Athena Pathway Advances Youth Squad Following Trialist Programme

 

After a hugely successful open trials weekend at the legacy Olympic venue in Portland, Weymouth, the Athena Pathway Program (APP) has begun selection of the first sailors to its Youth Squad. Thirteen sailors make up this first cohort, with the final selection for the AC38 Youth Team still ongoing.

Alongside the announcement of the Youth Squad, Athena Pathway are proud and delighted to reaffirm their partnership with Rolex. "Rolex's enduring commitment to precision, excellence and achievement makes it a natural partner for the programme's ambition to redefine the future of high-performance sailing," said Athena's multiple Olympic gold medal winner and Founder Ben Ainslie.

"United by shared values and a passion for performance at the highest level, the partnership will support Athena Pathway's mission to create a sustainable and inclusive pathway for youth and female athletes, while continuing to push the boundaries of innovation and competitive sport."

Athena Pathway Program's Youth Squad :-

Killian Boag 19, Cowes

Katy Jenkins 21, Malmesbury

Finley Dickinson 22, Hayling Island

Jasmin Williams 22, Falmouth

Duncan Gregor 22, Hong Kong

Amelie Hiscocks 18, Portland

Kai Hockley 20, London

Ryan Littlechild 23, Sydney

Finian Morris 19, Weybridge

Kuba Staite 20, Hayling Island

Sam Webb 21, Lymington

Leo Wilkinson 21, Maidenhead

Sam Dickinson 21, Hayling Island

APP's Team Principal, Hannah Mills commented, "We had 158 applicants, which was amazing to see. So much depth and breadth across the UK's sailing talent that's coming forward... We chose 21 to come to the trials in Weymouth and now we've got a core squad of 13 who we're looking to develop for the Youth America's Cup in 2027 and beyond. But the door is still open, if you didn't make it this time, then keep training, keep pushing, there will be more opportunities in the future."

APP have three core goals for the Youth Squad. In the short term, two Youth Squad sailors will be selected to race with Hannah Mills and a women colleague in the America's Cup Preliminary regatta in Cagliari in May. "It's a fast-track program to get a race team ready," commented Mills.

The medium-term goal will be to extend and develop the Youth Squad, to produce a crew for the Youth America's Cup next summer, in Naples, Italy. "And looking at the longer-term vision, it's really, really exciting to think about the next generation of talent being nurtured -- both male and female -- for the Youth America's Cup and the Women's AC in 2029 and beyond.

The thirteen sailors have been carefully selected to meet all three of these goals and the broader vision of the APP. The introduction of a two-year America's Cup cycle now means that some of the sailors selected for AC38 in 2027 will still be young enough to qualify as Youth for AC39. It's an exciting prospect that means that by AC40 there will be sailors available to the Senior Team who have already experienced two America's Cup cycles.

Now add in the fact that the new race format for the America's Cup Preliminary Regattas has the Senior America's Cup teams - packed with superstar sailors - competing alongside the combined Women & Youth teams. It all adds up to an unbelievable prospect for these young sailors.

Youth Squad member Sam Webb commented, "I think my first memory is watching the big cats on San Francisco harbour..." - that was AC34, an event won by Athena's Team Principal Ben Ainslie - "and as I've watched over the years," continued Webb, "I've become more interested in the technical aspects and the racing.

"I think it's a really exciting time for the Cup, especially as a young person, I'm really excited about the opportunities that are arising at the moment with the Cup happening every two years."

Veterans Sail UK With Invictus Flag On Tall Ships

 

Two tall ships crewed by wounded, injured and sick veterans have set sail on a 2,000-mile voyage around the UK.

Spirit of Falmouth and Pellew departed Falmouth on Tuesday morning as part of the Full Circle Expedition.

The 12-week journey is coordinated by Turn to Starboard in partnership with Invictus Games Birmingham 2027.

The expedition will visit 22 ports across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, including a scheduled call at Bangor on Belfast Lough.

A rotating crew of 70 veterans and serving personnel will take part across five voyage legs.

