Enterprise Northern Series at Wigan and St Helens Sailing Club

 

The Enterprise Northern Series returned to Wigan & St Helens Sailing Club for one of the calendar's most popular fixtures, incorporating the UK Masters Championship. Originally seeing seventeen boats entered, including four home crews, the weekend saw the arrival of 15 teams ready for the weekend ahead, but one that demanded patience from competitors and race officials alike.

Wall-to-wall sunshine greeted sailors throughout the weekend, but a fickle northerly breeze rarely exceeded Force 2, with only the occasional gust nudging Force 3. The wind switched on and off throughout Saturday, constantly changing direction and never establishing the steady breeze required to get racing under way. Despite the best efforts of the experienced race team, the difficult conditions ultimately forced the abandonment of racing for the day.

As is often the case in the Enterprise fleet, disappointment on the water was quickly forgotten ashore. Wigan & St Helens once again proved a popular stop on the circuit, with competitors enjoying an excellent hotpot supper before two talented club members provided live entertainment on bass guitar and saxophone, encouraging plenty of singing long into the evening.

Sunday dawned with more sunshine but little improvement in the wind. With the forecast offering no guarantees and time steadily disappearing, the difficult decision was taken to abandon the UK Masters Championship, with the intention of rearranging the title event later in the season. However, with a light breeze finally filling across the reservoir during the afternoon, competitors agreed to race an Open Meeting, ensuring the weekend would still produce a worthwhile contest and valuable Northern Series points.

The opening race immediately demonstrated just how difficult the conditions would be. Martin Honnor and Chris Parker judged the first beat well to round the windward mark ahead of Tim Sadler and Richard Sault, but the oscillating breeze ensured the order was far from settled. Al & Henry Roberts started strongly holding third until their rudder came loose. Alan and Henry briefly held fourth, while Steve Blackburn and Emily Rossiter steadily worked their way through the fleet as the race developed.

Up front, Tim and traded the lead throughout a fascinating tactical contest, with Martin & Chris eventually taking line honours by the narrowest of margins after an almost dead-heat finish. Tim & Richard were forced to settle for second, while Steve completed the podium after another consistent performance.

The second race again rewarded clean starts and smart tactical decisions rather than outright boat speed. Tim & Richard established an early lead and gradually stretched clear as those behind continually exchanged positions whenever the breeze disappeared on the runs before filling from a different direction. Martin & Chris held onto second despite pressure from Steve & Emily.

Further back the fleet saw regular chances in position between the Holdaways, Frys and Roberts however Charles Morrish and Luke Hartshorn sailed an excellent race to finish fourth after remaining firmly in the leading group throughout.

By the final race, Tim & Richard found their rhythm. Another excellent start allowed them to control proceedings from the front, opening a comfortable advantage before one of the day's trademark holes dramatically reduced his lead. Nevertheless, they remained composed to secure their second successive race win. Behind them, Steve & Emily found a way past Martin & Chris during the closing stages to claim second, with Martin & Chris completing a deserved third.

Further back, Paul Young and Esther Bowdler enjoyed one of their strongest races of the weekend after leading the chasing pack for much of the contest before Chris and Leo Fry capitalised on the final shifts to snatch fourth on the line.

With scores of 2,1,1, Tim & Richard's consistency in exceptionally challenging conditions secured overall victory. Martin & Chris' race win, backed up by two further podium finishes, earned second overall, while Steve & Emily's impressive sequence of third, third and second completed the podium.

Although only three races were completed, Wigan & St Helens once again delivered an outstanding event. The professionalism and perseverance of the race team, combined with the club's renowned hospitality and lively Saturday evening social programme, ensured competitors departed having enjoyed another memorable Northern Series weekend. Thank you also to our series sponsors Peak Dinghies, Allen & North Sails.

The Enterprise fleet now looks forward to the rearranged UK Masters Championship later in the season at St Mary's.

Overall Results:

Pos Boat Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 Net

1 The Big Saulty Dog 23384 Tim Sadler Richard Sault Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club ‑2 1 1 2

2 Riotvan 22619 Martin Honnor Chris Parker Ogston Sailing Club 1 2 ‑3 3

3 50 Shades of Blue 23310 Steve Blackburn Emily Rossiter WLYC ‑3 3 2 5

4 Wrinkled Stockings 20900 Chris Fry Leo Fry Ogston Sailing Club ‑6 5 4 9

5 23382 Alan Roberts Henry Burton Roberts Chester Sailing and Canoeing Club 4 6 (DNC) 10

