All set for coble sailing season 2026

 

The 2026 Bridlington Sailing Coble Festival is to be held over the weekend of 8-9 August and will involve visiting cobles and historic vessels joining the local fleet for a spectacular two days of sailing.

Although widely known as the UK and Europe’s largest shellfishing port, Bridlington is also home to an impressive fleet of sailing cobles unequalled anywhere in Great Britain. This is solely down to the success of the Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society (BSCPS) and its membership.

Formed in 1983 to preserve, maintain and sail the 1912 Siddall-built sailing coble Three Brothers, which had been completely restored by the Bridlington Harbour Commissioners, the society has gone from strength to strength in recent times. As well as being custodian of Three Brothers,the BSCPS also owns Gratitude, built in 1976, and Gansey Lass, built in 2014.

A further seven sailing cobles are owned by members of the society and others locally, who are all enthusiastic about preserving the heritage of the northeast coast of England. During the summer months all the cobles can be seen sailing in the waters of Bridlington Bay.

Winter is when most maintenance work and painting is carried out, and a dedicated team can regularly be seen in the society’s Beck Hill workshop. The 24ft motor coble Rita Jameson (ex Probility)is also there at the present time undergoing a complete restoration by retired local boatbuilder John Clarkson and the team of volunteers. Originally built by Joe Gelsthorpe of Hornsea, she fished for a time at Flamborough before moving up to Amble. She returned to East Yorkshire after being bought by a Barmston farmer, who later kindly donated her to the BSCPS.

The beautiful 26ft Gratitude, originally commissioned by Whitby man Dave Wharton and built by Hector Handyside, works foreman and master coble builder at the J&J Harrison yard in Amble, has also recently been in the workshop. Built on the lines of a traditional Yorkshire sailing coble, in 1988 Gratitudewas taken halfway around the world, courtesy of P&O, for the Australian bicentenary celebrations. After a spell based at Scarborough, she was acquired by the BSCPS in 2015. Dave recently made a nostalgic visit to the workshop to see how the maintenance work on Gratitudewas going.

Gansey Lasswas one of two identical sailing cobles built side by side in Bridlington by John Clarkson and Joe Gelsthorpe in 2014. Traditionally built of larch with oak timbers (ribs), they were the last cobles to be built in East Yorkshire. The second of the two,Free Spirit, was bought by a member of the BSCPS, and both have moorings in the harbour.

BSCPS volunteers also run the Harbour Heritage Museum situated on the harbourside. The museum chronicles the ancient port of Bridlington from its early days to the present. With numerous interesting artifacts from days long gone, a mock-up of a traditional keelboat’s wheelhouse, and various models of fishing boats and pleasure steamers which once worked from the harbour, it has proved a popular venue, with its free admission.

Membership of the society is open to everyone, with payment of a small subscription, and as a sailing member, one can learn the skills of crewing the traditional cobles which were once the mainstay of the inshore fishing industry along the northeast coast. Further details on membership and volunteering at the Harbour Heritage Museum can be obtained from the secretary at: threebrotherscoble@gmail.com

RCYC April League Racing Cancelled Again This Weekend By Weather

 

Racing in the April League at the Royal Cork Yacht Club has been cancelled again this Saturday (April 11) due to adverse weather.

The decision was taken early in the week (Thursday 9th April) following an updated forecast, underlining the unsettled conditions affecting the season start.

Rear Admiral Keelboats Tom McGrath confirmed the call.

West-south-west winds are forecast to gust to 44 mph at start time.

“The weather doesn’t seem to want to play ball again, so unfortunately, we are going to have to cancel racing in the April league again this weekend,” he said.

It marks a second successive cancellation for the early-season series, with conditions continuing to disrupt the club’s keelboat schedule.

Racing will resume next weekend (April 18th)

Chichester Yacht Club gears up for Hadron H2 and Phantom Open

 

Chichester Yacht Club is looking forward to welcoming sailors for the Hadron H2 and Phantom class Open Meeting later this month, with two fleets lined up for spring racing on Chichester Harbour.

The Hadron H2s will be racing across Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April, while the Phantoms will join the action on Saturday 18 April. Entry for both events is open now via the club website at www.cyc.co.uk.

Chichester is a popular open meeting venue and offers plenty to make a weekend of it. Competitors can expect a large car park (paid, but with charges capped when validated at the club office), along with a friendly bar, restaurant and lawned gardens looking straight out over the racing area — perfect for relaxing after a day on the water.

The club is looking forward to welcoming both classes and hopes to see a strong turnout for what promises to be an enjoyable and competitive weekend of racing.