The ships are carrying the Invictus Games flag to build momentum towards the Birmingham 2027 event.

The flag was raised ahead of departure at Falmouth Coastguard Station before the vessels sailed at 10:00 am, escorted by the Turn to Starboard fleet.

Cannons were fired from Pendennis Castle as the ships crossed Falmouth Bay.

Turn to Starboard CEO Sally Terry said the voyage highlights the role of challenge and community in recovery.

“This expedition brings together two organisations committed to empowering veterans through challenge, camaraderie and community,” she said.

“More than a voyage, this is a story of courage, service and renewal.”

Army veteran and skipper Paul Miller said the journey carries strong meaning for those involved.

“Sailing the Invictus Games Flag around the UK is deeply meaningful,” he said.

“It represents courage, determination and community.”

The voyage is also raising £300,000 to fund a second tall ship for the charity.

Full Circle forms part of the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 Impact Programme, aimed at supporting recovery through sport and shared experience.

The expedition is due to return to Falmouth on 11 June 2026.

Full route:

Falmouth • Departure: Tuesday 17 March

Plymouth • Arrival: Tuesday 17 March • Departure: Friday 20 March

Weymouth • Arrival: Saturday 21 March • Departure: Wednesday 25 March

Portsmouth • Arrival: Wednesday 25 March • Departure: Wednesday 1 April

Ramsgate • Arrival: Friday 3 April • Departure: Sunday 5 April

Chatham • Arrival: Sunday 5 April • Departure: Thursday 9 April

Ipswich • Arrival: Thursday 9 April • Departure: Monday 13 April

Hull • Arrival: Tuesday 14 April • Departure: Friday 17 April

Newcastle • Arrival: Saturday 18 April • Departure: Wednesday 22 April

Leith • Arrival: Thursday 23 April • Departure: Friday 1st May

Wick • Arrival: Sunday 3 May • Departure: Wednesday 6 May

Stromness • Arrival: Wednesday 6 May • Departure: Sunday 10 May

Stornoway • Arrival: Monday 11 May • Departure: Friday 15 May

Tanera • Arrival: Friday 15 May • Departure: Monday 18 May

Oban • Arrival: Monday 18 May • Departure: Thursday 21 May

Bangor • Arrival: Friday 22 May • Departure: Monday 25 May

Peel • Arrival: Tuesday 26 May • Departure: Thursday 28 May

Liverpool • Arrival: Friday 29 May • Departure: Monday 1 June

Milford Haven • Arrival: Wednesday 3 June • Departure: Friday 5 June

Isles of Scilly • Arrival: Saturday 6 June • Departure: Wednesday 10 June

Anchorage – Helford River • Arrival: Wednesday 10 June • Departure: Thursday 11 June

Falmouth (final return) • Arrival: Thursday 11 June

Broadstairs Sailing Club invites past and present members to celebrate as it marks 90th anniversary

 

Broadstairs Sailing Club is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year — a remarkable milestone that reflects decades of sailing, friendship, and community on the Kent coast.

Founded in 1936, the club has grown through the dedication and enthusiasm of generations of members who have helped shape it into the thriving sailing community it is today. Over the years, the club has welcomed sailors of all ages and abilities, creating lasting memories both on and off the water.

To mark this special anniversary, preparations are well underway for a 90th anniversary dinner and dance on 20 June, which promises to be a memorable evening of celebration, stories and shared history.

The club is keen for the event to bring together both past and present members. Many former members have moved away or lost touch over the years, and the anniversary celebrations offer a perfect opportunity to reconnect with old friends and revisit the club.

Adrian Trice, Commodore during this landmark year, said he would be delighted to welcome as many former members as possible to the celebrations.

“This is a very special year for the club,” he said. “We would love to see familiar faces from across the decades join us to celebrate the club’s history, share memories, and enjoy a wonderful evening together.”

Anyone who has previously been a member of Broadstairs Sailing Club, or who knows former members, is encouraged to spread the word and help bring the sailing community back together for this unique occasion.