6 Out of The Blue 22901 Paul Young Esther Bowdler Midland Sailing Club 5 ‑10.5 5 10

7 Simply Red 23089 Charles Morrish Luke Hartshorn St Mary's Loch Sailing Club ‑11 4 9 13

8 Jibbooms an Bobstays 23159 James Holdaway Owen Holdaway Scammonden Water Sailing Club ‑7 7 6 13

9 23121 Royston Taggart Rosie Wilson WiSH Sailing Club ‑8 8 8 16

10 Captain Sizer 19007 Mike Heap Duncan Willoughby Ogston Sailing Club (DSQ) 10.5 7 17.5

11 I Was Groot 22629 Richard Critchley Harry Lamb WiSH Sailing Club 9 9 ‑11 18

12 Another Myth 20897 Paul Shepherd Kieran Gascoigne WiSH Sailing Club 10 ‑12 10 20

13 TuTuWonOneToo 22112 Mhairi Ogilvie Claire Watson Largo Bay Sailing Club 12 ‑13 12 24

Epstein Sisters Win Irish 420 Championship at Lough Derg

 

Laragh and Roisin Epstein claimed overall victory at the 2026 Irish International 420 Class Championships on Lough Derg, topping a 29-boat Irish and British fleet after eight races. Lough Derg Yacht Club hosted the three-day championship from 7-9 August, with competitors facing changing conditions and close racing following two days of pre-event coaching. 

The Epsteins, representing CBYC aboard GBR 56943, established themselves at the head of the fleet with an exceptionally consistent series. They recorded four race wins and did not finish outside the top two in any of their seven counting scores.

Caoimhe Corkery of Kinsale Yacht Club and Riona Moriarty of Tralee Bay Sailing Club finished second overall and were the leading Irish pairing. They opened their championship with victory in the first race and remained firmly in podium contention with a string of strong finishes.

Royal Cork Yacht Club's Daniel Copithorne and Matt Mapplebeck completed the overall podium in third. Their challenge included victories in races four and eight.

Home-club sailors Kate Kovtun and James Love won the Silver Fleet after taking sixth overall. Their consistent series also made them the highest-placed Lough Derg Yacht Club crew in the championship. 

Freddie Nelson and Sam Smith of BLSC secured the Bronze Fleet title with 14th overall. Their results included a second-place finish in race two.

Lough Derg's Sean O'Doherty and David Evans finished 22nd overall, followed by clubmates Seamus Kennedy and Tom Ryan in 26th. Callum Evans and Aidan Love completed the home contingent in 29th.

The championship brought together 29 crews from Ireland and the UK, providing another showcase for youth double-handed racing on Lough Derg. Organisers thanked the competitors, coaches, race committee, volunteers, parents and supporters involved in staging the event both ashore and on the water.

Lowrider International Moth Scottish Championship 2026 at Loch Lomond Sailing Club

 

Loch Lomond Sailing Club welcomed competitors from across the UK for the 2026 Lowrider International Moth Scottish Championships. Seven conventional fleet races were followed by a unique two-hour island race around Inchlonaig, before rounding a small rock across a notoriously windless expanse behind the island and returning to the finish. The long-distance finale tested tactics, patience and local knowledge and proved a fitting conclusion to an excellent championship.

Throughout the fleet racing, local sailor Paul Hignett and Nigel Williams of Bartley Sailing Club were locked in a championship-long battle. Williams won races two through five, while Hignett claimed races one, six and seven. The final island race would ultimately decide the title.

The dramatic island race saw positions change repeatedly as competitors searched for pressure around Inchlonaig and crossed the calm patch beyond the island. Hignett eventually secured victory in the race, finishing the series tied with Williams on 10 points after eight races, each sailor recording four race wins. Hignett's win in the final race was enough to secure the Scottish Championship title and First Division honours.

Chris Jones from Waldringfield Sailing Club sailing Hungry Tiger (AUS9303) produced one of the most consistent performances of the weekend. A string of top-five finishes secured third overall on 24 points.

Lyndon Beasley sailing Stockholm Sprite finished fourth overall and won Division 2, while Simon Portman claimed Division 3 and Bee Portman took the Youth prize.

The social highlight of the weekend came on Saturday evening when the Loch Lomond Sailing Club committee boat transported competitors to Inchmurrin Restaurant on Inchmurrin Island for dinner. The unique setting provided a memorable evening and showcased the warm hospitality of the host club.

With close racing throughout the fleet, spectacular scenery and a championship decided only in the final race, the event was a tremendous success and highlighted the enduring appeal of the Lowrider International Moth class.