2026 Fireball Worlds – Early Bird Entry Ends at the end of April

 

A quick reminder that the reduced early bird entry fee period for the 2026 Fireball World Championships ends on 30th April.

Entry can be made via the event site, 2026.fireballworlds.com.

The event is being hosted by Royal Torbay Yacht Club and is preceded by the UK Nationals. The Nationals run from Monday 20th to Friday 24th July (including inspection/measurement days) and the Worlds from Saturday 25th to Friday 31st July (including inspection/measurement days).

Experience the RS21 Fleet – Charter Opportunities in 2026

 

Have you ever thought about joining the RS21 fleet, and would like to get a feel for the class before taking the next step? Or perhaps you're looking for a truly competitive, one-design racing experience?

Chartering an RS21 could be the perfect way to get involved.

For 2026, RS Sailing have 6 x RS21 charter boats available for both the UK & Ireland Cup series as well as a range of International Events.

Calendar highlights include:

UK National Championship | 22-25 August | Torquay

· European Championship | 23-26 July | RS Games part of Travemünder Woche

World Championship | 28-31 October | Cannes

For the full global calendar - including 2027 key dates - visit the RS21 Iternational Class website.

Why Charter an RS21?

Try before you buy - Experience the boat and class firsthand before committing to ownership

Convenience - Boats are prepared, maintained, and ready to race on arrival

Access top events - Compete at major championships without the logistics of transporting a boat

Level playing field - Identical boats mean the focus is purely on skill and teamwork

Flexible options - Charter a single event or build a multi-event campaign

Professional support - Backed by the RS Sailing team throughout your event

RS Sailing offer charters for individual events, or charter packages across multiple regattas. For pricing and options head to rssailing.club. Or, if you'd prefer to talk to a member of the RS sales team, drop them a line on info@rssailing.com or call 01794 526760.

As RS21 UK & Ireland Class Manager, Liam Willis, puts it: "There's no better way to experience the RS21 than by racing it. Step onboard, feel the performance, and see what makes this fleet so exciting - while getting a true taste of ownership along the way."

Mirror Spring Championship at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club

 Bassenthwaite's inaugural Mirror Spring Championship, sponsored by Ginger Boats, opened in dramatic fashion as Storm Dave forced racing to be brought forward on Saturday.

Strong winds caused major retirements, though James and Meris Date took the first win ahead of Will and Izzy Crocker, with Phil and Lucy Smith third. Andy and Olivia Tunicliffe won race two before conditions became too severe to continue. It was encouraging to see so many juniors braving the weather, including several all-junior helm-and-crew teams who handled the conditions impressively.

With Sunday blown off entirely, the fleet swapped sailing boots for walking boots and headed up Sale Fell. From the summit they could see the gale tearing across the lake, possibly even spotting the shifting patterns from above (unlikely at Bass!).

By Monday the transformation was complete, sunshine, a steady southerly and long, tactical upwind legs welcomed the full fleet back onto the water. Phil and Lucy Smith dominated with two wins to secure the championship, followed by James and Meris in second, Andy and Olivia in third, and Will and Izzy in fourth.

Bassenthwaite Sailing Club's famous social programme, organised by Ellie, kept spirits high despite the storm, with crafting sessions, live music and disco bingo entertaining both adults and juniors.

Overall a blast on and off the water, and useful preparation ahead of this year's Mirror Nationals, also being held in the North and on a lake, giving sea sailors a chance to practise shifty inland sailing.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Pts

1st 71013 Phil Smith Lucy Smith/Oliver Smith Bassenthwaite 3 3 1 1 ‑8 8

2nd 70967 James Date Meris Date Burghfield Sailing Club 1 2 5 ‑11 7 15

3rd 70668 Andy Tunnicliffe Olivia Tunnicliffe Bass (DNF) 1 8 9 2 20

4th 70573 Will crocker Izzy Crocker north lincs 2 (DNF) 3 7 9 21

5th 7096 Thomas Chaix NYC 4 5 7 ‑8 5 21

6th 319 David Gebhard Edward Gebhard Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club 6 (DNF) 9 4 12 31

7th 70639 Neil Baker Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club (DNF) DNC 2 6 4 36