5 year partnership provides programme to develop sailing skills at Whitstable Yacht Club

 

Whitstable Yacht Club is delighted to continue to work with holidaycottages.co.uk as a major sponsor in 2026, our fifth year of partnership.

The sponsorship will support a range of sailing activities through the 2026 season including our premier racing event Whitstable Week, community outreach events linking with local schools and Discover Sailing, a 'have a go' day open to the town, and CadetFest a summer week-long fun event for young people. The sponsorship will also support WYC's innovative 'Transition to Racing' programme aimed at bringing more competent learners of all ages into the club's racing programme.

A key part of the programme will be provision of bursaries to promote the development of sailing skills for both adult members and for children. 2026 is the fourth year holidaycottages.co.uk have provided bursaries with previous recipients going onto become competent racers, sailing instructors and in one case having a career in the marine industry.

Serena Clarke, Regional Communities Manager at holidaycottages.co.uk commented, "We are committed to supporting causes close to the hearts of local communities where guests holiday. From sponsoring local charities and organisations to promoting environmental initiatives, leaving a positive impact through responsible tourism is one of our key values.

"We are proud to support Whitstable Yacht Club by providing bursaries for sailing courses, helping both new adult members and children discover the joy of being on the water. Through this initiative, we aim to inspire more people of all ages to take up sailing and experience the thrill of this rewarding sport.

"Whether setting sail for a weekend regatta or enjoying a coastal getaway, we have the ideal accommodation. From charming fisherman's cottages to stylish sea-view apartments, our carefully curated collection provides the perfect base for your next sailing adventure.

Whitstable Yacht Club Commodore David Figgis added, "We are thrilled to work with holidaycottages.co.uk for a fifth year. I am particularly pleased to see the legacy created by the bursaries awarded in previous years with members now actively involved in water sports at the club. The 2026 partnership builds on that success with a programme designed to promote sailing and expand membership across all ages."

First race of the season at WYC

An enthusiastic band of sailors gathered for the first race of the 2026 season on March 15th in sunny but windy conditions and a forecast of stronger gusts to come!

Two Toppers and eight Lasers made the start with Joe Barton leading mum Louise round for two laps until both retired in the building breeze. Matt Crockett in a Radial led the Lasers to the gybe mark before taking a swim, with others perishing on the run to the gybe which encouraged the more cautious/sensible to granny tack round.

The survivors set off on a second lap led by Andy Provan, Nick Stephens, and Dave Sansom - others followed but eventually the intrepid three finished in that order despite the odd capsize and more frequent challenge of getting stuck in irons.

2026 RORC Easter Challenge - Coaching, competition and the perfect start to the season

 

The RORC Easter Challenge, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, returns to the Solent from 3 to 5 April 2026, offering one of the most effective ways for racing teams to prepare for the season ahead. Entry fees start from under £500 for a 40ft boat.

Hosted from the RORC Cowes Clubhouse, the three day regatta combines high quality racing with world class coaching, making it one of the most valuable early season events in the racing calendar. Teams compete in short Solent races during the day before reviewing their performance through detailed video analysis and coaching sessions each evening.

RORC Racing Manager Chris Jackson explains why the event has become a cornerstone of many teams' calendars:

"The Easter Challenge is about improving performance as much as competing. The combination of proper racing on the Solent and structured coaching sessions gives teams a chance to test their setups, sharpen manoeuvres and refine communication on board. It is the ideal way to start the season."

A key element of the event is the on the water coaching programme, led by Richard Moxey, former National Keelboat Development Manager at the Royal Yachting Association. Moxey and his team observe racing from RIBs, capturing video and data that is analysed during evening debriefs.

With competitive racing, expert coaching and the welcoming atmosphere of the RORC Cowes Clubhouse, the RORC Easter Challenge continues to attract a diverse fleet ranging from professional race teams to Corinthian crews preparing for the season ahead.

The event offers a rare opportunity to combine top level coaching with real race pressure, helping teams unlock performance before the major offshore and inshore events begin.