Overall Results:

Pos Design Sail No Helm Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 Pts

1 Prowler 3175 Paul Hignett Loch Lomond 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 10

2 Prowler 0 3665 Nigel Williams Bartley 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 10

3 Hungry Tiger AUS9303 Chris Jones Waldringfield 3 3 5 5 3 3 3 4 24

4 Stockholm Sprite 3222 Lyndon Beasley Greensforge 4 5 3 3 6 5 4 3 27

5 Axeman 3 3967 Keith Cuthbert Dalgety Bay 5 4 4 4 4 10 10 10 41

6 Skippy 404 Sam Barker Royal Corinthian 6 6 6 7 5 6 5 10 41

7 Shelly 2893 Simon Portman Whitefriars 7 7 7 6 7 7 6 10 47

8 Prowler Douglas Wheel Loch Lomond 10 10 10 10 10 4 8 5 57

9 Skippy Bee Portman Whitefriars 8 10 10 10 10 8 7 10 63

International Dragon Edinburgh Cup and UK Grand Prix 2026 attracts biggest entry in 30 years

 

With 49 boats entered, the 2026 Dragon Edinburgh Cup featuring the International Dragon Association's UK Grand Prix, will be the largest edition of the regatta in 30 years. Hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, the regatta will take place from 16th to 21st August.

Crews from Germany, the USA, Sweden, Turkey, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Hong Kong, Austria and across the UK will compete to win the historic Edinburgh Cup, which was presented to the British Dragon Association (BDA) in 1949 by the late Duke of Edinburgh, himself a keen Dragon sailor whose famous Dragon Bluebottle will race in the regatta. The Edinburgh Cup is awarded annually to the winner of the British Dragon Open National Championship. For 2026 the event is combined with the International Dragon Association's UK Grand Prix, the third of the four event 2026 European Dragon Grade 1 regattas, which adds to the international interest.

Registration will take place on 16th and 17th August and on Monday 17th August the teams will take part in a special warm up race to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the BDA. Championship racing will run from Tuesday 18th to Friday 21st August, with racing on windward leeward courses in the central Solent.

Many of the big names of International Dragon sailing are set to participate. Reigning Dragon World Champion and 2022 Edinburgh Cup winner Andy Beadsworth, who will sail with his Turkish Provezza Dragon team, summed up the competition succinctly saying; "The Edinburgh Cup is one of the most prestigious trophies in sailing and racing Dragons on the Solent is always a good challenge, so we're definitely looking forward to the Edinburgh Cup and UK Grand Prix. It's fantastic that 49 boats including many of the top teams are confirmed, so we're excited to be going up against the likes of Christoph Toepfer, Graham Bailey, Jan Eckert, Grant Gordon and Jan Secher."

One of the interesting new faces joining the fleet for her first Dragon Grand Prix event is top German ILCA sailor Laura Schewe. To familiarise herself with both the Dragon and the race area Laura and her team took park in the recent North Sails Cowes Week, where she finished a very respectable tenth out of 25 boats. "Cowes Week was my first time in Cowes and also my first time steering the Dragon at an event. I am really looking forward to the Edinburgh Cup because Cowes Week was an amazing week. I am both a little excited and nervous to be sailing with nearly 50 Dragons, but I used to sail an ILCA dinghy which is a much bigger fleet, but I am still adjusting to the Dragon, I think I will be fine. Thank you for having us."

25 Dragons completing North Sails Cowes Week served as a great warm up opportunity for many crews. Once again Graham Bailey, sailing the beautifully restored Bluebottle took the victor's laurels. Graham has won the Edinburgh Cup three times in 2014, 2017 and 2018, but a win on home turf in the 1948 Camper & Nicholson built Bluebottle, would be a particularly special achievement. Also featuring strongly in the Cowes Week rankings and ones to watch out for at the Edinburgh Cup are Ivan Bradbury's Blue Haze in third, fourth placed Jono Brown's Fit Chick - the 2023 Corinthian Edinburgh Cup winner, and Gavia Wilkinson-Cox's Jerboa which came fifth.

There is always strong competition in the Dragon class for the Corinthian trophies, and this regatta will be no different. Sixteen all amateur crews will compete including the defending Corinthian Edinburgh Cup Champion William Swigart from the USA, Austria's Martin Lutz, Ireland's Martin Byrne who won the Edinburgh Cup in 2011 and was Corinthian Champion in 2022, Scotland's Cathy Ogden and Belgium's Guy Celis.