8th 58171 Fiona Rigg Duncan Rigg East Lothian 8 4 ‑17 13 11 36

9th 71042 Jonny McGovern Milo McGovern Port Dinorwic (DNF) DNC 4 5 6 39

10th 71059 Matthew McGovern Bodhi McGovern (DNF) DNC 15 2 3 44

11th 70893 Becky Priest Staunton Harold SC 7 (DNC) 14 15 14 50

12th 71069 James Eastbury Felix Eastbury Gresford SC 5 (DNC) 20 16 10 51

13th 71053 Ian Dobson HISC (DNF) DNF 6 OCS 1 55

14th 71080 Michael Hanley Ben Chaix NYC/TBSC (DNF) DNC 12 14 13 63

15th 70608 Tim Smith Bassenthwaite (DNF) DNC 19 3 19 65

16th 70142 Naomi Smith Oliver Smith Bassenthwaite (DNF) DNC 13 12 17 66

17th 71037 Jethro Gebhard Evelyn Gebhard Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club (DNF) DNC 10 10 DNC 68

18th NED 70883 Matthew Bromley Sebastian Bromley RYA (DNF) DNC 11 20 16 71

19th 71062 Kirsty Mitchell Leigh and Lowton (DNF) DNC 16 18 15 73

20th 69663 Oliver Smith Bassenthwaite (DNF) DNC 21 19 18 82

21st 562 Annelies Rooney Noah Caliendo Sligo Yacht Club (DNF) DNC 18 21 20 83

22nd 7098 Ron Vass Reading SC (DNF) DNC 22 17 21 84

23rd 70667 Joe Adams (DNC) DNC DNC DNC DNC 96

Duck Boat Challenge at Frensham

 

What an amazing event the Good Friday Duck Boat race is! Now on our third year the race was conceived by Frensham Pond Sailing Club as a way of bringing together club sailors with members of Sailability for close, combative racing in Hansa 303 keelboats easily recognisable by the bright sail colours.

The third year of the event was expanded to four races with a mix of triangle and windward /leeward courses. There were additional points for picking up floating ducks in Race Two, points for 360 degree turns in Race Three and, in Race Four, short windward and leeward gates to tighten up the racing leading to lots of shouting but luckily no boat contact.

There were members from all the Frensham adult racing classes represented. ILCA, Enterprise, GP14,Solo, Lark, Europe,2.4mR,RS200 as well as 303 sailors who regularly join club racing. In two seat boats most of the teams shared helming and mainsheet duties and all of them were having a ball. The wind was challenging with 14 to 26 knots south-westerly generating some large gusts as well as the odd quiet area. One 303 was too slow to dump the main and was partially swamped calling for some urgent bailing and a rather wet Jay!

The start lines were very competitive with the fleet typically splitting north and south off the line with really competitive reaches with, on one rounding, five 303's gently negotiating with each other for room.

The fun really ramped up with the duck collection race. Armed with fishing nets usually deployed to keep Sailability youth sailors engaged on light wind days and with seventy coloured ducks released on the first windward leg, a new playground version of the racing rules appeared to come into play. The big hunt was for the only high scoring green duck, snaffled by Mark and Jolyon just in front of Lisa and Moya.

Strategies varied as did compliance with the instruction that circling for multiple passes at ducks was not allowed. The duck distributor tried to even points up by lobbing ducks in front of the chasing pack and actually getting one in a boat much to the surprise of Kris and Helen. The lowest duck points scored was 6 and the highest 34 so techniques deployed were important. The third race through gates was a good test of sailing skills with two laps of tight racing resulting in the two teams going into the final race on equal points.

Chaos returned in the final race with a variety of techniques deployed for getting 360 turn points. Some maths knowledge was also being deployed trying to work out whether turns were more valuable than places with some teams just gunning for the finish. All sailors helped to put all the kit away with Sailability members showing club members how to operate C Crane and Oxford hoists and all challenged by driving unfamiliar wheelchairs along the jetties.

Pizzas and the club bar followed with the usual speeches and thanks.

Overall Results:

Pos Boat Name Team Pts

1 “Fairwinds” Mark and Jolyon ‑24

2 “Sealion” Meg and Rob ‑23

3 “Jaguar” Kate and Jen ‑8

4 “docpaul” Lisa and Moya ‑5

5 “Farnham Flyer” Kim and Clive ‑3

6 “Andy the bear” Debs and Simon ‑1

7 “Miranda” Kat and Lara 4

8 “Hedgehog” Judith and Alan 5

9 “Neil Kymatik” Helen and Kris 6

10 “Blue Falcon” John and Jay 14

11 “Dido” Ann and James 15

12 “Rosie III” Ali and Derek 18

If you are interested in joining Frensham Pond SC or Frensham Pond Sailability please visit the FPSC website.

Barton Bunny at the Norfolk Punt Club

Glancing at the forecast for the weekend on the Windy app revealed plenty of purple flashes of gusts in the region of force 6 to 7, perfect for the kitesurfers that the app originally catered for but rather more alarming for Punt Club sailors dusting off the cobwebs of the winter off-season. Fortunately, in the 24 hours or so before the event, a window in the weather of a few hours on Saturday morning appeared, giving a building Southerly breeze which would be testing but mostly manageable for the fifteen entries.