Racing takes place from Good Friday to Easter Sunday (03-05 April), with all competitors receiving a warm welcome ashore at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse. Accommodation and dining are available, but early booking is strongly recommended\

For more information about the Royal Ocean Racing Club: www.rorc.org

Harken UK Announce Renewed Partnership with the British Sailing Team

 Harken UK is pleased to announce a new contract to continue their partnership with the British Sailing Team, in advance of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, 2028.

The British Sailing Team are proud to continue our working relationship with Harken UK as the Official Hardware Supplier. As a company and brand, Harken has a long-standing commitment to performance sailing, from grass roots participation to elite level sailing globally.

Our ongoing partnership ensures that British Sailing Team, squad, transitional and youth sailors will continue to benefit from Harken's technical expertise, service and product advice, as well as access to our industry-leading hardware at exclusive discounted rates.

It also allows both parties to continue to work on product research, testing and development to improve the range of deck hardware available for all abilities of sailors partaking in the sport.

Tom Peters, Managing Director for Harken UK, commented: "We're proud and excited to continue our relationship with the fantastic team at the British Sailing Team. Over the past 25 years, Harken UK has been privileged to play a part in many successful Olympic campaigns and it's an honour to work alongside the next generation of world-class sailors, from those just starting out in the sport, right through to the top elite level British sailors. We're excited to see what we can deliver and achieve together in the lead-up to the Olympic Games and throughout the event itself in 2028."

Mark Robinson, Performance Director for the British Sailing Team, commented: "Harken UK has been an important supporter of the British Sailing Team for many years, and their technical expertise, reliability and commitment to performance sailing are hugely valued. This renewed partnership ensures our athletes continue to have access to world-class equipment and support as we build towards LA 28. We're delighted to be continuing this relationship and look forward to working closely together over the coming years."

New yacht set to expand opportunities for sailors in Cornwall

 

Blind at Sea, the Cornish charity supporting blind and partially sighted adults, will officially launch its new Beneteau Oceanis 31 yacht, Pegasus, at 1pm on Saturday, March 28, from its base at Mylor Harbour, near Falmouth.

Dr Thérèse Canning, charity commodore, said: "Our mission is to share the joy of Cornwall's stunning sea and waterways with as many blind and partially sighted adults as possible.

"We strive to eliminate economic and physical barriers to full participation in sailing and rowing, which is integral to the Cornish way of life.

"The purchase of Pegasus should ensure that we are able to do this for many years to come.

"We currently have over thirty regular participants and would welcome more to join us on Pegasus.”

Dr Canning described the new vessel as "the best, safest, more modern and beautiful boat for everyone who takes part."

The new yacht has been made possible thanks to generous donations, including from the Clare Milne Trust, the Superyacht Charities, and the National Lottery.

Niall Rath, the charity’s bo’s’n, said: "The Beneteau Oceanis 31 is safe, spacious, elegant and agile so makes the perfect choice for our experienced and novice sailors.

Pegasus will bring years of happiness in and around Mylor Yacht Harbour."

Pegasus will replace an older boat that has given years of service and is now being retired to make way for a vessel better suited to the charity’s growing needs.

Pegasus will enable the charity to continue offering regular sailing sessions, with the charity aiming to sail several times a week, weather permitting, throughout the sailing season.

Blind at Sea is open to blind and partially sighted adults of all experience levels.

Zenith Open at Burton Sailing Club

 

The first Zenith Open Meeting of 2026 got the season off to an excellent start at Burton Sailing Club, with five races completed from a planned six in a weekend that delivered everything from champagne sailing to survival conditions.

Stephen Blake of Carsington Sailing Club dominated proceedings, winning all five races sailed to take a convincing overall victory.

Saturday provided near-perfect racing conditions. After a welcoming brunch from Burton SC's galley team, nine Zeniths and one Zen launched into sunshine and a steady 14mph breeze. Four races were sailed on a varied programme of courses, including a challenging seven-buoy configuration alongside a traditional windward-leeward course. The variety produced close racing and plenty of passing opportunities around the course.