Dragon regattas in Cowes are famed for both great racing and great parties, and this event will be no different. Shoreside festivities get under way on Monday 17th August with an Opening Ceremony Cocktail Party which will also feature the prize-giving for the BDA 70th Anniversary Race. On Tuesday and Thursday crews will enjoy an Apres Sailing Happy Hour on the Royal Yacht Squadron lawn courtesy of sponsor Hendricks Gin. On Wednesday Happy Hour will be courtesy of Dragon maintenance specialist Katie Cole and will be followed by the Edinburgh Cup Summer Party at the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club. The regatta will conclude with a Gala Prize Giving Dinner supported by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, which will commence with a Laurent Perrier champagne reception in the Royal Yacht Squadron Pavilion on Friday evening.

Live Coverage of the event will begin on Monday 17th August with updates available via the event website and the British Dragon Association's Facebook and Instagram pages.

For further information about the 2026 Dragon Edinburgh Cup and UK Grand Prix please visit the event website.

ISORA Welsh Coastal Night Race for members of Pwllheli Sailing Club

 

Pwllheli racers enjoyed a variety of races this weekend. The day started early with a feeder race from Pwllheli to Abersoch so that boats could join Abersoch regatta races and crews could enjoy activities in Abersoch town.

Starting at the PSC bridge at Gimblet Rock, the course was kept simple to ensure everyone could arrive at Abersoch, in good time to enjoy the day. The course rounded Partington Marine's turning mark to port shortly after the start and then headed to Abersoch, through the moorings to ODMY finish line.

Peter Dunlop and Victoria Cox's J122e, Mojito took first overall, Andromeda 2nd and Crackajack 3rd.

Mojito also won trophies in the Abersoch racing before returning to Pwllheli for the last of the ISORA Welsh Coastal races of 2026.

The night race started just after 20:00 in a light south-southwesterly. The course took in Firmhelm boatyard's turning mark number 2 before heading out through St. Tudwall sound. With wind angles opening up, code zeros were deployed to take them west to Gwylan islands off Aberdaron. A port rounding then returned the fleet to Pwllheli with kites up, to finish on the Plas Heli finish line by the fairway buoy.

The race already presented some excitement for some of the young mojito crew who were experiencing their first ever night race but the night presented an amazing array of additional sights, spectacles and distractions throughout the race.

Firstly as boats rounded Cilan Head, they could see a glow on Rhiw mountain in the distance. The drama of a wildfire starting to take hold ensued, accompanied by blue lights as fire engines rushed along the coastline. Once round the Gwylan islands, it was a relief to see firefighters had reached the scene and before the fleet disappeared back around Cilan Head, the flames had reduced to smoulder and smoke, leaving just the blue lights to pierce the dark night sky.

Although tired from the long day, the use of head torches provided much merriment for our young crew. The skies above added to their wonder as they were entertained by an abundance of shooting stars, part of the Perseid meteor shower at this time of year.

Mojito, with a mostly female crew, won the race overall. Paul&Sam Kitteringham's Elan 350, Finally, were 2nd overall, taking 1st in class 1 followed by Geoff Dufton Kelly's First 40.7, Crackajack, 2nd in class 1, 3rd overall.

Focus at Pwllheli is now on the Welsh IRC National Championships on 4th to 6th September with boats arriving from Ireland in the ISORA race the weekend before on 29th August. There is still time to enter and we are making a special appeal for YTC cruisers to come and join the fun on the water as well as the superb social program ashore.

See ;-  www.ircwelshchamps.com

IRC Northern Ireland Championship 2026 at Carrickfergus Sailing Club

Last weekend Carrickfergus Sailing Club hosted the GBR IRC Northern Ireland Championship as part of their annual regatta. 18 boats entered with 12 in IRC/YTC 1 and 6 in IRC/YTC2.

Racing began on Saturday morning with a Windward Leeward Race in 10-12 knots of breeze from the south. In class 1 Victric 3 and Final Call II had a close dual, with Victric 3 taking the win. In class 2 racing was extremely close between Hellaby Puffin, Symmetry and Squawk, all finishing within 10 seconds on corrected time, with Hellaby Puffin scraping the win.

Race 2 saw a 10 mile coastal for both fleets, with breeze filling in; this became a faster race than expected with gusts of 19-20knots. Fleets had two tricky reaches, with sail inventories being tested with some boats opting for Code Zeros, Symmetrical kites or Jibs.

In YTC 1, the VX One's dominated due to the reaching legs, with Sheep Dawg taking the win and Vixen in second. A35 Succession sailed a fantastic first beat, leading by over a minute on the water by the windward mark, but got pipped by sistership Final Call II later in the race. In IRC 2, Endeavour led the fleet over the line, with Symmetry taking the win on corrected time.

With most competitors ashore, they were greeted with bags of free beers, soft drinks and Haribo delivered to their boat on arrival, before heading to the Regatta Tea, equipped with the traditional brass band.