A course was set to cover the whole expanse of the broad with a long beat from the pontoon up to 'D' just to the west of the Island with a pair of high-powered reaches up to 'A' and over to 'N' before a long run down towards '1'. As ever, we had a range of entries from three Fevas to four Punts, giving a near 45-minute delta from the first to the last starters. The first lap saw a good battle between the two lead Fevas, crewed by 'Team E' of Mark and Ella Elson along with Emily Drew and Henry Drew and Finn Elson in Purple Pirate.

Next to start were the two 2000s, followed by the YBODs, the Yeoman and the Wayfarer. The strong wind suited the asymmetric spinnakers on the Fevas and 2000s, allowing them to plane all the way down the broad, carefully managing the gybes ('fast is safe!'). Gav Page and Camilla Craker-Horton appeared the stronger of the 2000s and looked the most likely to narrow the enormous gap to the Fevas, now more comfortably led by Team E.

The first of the Punts to set off was Decoy, helmed by multiple time winner of the Barton Bunny, Simon Clayton, this year crewed by Rosanna Sawyer. The pair of Hardchines Redwing and Pipit set off soon after with the Morrison Cormorant being required to wait an agonising 6 minutes more. By this point, the gusts were well into the mid 20kts range.

Normally in the case of a pursuit race with a building wind, it is advantageous for the boats starting later as they have proportionally more of their race going fast compared with the earlier starters. For the Punts however, the name of the game was really survival and keeping the masthead pointing broadly in the direction of the atmosphere. Cormorant valiantly opted to fly her spinnaker at the first opportunity, knowing that she needed to go awfully fast to catch Team E who were now a whole two laps ahead. Cormorant however came a cropper in a big gybe near the Catfield dyke. It was the last time we saw any of the punts risk putting their spinnakers up. Ultimately it was Team E who were victorious, followed by Gav and Camilla in the club 2000 with Robert Friend helming YBOD Frosted Orange the first keelboat and third overall. Henry Drew in Purple Pirate put in a great performance in the conditions to be first junior helm. An attritional battle between the two Hardchines with multiple capsizes each was finally decided on the reach from '1' to the spreader mark at 'R' where Jack Drew and his novice crew, Ed, in Pipit could take home the class prize in the dying minutes of the ninety.

Huge congratulations to all the entrants, especially to the 9 who made it to the end and of course to our winners, Mark, Ella and Emily.

RORC Easter Challenge Ends With Standout Class Wins

 

The Royal Ocean Racing Club Easter Challenge concluded on Easter Sunday after three days of racing in the Solent. Two final races were held in bright sunshine, with a 15-knot westerly breeze easing and shifting north during the day. Seven races were completed across the regatta under the direction of Principal Race Officer Stuart Childerley.

Simon Patterson’s Fast40+ Standfast dominated IRC One with a perfect scoreline of seven race wins. Malcolm Offord’s TP52 Braveheart recovered from early non-starts to take second, while the De Graaf family’s Baraka GP finished third.

David Franks’ J/112 Leon led IRC Two, winning six races in a consistent series. The Army Sailing Association’s Fujitsu British Soldier secured second place with steady results, and Derek Shakespeare’s J/122 Bulldog finished third.

“The Easter Challenge has been a very good regatta for us,” said David Franks. “It is a proper shakedown. It tests the crew, the boat and the work done over winter.” He added, “You are racing properly. In the end, it often comes down to the team that makes the fewest mistakes.”

In IRC Three, John Smart’s J/109 Jukebox set the pace, winning the opening four races and maintaining strong results to secure overall victory. Oliver and Sam Love’s Frank 4 finished second, with Harry Heijst’s Winsome completing the podium.

“We definitely got quicker during the regatta,” said John Smart. “The teamwork improved all weekend, and that gives confidence for the season ahead.”

Coaching remained central to the event, led by Richard Moxey and supported by North Sails specialists, Olympian Vita Heathcote and coach Phil Devereux. Teams received on-water guidance and video debriefs ashore.

“The main aim is for teams to leave sailing better than when they arrived,” said Moxey. “You could see clear improvement across the fleet in demanding conditions.”

The prizegiving was held at the RORC Cowes clubhouse, where Vice Commodore Derek Shakespeare presented awards following the final races.

Competitors highlighted the value of the regatta. Lou Clayton described it as “a really valuable training regatta”, while Ian McMillan thanked organisers and coaches for their support and advice.