Sunday was a very different test. Gusts exceeding 30mph kept some sailors ashore, but seven helms headed out to take on the conditions. The Zenith's weighted centreboard and 11m² sail plan showed their capability in the breeze, with helms ranging from around 75kg to 95kg managing the gusty conditions well. After a demanding fifth race, the sixth and final race was abandoned as the wind continued to build.

Behind Blake, the remaining podium places were closely contested. Michael Alexander secured second overall thanks to a strong Saturday performance despite being unable to race on Sunday, while Simon Johnson completed the podium places on his return to sailing after a 20-year break.

Mathew Pritchard also impressed on his first outing in the Zenith fleet, showing strong pace, particularly in the heavier breeze.

Adrian Tattersall made the long journey from Fishguard to compete and was awarded the Endeavour prize, while Christine Fowler sailed the Zen on Saturday before assisting with launching and recovery on the windy Sunday.

Carsington Sailing Club sailors enjoyed a particularly strong showing overall, placing two Zeniths in the top three - proof that their Wednesday afternoon racing programme is paying dividends.

Thanks go to Burton Sailing Club for excellent race management and hospitality, Chris Swallow for hosting the event, and Hartley Boats for their generous prizes.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Pts

1st 130 Stephen Blake Carsington Sailing Club 1 1 1 1 1 4

2nd 154 Michael Alexander Rutland SC 2 2 3 4 11

3rd 118 Simon Johnson Carsington Sailing Club 4 5 4 3 3 14

4th 134 Chris Swallow Burton SC 6 3 2 5 DNF 16

5th 119 Eric Green Ogston SC 7 6 6 2 4 18

6th 100 Matt Pritchard Burton SC 3 7 8 9 2 20

7th 101 Paddy Lewis Datchet Water SC 5 4 7 6 22

8th 149 Adrian Tattersall FBYC 8 8 5 7 5 25

9th 132 Ian Firth Notts County 9 9 9.5 8 35.5

10th 100 Chris Fowler Ogston SC 10 10 9.5 10 39.5

Craftinsure Supernova open meeting 2026 at Cotswold Sailing Club

 

The Craftinsure Supernova Open at Cotswold SC was held on the 14th March. A lower entry than normal with just 12 entries including 3 visitors were greeted with sunny skies and light and shifty winds, so the race officer Ray Workman did a great job of set a nice course with a decent beat and a verity of runs and reaches to get around the lake.

With the wind strength ranging from 3-8 knots within the space of a few boat length and 40 degree shifts it was an eyes out of the boat sort of day and with lots of opportunity to make big gains or even bigger losses.

In the first race Olli Crocker, Matt Williams, Chris Hawley and Paul Undrell made the best of the first beat to lead at the windward mark closely followed by Milliner, and Young. Milliner pulled through to the lead from Hawley until Crocker hooked into a big right shift on the middle lap to sneak into the lead. In the end Milliner took 1st from Crocker and Hawley in 3rd.

After the traditional fantastic lunch, they ventured out for races 2 and 3, with the wind was just as shifty and gusty, but lovely and sunny!

For race 2 Gifford and Undrell lead at the top mark and gybed on the run searching for breeze, but Crocker carried on to find the best of the wind, with Milliner in the middle of the course. These 2 had a close battle until Milliner hooked into a nice left shift up the final beat to pull away to the lead which he held to the finish from Crocker and Young in a solid 3rd.

For Race 3 the RO tried a windward leeward course and the wind filled in a tad but it was still shifty. Coming from the port end Milliner tacked and crossed the fleet to lead at the top mark, leaving Crocker buried deep. Hawley again held a nice 2nd from Young. With the wind shifting around sometimes the course was a bit one sided, so the RO shortened the course, with Milliner, Hawley and Young taking the top 3.