Sunday saw a lot of rain, but a steady 8-12 knots from the South East. The race committee made clear their intentions to run 4 Windward Leewards. Racing started on time, with 3 races ran in similar conditions. In IRC1 Final Call II had a clean sweep of bullets, with the largest boat in the fleet Spirit of Jacana became the 3rd boat to get a 2nd place in race 3, with event director Ryan Wilson taking 2nd in race 4 in Elixir. Victric 3 took the 2nd place in the podium in both race 5 and 6.

IRC 2 saw close racing between the whole fleet, with Quarter Tonners Hellaby Puffin and Symmetry taking 2 1st's each for the day.

Race 4 got a bit funky, with a replacement committee boat due to a smoking battery, followed by a 180 degree shift of breeze on the first downwind of the race. This offered a bit of a reset, but with racing being so close, nobody paid or lost massively from this so the race continued. Elixir was first over the line, but unfortunately to the sound of silence as they had been OCS.

Prize giving took place after a protest in IRC 2. Thanks to North Sails who provided a selection of hats, kit bags for the winners. Congratulations to IRC winners Final Call II and Hellaby Puffin, and YTC Winners Victric 3 and Hellaby Puffin. Final Call II took the overall event win with a 2,1,1,1,1,1 score card, taking home a 20% of voucher for a new North Sails sail.

The event returns to RUYC for its third year in 2027 on the weekend of the 26th / 27th June.

Hadron H2 Travellers Trophy series at Burghfield Sailing Club

 

Burghfield sailing club hosted the sixth event in the 2026 Hadron H2 calendar last weekend, sharing the blue inland waters of BSC with the Streaker Class. Meteorologists among you may recall that the Azores high was still omnipresent over the weekend and a (very) light wind forecast inevitably deterred a few entries.

Racing began more or less on time on Saturday though, with the nimble BSC Race officer setting up a course catering for the southerly wind at one end of the lake and a SW at the other end! Wind speeds were 2-16 knots making "hard hiking" a chancy business, however four races were miraculously completed, including a very civilised lunch break.

Despite these conditions, the Hadron H2 fleet featured the usual suspects at the front (Tim Garvin, Gavin Fleming and Richard le Mare) with occasional interventions from the author, Ian Little, Stephen Oliver and Adrian Peckham. We were also honoured with the addition of a new owner (Mobs) from Upper Thames SC who declared Burghfield Lake to be "open water" from his perspective. It takes all sorts!

The institutional H2 curry duly took place in the evening and the scene was set for a showdown on Sunday between Tim and Gavin for first place overall.

Sunday unfortunately offered even less breeze, swinging from East to West and after one attempted race, the day was aborted, leaving the results as of Saturday with Tim Garvin taking first overall, Gavin Fleming second and Richard le Mare third.

The fight for the coveted Travellers Trophy continues and will resume in Keyhaven YC in September, with our National Championships.

Swallow class at Cowes Week 2026

 

A fabulous week with fourteen Swallows enjoying mostly benign breezes, the usual tidal current challenges, sunshine-soaked days and a full-on social programme!

The quality and competitiveness of the fleet was emphasised through seeing five different winners across the six races sailed.

Following an intensely competitive Saturday passage race, won by Skua, racing commenced on Sunday with two races started from committee boat starts in Osborne Bay. Champagne sailing conditions!... commencing with a gentle Force 2-3 Southerly, increasing to Force 4 and backing South Easterly. Spectre established a commanding lead on the final beat to take the gun in race 1, whilst a penalty turn in race 2 cost them a repeat, the win going to Svala.

Whilst Monday's single race was sadly abandoned due to confusion over the windward mark, Tuesday saw two races again in a force 4-5 West South West breeze building to 5-6. In the increasingly challenging surfing conditions and a second race (5) finish close to the Breakwater amongst many other classes, Swift took the gun for race 1 and Svala for race 2.

With Wednesday's race 6 being abandoned on the basis of forecasted 30 knot gusts, races 7 and 8 started in a shifty North Westerly which together with a strong Eastgoing tide provided challenging sailing all day. Solitude turned in a top final leg windward performance to take the first race gun whilst Osprey took the second.

Wednesday evening saw a memorable National Swallow Class dinner take place hosted by the RORC. With race 9, the final race, being lost on Friday due to the sea breeze not filling in soon enough the fleet enjoyed a sparkling broad reach home to Itchenor as it built.