Free beginner sailing sessions at Royal Gourock Yacht Club

 

ASPIRING sailors are invited to learn the ropes at the Royal Gourock Yacht Club in preparation for its season starting in May.

The club is offering two free sailing sessions for those who register now.

On April 24, at 7pm, a kick-off meeting will be held at the club and everyone welcome.

For more information about signing up and registering for the sessions, visit the Royal Gourock Yacht Club website.

International Paint Poole Regatta and IRC Europeans 2026 early bird entry closes 10th April

 

Don't miss the early bird discount and submit your entry now and enjoy stunning racing in Poole Bay.

The 2026 IRC European Championship 22nd May - 25th May

The 2026 IRC Southern Area Championship 23rd May - 25th May

International Paint Poole Regatta 23rd May - 25th May

J80 National Championship

Sonata Southern Area Championship

Mini One Ton Cup

J24 Southern Area Championship

2.4m Tidal Championship

YTC Classes

VPRS Championship

Cape 31

Performance 40's

Performance 30's

TP52

J70, HP30, Contessa, Quarter Ton, Sports Boats

Folkboat, Sigma 33 & 38, Flying Fifteens, R19

Shrimpers

We are expecting in excess of 175 entries across all Classes so early entry helps our administration.

Find out more and get your entry in at pooleregatta.co.uk

Paignton Open for Single Handed Dinghies (POSH) 2026 entries open

 

Paignton Sailing Club is pleased to announce that entries are now open for the prestigious POSH (Paignton Open for Single Handed Dinghies) event, scheduled to take place on 9th and 10th May 2026.

Sailors interested in participating can register their entries via the official POSH web page. The entry fee includes dinner on Saturday evening, providing an opportunity for competitors to relax and socialise after a day's racing.

The event is generously sponsored by P&B (www.pinbax.com), a well-known supplier offering a wide range of sailing kit and equipment.

POSH will be held in the scenic Tor Bay, South Devon, a renowned sailing destination. Accommodation options are plentiful, ranging from comfortable apartments to luxury hotels, ensuring all participants and their families can find suitable lodging.

In addition to the racing, families of competitors can look forward to a variety of local attractions and activities, making the event enjoyable for everyone attending.

This year the event will also include the RS Aero 9 National Championship and the RS Vareo National Championships from the 8th to 10th May.

Thornbury Sailing Club Regatta Returns 6–7 June 2026

 

Thornbury Sailing Club is inviting local residents to enjoy a weekend of sailing, music and food as its annual Regatta returns on 6–7 June.

The popular event, held at the club’s Oldbury-on-Severn site, brings together sailors from across the region for two days of racing on the Severn Estuary.

This year’s regatta will also host the Yachting World Day Boat Open, with invitations extended to sailors from numerous local sailing clubs, promising competitive racing and a colourful spectacle on the water.

Racing takes place during the daytime, with fleets of dinghies launching from the club slipway and competing on the estuary as the tide allows.

Spectators are warmly welcome to come along and watch the action from the shoreline or from the clubhouse balcony, which offers scenic views across the Severn and an excellent vantage point for following the racing.

Live Music and Hog Roast

The celebrations continue on Saturday evening, when the regatta shifts from racing to entertainment.

From 19:00, visitors can enjoy live music from the Port of Bristol Sea Shanty Crew, bringing traditional maritime songs to the waterfront, alongside lively sets from the local Narwhal Band.

The evening will also feature a regatta hog roast, giving sailors, visitors and local residents the chance to enjoy food, music and a relaxed social atmosphere by the estuary.

Places for the hog roast can be booked in advance via the Thornbury Sailing Club website.

A Spectacular Setting

Thornbury Sailing Club has been part of the local sailing community for more than 75 years and is known for its unique tidal sailing on the Severn Estuary.

With panoramic views across the river and a welcoming clubhouse overlooking the water, the regatta weekend offers a great opportunity for visitors to see the club in action and experience the excitement of estuary sailing.

Club members say the regatta is always one of the highlights of the season.

“It’s a fantastic weekend with great racing on the water and a brilliant atmosphere ashore,” said a club spokesperson.

“We’re always delighted to welcome visitors to come along and enjoy the spectacle.”

Regatta at a Glance

Thornbury Sailing Club Regatta


📅 Saturday 6 – Sunday 7 June


📍 Oldbury-on-Severn

Highlights include:

Dinghy racing on the Severn Estuary

Yachting World Day Boat Open

Live music from 18:00 Saturday

Port of Bristol Sea Shanty Crew

Narwhal Band

Saturday evening hog roast