During prizegiving all the sailors feasted on tea and cakes. Overall, Milliner taking the trophy with 3 race wins, with Crocker showing his winter form in second and Hawley in 3rd.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Club R1 R2 R3 Pts

1st 1357 C Milliner Cotswold SC ‑1 1 1 2

2nd 1162 Oliver Crocker Costwold Sc 2 2 (DNF) 4

3rd 1333 C Hawley Bartley SC 3 ‑4 2 5

4th 1358 G Young Cotswold SC ‑5 3 3 6

5th 1248 M Williams Costwold SC 4 ‑9 4 8

6th 1362 P Undrell Costwold ‑6 5 6 11

7th 1137 Jon Wood Avon SC ‑7 6 7 13

8th 1201 Chris Williams Costwold SC ‑10 10 5 15

9th 1203 S Johnson Cotswold SC ‑9 7 8 15

10th 1274 A Gould Cotswold SC 8 8 ‑9 16

11th 1234 Nick Whiles Girton ‑11 11 10 21

12th 1355 W Gifford Costwold SC (DNF) DNF DNS 26

Dun Laoghaire Cup 2026 Set For Royal Irish In May

 

The Royal Irish Yacht Club will host the Dun Laoghaire Cup on 23–24 May 2026 with racing planned for six one-design sportsboat and a new dinghy class.

The Dublin Bay regatta will bring together fleets of SB20, J/80, Dragon, Beneteau First 21, Flying Fifteen and Melges 15 boats.

The event will incorporate several class championships, including the SB20 East Coast Championship, the J/80 East Coast Championship and the Beneteau First 21 National Championship.

Racing will take place on Dublin Bay in waters off Dun Laoghaire Harbour, with windward–leeward and trapezoid courses expected.

The regatta programme allows for up to six races for most classes over the two days. A minimum of two races will be required to constitute a series.

The organising authority is the Royal Irish Yacht Club, which said it is “delighted to host the Dun Laoghaire Cup” as Ireland’s only dedicated sportsboat regatta.

Entry is open to all boats in the listed classes, with online registration available until 8 May 2026.

Entry fees are set at €135 for SB20, J/80, Dragon and Beneteau First 21 fleets, while Flying Fifteen and Melges 15 entries are €95.

Off the water, a social programme is planned at the Royal Irish Yacht Club across the weekend, including prizegivings, food and live music.

The overall Dun Laoghaire Cup will be awarded to the best-performing boat across the regatta based on a calculated series score formula.

Northampton Sailing Club wins RYA Active Club of the Year 2026

 

Northampton Sailing Club, based at Pitsford Reservoir has been awarded Active Club of the Year 2026 by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). The club was also a finalist in the Young Person's Award 2026.

Northampton is a friendly and welcoming club encouraging sailors as well as windsurfers, wingfoilers and paddleboarders of all ages and levels of experience.

While membership is declining in many clubs, Northampton Sailing Club has doubled its membership in the last couple of years and is actively encouraging more sailors out on the water. It set up adult race sailing coaching to encourage more members to join in club racing, and around 30 people signed up for it. This morphed into a group whose abilities range from complete beginners through to experienced sailors who have raced before but would like to, as one member coined the phrase, "Be Less Last"!

It ran throughout the Summer and Autumn 2026 on a Tuesday evening and was very well attended. It's continuing in 2026. Some of Northampton's experienced sailors provide the coaching and has provided a stepping stone for people who want to complete their RYA Level 1 sailing course or join in the Sunday racing.

Sarah Carswell, Commodore at Northampton said: "It's great to see the sailors who have been doing this for many years and travel the country (and further afield) attending events for their class, giving back to the club by volunteering."

Over the Winter, the training moved to Saturdays and was offered to the Pirates (8-16 year- olds) the Northampton Race Group youth team and adults, to bring them all together.

Windsurf coaching

In addition, six members of the windsurf group trained to Intermediate Instructor level and have been running sessions for members interested in starting windsurfing or coming back to it after a break. They've had members aged from 10 through to 78 attend the sessions, and a strong and growing group of windsurfers can be seen out on the water every Sunday.