Overall Results:

Pos Boat Name Team R1 R2 R4 R5 R7 R8 Total 

1 SVALA Nigel Masding & Hugo Fisher 2 1 3 1 4 4 15

2 OSPREY James Hartley 4 3 6 2 2 1 18

3 SPECTRE Jonny Puds Pudney 1 8 5 4 9 7 34

4 SKUA Harry Roome Michael & Emma Arnold 7 2 4 7 12 3 35

5 GWAIHIR Charles Hyatt & Keith Bliss. 5 9 2 DSQ 7 2 40

6 MARENGO Philip Pascall 8 10 9 5 3 5 40

7 SOLITUDE Andrew Reid Diane Sherman & Adam       Levitt 3 5 DSQ 6 1 11 41

8 SWIFT Andy Fitzgerald / Paul Ward 10 4 1 DSQ 6 6 42

9 KANSU Olly Shaw Pete McCoy and crew 6 6 11 3 8 8 42

10 MIGRANT James Leaver 11 7 10 8 5 9 50

11 SPREADEAGLE George Miller 12 12 7 10 11 10 62

12 ARCHON George Wright 9 11 8 12 13 NOD 68

13 GOOSANDER Tim Taylor 13 13 12 11 10 13 72

14 KA NYENGA Michael Robinson 14 14 13 9 14 12 76

Sailing back in time on the Norfolk Broads

 

" Escape the ‘restless tide of the world’ with this peaceful journey. "

“The klop, klop of water under the bows of a small boat will cure most troubles in this world,” wrote Arthur Ransome in his 1934 novel “Coot Club” – and, after my recent solo sailing trip in the Norfolk Broads, I have to agree with him, said James Stewart in the Financial Times.

Ransome’s book is set in this network of tidal rivers and shallow lakes, which “cumulatively snake” for 125 miles through the east of Norfolk. The lakes are medieval peat diggings that were flooded by rising seas in the 14th century, and long plied by cargo boats known as wherries.

The Victorians “reimagined” the area as a holiday destination, and operators began renting small yachts to visitors. Motorboats are now far more numerous, but sailing boats are still available to charter. Founded in 1932, Hunter’s Yard in Ludham has a fleet of yachts from “the golden age of Broads cruising”, some with cabins sleeping two to four. Renters must know how to sail, but novices can sign up for a “Learn to Sail” week.

The 90-year-old yacht I chartered, Hustler, was like “an Edwardian gentlemen’s club shrunk to a Wendy house”, with “lustrous” mahogany panelling and a Royal Doulton sink. And it had a “secret weapon”. Most motorboats won’t fit beneath the medieval bridge at Potter Heigham, and so are restricted to the southern Broads. But yachts can lower their masts to squeeze through, into a world where “the throb of boat engines” is replaced “by birdsong in sibilant reeds”.

I found the Broads “surprisingly social”. Dog walkers and fishermen waved, and a canoeist kept pace for a chat. The birds were wonderful, too, from kingfishers to marsh harriers and cranes “like dowager flamingos”. But mostly there was just me, the sound of creaking ropes, and the “low bosky horizons” stretching “beneath heroic skies”.

This was “landscape as serenity”, particularly in the dusk at Horsey Mere, reminding me “how sailing could still be” – “an interlude in which everything else can fall away, a momentary back eddy in the restless tide of the world”.

San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta – GBR Medal in final three Olympic Class events

 

Overall across the ten Olympic Class events at the Long Beach and San Pedro OCR British Sailing Team competitors won 3 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze, another good set of results on the waters to be used for the Los Angeles Games in the summer of 2028.

Richard SCHULTHEIS and Fabian RIEGER of Germany won the 49er medal series with a 1 and 2 , ahead of James GRUMMETT and Rhos HAWES who moved into second with a 6 and 1. Hernán UMPIERRE and Fernando DIZ of Uruguay dropping to third.

In the women’s 49erFX, Sweden’s Ebba BERNTSSON and Vilma BOBECK posted a 2, 1 to take a 17 point win ahead of Spain’s Paula BARCELO and Maria CANTERO, with Saskia TIDEY and Freya BLACK third after posting an 8 and 2.

In the Nacra 17, Sweden’s Emil JÄRUDD and Hanna JONSSON maintained their lead with a 4 and 2,  holding off John GIMSON and Anna BURNET who posted a 3, 3, to take second by one point. Third were Willemijn OFFERMAN and Scipio HOUTMAN of the Netherlands.

The USA events complete the 2026 Sailing Grand Slam (SGS) circuit for the world’s top sailors in the build-up to the LA 2028 Games.

