and finishing fourth delivered that. It feels like we're moving in the right direction after the performance in Rio. There's still plenty of improvement out there for us, but we're moving in the right direction.

"New York is just around the corner and could bring similar conditions to what we had here today, so there are lots of learnings for us to take away and areas where we can improve."

Emirates GBR will look to continue their improvement at the New York Sail Grand Prix (30-31 May 2026), which takes place in three weeks' time.

2026 Jura Scottish Series back for more

 

Among a strong contingent of entries from Ireland who are bound for Tarbert, Loch Fyne and the 2026 Jura Scottish Series are the overall winners of last year's top award, Brian Hall and the crew of the Dublin Bay J/109 Something Else, who are returning to try and defend their IRC Class 2 title.

Hall, from the National YC, has long since considered the Jura Scottish Series 'unmissable' but he and his crew are especially enthused at the prospect of trying to win their class again at the north of Britain's premier regatta which takes place on Loch Fyne over the holiday weekend 22nd-25th May.

They are returning with their well optimised boat and the same crew headed by Irish four times Olympian Mark Mansfield, himself a long-time fan of Tarbert and Scottish Series.

Hall recalls, "Winning last year was such a nice start to the season, it is always a good dust down. Taking the overall trophy was wonderful but the whole thing is such great fun. I've been going up there for years, and there's such close racing, and it's just great to be up in such a good venue."

Something Else won six of their eight races last May, a scoreline which was judged to the best performance at the regatta.

"Last year it was consistency that won us the class." Hall recalls, "We had excellent teamwork, and the boat was fast, but the crew were really well organised, and so it was down to huge team effort and focus. We also had Mark Mansfield, who was great in terms of giving just that extra focus to everybody."

Hall says he has been crossing the Irish Sea to compete at Scottish Series for more than 30 years and can't wait to be back. "Why Tarbert? So it's the welcome. It's a lovely setting. The people, the locals are great craic. It's a good set-up. The race organisation is A1. And for us it's the start of the season, so it's a real sort of dust-off, a prep, a wake-up for the summer sailing season."

He enthuses, "We are ready. The boat's in good shape, and all the crew are very excited. It's the highlight for them over the next couple of months."

And he believes they can win again but cautions, "Look, the competition is anybody's event. There's really good sailors up there. There are excellent J/109s in the class, a couple of Corbys as well, so the competition is good. We had the momentum last year, and one shouldn't be complacent at all. And who knows? The overall is always up for grabs."

Hall concludes, "We are looking forwards to the craic. The evening entertainment is always good. We look forward to that."

Further details: www.scottishseries.co.uk

Enter here: clydecruisingclub.org/event/scottish-series-2026

Further details via office@clyde.org

Women on the Water Event Sells Out at Royal Cork

 

Women on the Water initiative was fully subscribed for its May 10 staging, underlining growing demand for female participation events in Irish sailing.

Supported by Irish Sailing, the Cork Harbour gathering combined on-water sailing, RIB tours and social activities aimed at newcomers and experienced sailors alike.

The event programme included keelboat sailing, harbour tours and post-sailing social activities at the Crosshaven club. Organisers said the format was designed to encourage women to connect through sailing in a relaxed setting both afloat and ashore.

A large volunteer effort supported the day on the water. Rear Admiral Dinghies Dominick Daly, organiser Gwen Roche, Events and Communications staff, Admiral Denis Byrne aboard Grin and Bear It, Marina Chair Ronan Twomey on Rosmarina, Joyride skipper Wan Waterman and Tim McCarthy all assisted participants during the event.

Dominick Daly and Patrick D’Arcy also provided RIB support, while Rear Admiral Cruising helped coordinate activities afloat.

The initiative forms part of wider efforts across Irish sailing clubs to broaden participation and create accessible entry points into the sport.

Scottish Champion Hall to Lead Strong Irish Challenge at Tarbert

 

Defending Scottish Series champion Brian Hall will return to Tarbert later this month aiming to retain the title he won in 2025 aboard the J/109 Something Else.

The National Yacht Club entry headlines a growing Irish and Northern Irish challenge for the 2026 Jura Scottish Series on Loch Fyne from May 22nd to 25th.

Organisers say entries for the four-day regatta are tracking closely with last year’s fleet of 90 boats, with Irish participation notably on the rise across IRC, coastal and one-design classes.

Hall’s Something Else is among a strong Irish IRC contingent that includes Indian from Howth Yacht Club, Snoopy’s J from Courtown Sailing Club, and Arklow’s Humdinger.

Northern Ireland clubs are also heavily represented. Royal Ulster Yacht Club appears prominently across several fleets with entries including Caesium, Succession, eXcession, and Blacksmith. Carrickfergus Sailing Club sends the J/133 Spirit of Jacana, while Ballyholme Yacht Club combines with RUYC on the First 31.7 Caesium.

The spread of entries underlines the continued strength of east coast Irish Sea racing links between Scotland and Ireland.

Northern Ireland’s influence is especially strong in the Sigma 33 one-design fleet where RUYC features on both Mithril and Squawk. Strangford Lough Yacht Club is represented by Dark and Scary, while Cushendall Sailing & Boating Club enters Quaich in the Restricted Sail division.

In total, Irish and Northern Irish crews are represented from clubs stretching from Arklow and Courtown to Howth, Dun Laoghaire, Ballyholme, Carrickfergus and Strangford Lough.

Organisers, the Clyde Cruising Club, say the resurgence is encouraging as preparations continue for the long-running west coast regatta.

“We fully appreciate the support the Jura 2026 Scottish Series is achieving from so many areas and we are working hard to put on a really great regatta,” said Commodore Des Balmforth.

“We are content to see a steady stream of entries coming in on cue and it looks like we will have good racing for the IRC Classes and the One Design fleets are getting stronger by the day. We are seeing something of a resurgence of entries from Ireland which is pleasing.”

Two main race areas will again operate daily on Loch Fyne, with returning principal race officers and robot-positioned marks expected to maximise racing efficiency across the weekend.

The regatta runs from Friday May 22nd to Monday May 25th with racing for IRC, CYCA, coastal, two-handed and one-design fleets.