Young Person's Award

With regard to the Young Person's Award, Northampton continues to foster its thriving Pirates club with 65 8-16 year-olds learning to sail or windsurf. The club has been awarded RYA Pathway Club status and has setup a Northampton Race Group (NRG) team who are offered extra race coaching to attend events to include the Northamptonshire Youth Series (NYS) and Topper Traveller opens. The club has also bought two new Toppers and two new Fevas to support the NRG team in their events.

Following the award nominations, one of the RYA Regional Managers commented: "Northampton Sailing Club is an amazing example of taking a club on the brink of collapse to one of the biggest in the region in terms of membership and participation levels. Changes have been made that have been based on some tough decisions but have still been well received by the club and local sailing community, which has led to growth across the spectrum of membership at the club."

"The Pirates are a leading example within the region of how to develop and grow a thriving youth membership offer that brings together the club, rather than separating youngsters from the wider membership. The willingness of people to volunteer to support the group demonstrates how well thought of the group is within the club."

For further details go to www.northamptonsailingclub.org or email commodore@northamptonsailingclub.org

UK pair win 470 European Championships 2026

 

The British team of Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris claimed the 2026 European Championship after outstanding medal races. The silver medalists are Giacomo Ferrari and Alessandra Dubbini, and the bronze medalists are Jordi Xammar and Marta Cardona.

"Well, I mean, it's just an incredible start to the year. I'm so happy that we put together the week. We sailed the best we could, and then to finish it off today - it's just incredible," said Bettine Harris.

"It was quite a long week. After yesterday, when we pulled it back and finally got into first, we were so happy. Today it was just nice to finish it off and start the year strong," added Martin Wrigley.

Saturday's racing started with an extraordinary win for the British duo. Wrigley and Harris crossed the finish line first in the opening medal race and extended their lead over the Italians and the Spanish. With a 7-point gap to the second boat and fourteen points to the third, the British had the win in the bag.

"It was very safe. We were glad to get a few more points after the first race. But we were really pumped, ready for the fight in the last race," said Harris.

"Well, we knew we just had to stay close to the Italians and make sure we didn't do anything stupid. And then in the end, we ended up doing something stupid and had a bad start. The conditions out there were really hard, so changeable. For a moment, it could have been bad," added Wrigley.

While the British crew was mostly safe for the win, with a 7-point advantage over the Italians, the battle for the silver medal was still on. Giacomo Ferrari and Alessandra Dubbini were defending second place, while Jordi Xammar and Marta Cardona were in a difficult situation, with the Portuguese crew of Beatriz Gago and Rodolfo Pires close behind and putting pressure on both teams.

Cowes Etchells Fleet Charter Programme

 

In the UK, the heart of the fleet sits in Cowes, where regular racing in the Solent provides some of the most competitive one-design keelboat sailing in the country. The combination of strong tidal conditions, short tactical racecourses and closely matched boats produces the type of racing that has helped the Etchells maintain its reputation worldwide.

While many sailors associate the class with long-established owners and international championships, the UK fleet has been quietly working to make participation easier for new teams. One of the ways it has done this is through a charter programme that allows sailors to step directly into racing without the commitment of owning a boat.

The concept is straightforward: race-prepared Etchells are made available in Cowes for events and regattas, allowing visiting teams or sailors interested in the class to experience the racing first-hand. For many crews travelling to the Solent, it provides a practical way to compete in a highly competitive fleet without the logistics of transporting and maintaining a keelboat.

The Etchells itself remains a deceptively simple boat to sail well. Crewed by three or four sailors, success depends on coordinated teamwork, accurate sail trim and sharp tactical awareness. With minimal differences between boats, the racing is typically close and hard-fought, often coming down to small gains in boat speed or positioning on the racecourse.

Cowes provides an ideal proving ground for this type of sailing. The Solent's shifting breeze patterns and complex tidal flows demand constant attention from the crew, rewarding those who can anticipate changes and react quickly.

With a busy UK race calendar and regular international events on the horizon, the fleet continues to attract sailors from across the country and further afield. For those interested in experiencing Etchells racing in Cowes, charter opportunities are available through the UK fleet.

More information can be found at etchellsukfleet.co.uk/sail-with-us/charters