49er Medal Series Final:

1st GER Richard SCHULTHEIS / Fabian RIEGER 77pts

2nd GBR James GRUMMETT / Rhos HAWES 92pts

3rd URU Hernán UMPIERRE / Fernando DIZ 99pts

49erFX Medal Series Final:

1st SWE Ebba BERNTSSON / Vilma BOBECK 55pts

2nd ESP Paula BARCELO / Maria CANTERO 72pts

3rd GBR Saskia TIDEY / Freya BLACK 78pts

Nacra 17 Medal Series Final:

1st SWE Emil JÄRUDD / Hanna JONSSON 59pts

2nd GBR John GIMSON / Anna BURNET 60pts

3rd NED Willemijn OFFERMAN / Scipio HOUTMAN 69pts

Historic Sailing Cobles Will Take To Bridlington Bay For Two-Day Festival

Traditional wooden fishing vessels will set sail across Bridlington Bay this weekend as a free two-day maritime festival celebrates the region's rich coastal heritage.

The 2026 Bridlington Sailing Coble Festival will take place on Saturday, August 8th, and Sunday, August 9th. Organisers from the Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society have confirmed a packed schedule of sailing displays, live music, and traditional crafts.

Spectators will watch cobles and historic vessels sailing in the bay between 11:00 and 14:30 on Saturday, timed around a high water of 12:52. Sunday’s sailing will take place from 12:00 to 15:30, following a high water at 14:17.

The festival will showcase prominent local vessels maintained by the registered charity, which was established to promote the history and sailing of local cobles.

Festival-goers will see the 'Three Brothers', an historic 1912 sailing coble built in Bridlington by Baker and Percy Siddall as a fishing vessel and for tourist trips. Local boat builders John Clarkson and Joe Gelsthorpe totally restored the vessel in 2013.

The prominent coble has been featured by Ade Edmondson in ‘Ade at Sea’ and received a visit from Prince Charles in the same year. It has also appeared on BBC Countryfile, BBC Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, and in a promotional video for Hitachi Energy demonstrating wind power.

'The Gratitude' will also feature in the displays. Master boatbuilder Hector Handyside launched the vessel in 1976 for David Wharton of Whitby, who received grant aid from the English Tourist Board to build a floating museum.

Alan Richmond of Scarborough later purchased and completely restored 'The Gratitude', leading to its appearance in the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Pageant. The preservation society acquired the boat in February 2015.

The charity's fleet is completed by 'Gansey Lass', which was built at Bridlington Harbour in 2014 by John Clarkson and Joe Gelsthorpe, assisted by Malcolm Smales and volunteers. The society purchased it in 2017 using a grant from the Tesco Bags of Help scheme.

Live entertainment will run throughout both days at the Clough Hole Car Park stage and the harbourside. The musical lineup includes Jim and Lynette, the Ramshackle Shantymen, The Headlanders, the Hornsea Shanty Lasses, and Colleen's Fancy.

The Flamborough Sword Dancers junior team will perform on Sunday afternoon, accompanied by Jim playing music, with a final performance scheduled on the North Pier at 15:00.

Sunday morning's schedule features a formal presentation at the stage area. Gill Emmerson and Chris Wright will present commemorative certificates to owners and skippers, alongside the 'Steve Emmerson Memorial Award for Best Turned out Coble'.

Visitors will explore a variety of displays and stalls inside the Vessel Maintenance Facility exhibition hall at Clough Hole Car Park. Attractions include demonstrations of traditional crab and lobster pot making, alongside a photographic display of old Bridlington Harbour and local boats.

Stallholders include the North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, Friends of the Chalk Tower Flamborough, and marine paint manufacturer Teal & Mackrill Ltd. Local artisans will also showcase their work, including Deb Gillanders of Propagansey with traditional fishermen's ganseys, Sam Deville's handmade pottery, and Little Miss Looter's Seaglass Creations.

The Harbour Heritage Museum will offer free admission throughout the weekend, providing a look into the town's maritime past.

Several local organisations are supporting the 2026 festival, including The Lord's Feoffees and Assistants of the Manor of Bridlington, Bridlington Harbour Commissioners, the Dogger Bank Windfarm Operator Fund, Wold Top Brewery, and Harrison Leisure.

Elmo Trophy Returns With Wide-Open Youth Team Racing Battle

 

Twenty-eight youth team racing squads will converge on Dún Laoghaire this weekend for the 11th edition of the Elmo Trophy, with organisers predicting one of the most open contests in the event's history. With no clear favourite, the championship is expected to produce a highly competitive battle for the title.

Each team will field six sailors racing in colour-matched Firefly dinghies in the internationally recognised three-boat versus three-boat team racing format, widely regarded as the pinnacle of tactical dinghy racing.

Principal Race Officer Toby Hudson Fowler is scheduled to start racing at 10.30 am on Saturday. Racing will take place on the traditional starboard S-shaped course inside Dún Laoghaire Harbour.

Five flights of  boats will be used, allowing up to 10 teams to race simultaneously on a single course. Delivering the championship remains a major logistical exercise. More than 50 volunteers will help run up to 200 races before the Elmo Trophy winner is decided.

Race management will again use the RaceFlow scheduling and results system, developed by former Elmo competitor Russell Bolger, to keep racing moving efficiently and maintain close competition between teams.

Forecast gusty conditions on Saturday afternoon may require Firefly storm sails supplied by the National Yacht Club, Irish Sailing, and the host club, the Royal St George Yacht Club. 

The umpiring team will be led by Ailbe Millerick, a veteran of all 11 Elmo Trophy events, who will oversee on-the-water officiating and ensure fair racing.

Off the water, the traditional Saturday evening dinner will bring more than 200 competitors and volunteers together at the Royal St George Yacht Club. The popular karaoke competition also returns, with defending champions Rathmullan aiming to retain their unofficial title.

The Seychelles -- one of the world's finest sailing destinations

 

Here is a  relaxed 7-day sailing itinerary covering the beautiful Inner Islands, starting and finishing on Mahé.

Day 1 – Mahé to Praslin (26 nautical miles, 4–5 hours)

Morning -

Depart Eden Island Marina on Mahé.

Enjoy your first sail across turquoise waters to Praslin.

Afternoon -

Anchor at Baie Ste Anne or Anse Lazio.

Swim or snorkel straight from the yacht.

Onshore activities -

Visit the UNESCO-listed Vallée de Mai nature reserve.

See the famous Coco de Mer palms and endemic black parrots.

Enjoy dinner at a local Creole restaurant.

Day 2 – Explore Praslin

A leisurely day with minimal sailing.

Onshore activities -

Relax at Anse Lazio, regularly ranked among the world's finest beaches.

Optional visit to Anse Georgette.

Short hike through coastal trails.

Water activities -

Paddleboarding

Snorkelling

Sunset drinks aboard your yacht

Day 3 – Praslin to Curieuse Island (4 nautical miles)

Curieuse is a protected national park.

Onshore activities -

Walk among hundreds of free-roaming Aldabra giant tortoises.

Follow the mangrove boardwalk.

Visit the restored Doctor's House museum.

Afternoon -

Snorkel around St Pierre Islet, famous for colourful reef fish and clear water.

Day 4 – Curieuse to La Digue (7 nautical miles)

La Digue has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.

Onshore activities -

Hire bicycles (the best way to explore).

Visit the spectacular Anse Source d'Argent.

Explore traditional vanilla plantations and coconut groves.

Browse local artisan shops.

Evening -

Fresh seafood barbecue or beach restaurant.

Day 5 – La Digue and Coco Islands

A short cruise to some of the Seychelles' best reefs.

Activities -

Snorkelling with turtles.

Optional scuba diving.

Kayaking around granite boulders.

Onshore -

Visit Grand Anse or Petite Anse.

Watch the sunset from one of the island's quiet western beaches.

Day 6 – La Digue to Mahé (approximately 35 nautical miles)

A longer but rewarding sail back towards Mahé.

Afternoon

Anchor at Beau Vallon or Sainte Anne Marine National Park.

Onshore activities -

Explore Victoria, one of the world's smallest capitals.

Visit Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market.

Sample Creole cuisine and local rum.

Day 7 – Mahé

Spend your final day exploring the largest island.

Options include

Hike the Copolia Trail or Morne Blanc for panoramic island views.

Visit Takamaka Bay.

Relax at Anse Intendance or Petite Anse.

Browse local craft markets before departure.

Wildlife you may encounter -

Aldabra giant tortoises

Hawksbill and green turtles

Reef sharks 

Eagle rays

Dolphins

Flying fish

Hundreds of tropical fish species

Best time to sail -

April–May: Light winds, calm seas, excellent visibility.

October–November: Another superb period with warm weather and outstanding snorkelling.

June–September: Stronger southeast trade winds make for livelier sailing.

December–March: Hotter and more humid, with occasional tropical showers.

This itinerary strikes a good balance between sailing (generally 1–5 hours per day, except for the return to Mahé) and plenty of time ashore to enjoy the Seychelles' beaches, wildlife, hiking, and Creole culture. If you're interested in a more adventurous trip, I can also suggest a route that includes the remote islands of Cousin, Aride, and Silhouette for even better birdlife, diving, and secluded anchorages.

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