Enterprise class Scottish Bluebell Series at Forfar Sailing Club

 

Sponsored by Stewart Brewing, HD Sails and Coast to Coast Rigging

The final round of the Bluebell series was sailed at Forfar SC in very varied conditions.

Saturday

Wind WSW F4 to 5. Course: club marks: beat, reach to starboard, beat, reach to port, run

Race 1: A bias towards the pin prompted Gerry Goodfellow & Mike Lewis and Euan & Morven Dunn to attempt port end flyers. Charles Morrish & Alison coming down the line on starboard put a stop to that, however Gerry & Mike recovered to be first round the first windward mark with Charles & Alison disputing second place with Oli Boocock & Luke Hartshorn.

Meanwhile Paul Young & Emma Coleman along with Nicol Halcrow & Eilidh Morton had misread the course and gone the wrong way easing congestion at the first mark which was little more than a couple of boat lengths from the shore. Gerry & Mike were never headed while Charles & Alison lost the battle for second to Oli & Luke with Mhairi Ogilvie & Duncan Willoughby coming in fourth.

Race 2: The wind eased a little but the bias was still there. Charles & Alison timed their approach to the pin, pulling away on starboard before tacking onto port and crossing the fleet. The first mark had been dragged away from the shore, they rounded ahead of the rest, planed way down the reach and built a substantial lead. Behind them Luke & Oli took second with Gerry & Mike third and Paul & Emma fourth.

Race 3: The wind strength returned to race 1 levels. Again Charles & Alison got away to lead but by lap three age was beginning to tell! Oli & Luke came through to win while Gerry & Mike pulled through to second on the final beat with Peter Middlemiss & Beccy Oosterhoorn taking fourth.

In the evening Forfar SC provided its usual wonderful hospitality. The evening's ceilidh was complemented by a great variety of delicious home-made dishes along with a very cheap bar.

Special thanks to HD Sails for providing a voucher towards the purchase of a new sail. The winner of the voucher was decided by a draw, to be eligible competitors had to sail 5 of the 6 Bluebell events, 'grandad' Charles was the lucky winner!

Sunday

Race 4: Wind: South, calm/F1; course: club marks; running/reaching with only a short beat possible.

The heralded F4 gusting F5 had not yet arrived and in its place was a light and shifty southerly, particularly shifty as it attempted to blow over and through the trees that border the south side of the loch. Only a reaching start was possible and Gerry & Mike got their timing just right to pull away from the rest of the fleet.

Behind them there was much changing of places caused by the variable breeze along with patches of weed to trap the unwary. Charles & Alison were in second for much of the race but then on the long run on lap 2 Paul & Emma rode a helpful puff along the clubhouse shore to take second while Oli & Luke pulled through to third.

Race 5: Wind SE F1/2

The shift in the breeze meant a little more beating along the course but still with a reaching start. Race 5 was all about the start. In the last few seconds boats were running gently along the line, aiming to harden up onto starboard at the gun. An extra puff of breeze had them accelerating towards the shore putting paid to all their plans!

With nowhere to go the leading four all crossed early and had to return. A boat length behind them Charles was unsure while Alison thought they were good to go. They went and lead all the way to the finish to discover that it was one of those rare occasions when Alison was mistaken! As the starting mayhem had developed Oli & Luke made the wise decision to gybe out early and come in to the line again, timing it almost perfectly.

Gerry & Mike had been one of the returners and were never able to get clear of the pack so Oli & Luke won the race and in so doing they took the event overall; behind them Paul & Emma came in second with Morven & Euan third and Nicol & Eilidh fourth.

Congratulations to Oli & Luke on winning the event, their first open win away from home! Thank you to Forfar S C for their generous prizes for the first three overall.

Congratulations also to Mhairi Ogilvie for winning the Ladies Trophy and to Morven Dunn for taking the Junior Trophy.

Special thanks to sponsors Stewart Brewing and Coast to Coast Rigging for their end of season prizes distributed around the fleet.

RS Aero Delivered to Competition Winner for Noble Marine Insurance

 

RS Aero Selected as Noble Marine 'Win a Boat' Prize

Delivery days are always special at RS Sailing, but this particular RS Aero delivery earlier this month was especially memorable.

Clare Greeno was the lucky winner of Noble Marine Insurance's 'Win A Boat' prize draw at the 2026 RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show. A leading provider of dinghy insurance, Noble Marine Insurance celebrated 30 years in the business, by entering all customers with an insurance policy in 2025-26 into the prize draw to win a dinghy of their choice.

Clare chose a RS Aero. And, after a brand new one was built to her specification at the RS Sailing factory in Cowes, our Finance Director, Martin Wadsworth, personally delivered it to Parkstone Yacht Club.

About the Prize Winner

Winning the prize draw was a fantastic surprise for Clare, who's sailed a wide range of dinghy classes over the years.

She first learnt to sail at just 5 years old on a Puffin before joining Parkstone YC at 13. Clare then started racing an Enterprise with her dad before the pair moved into an RS200 when the class arrived at the club.

"The first few times in the RS200 involved a significant amount of swimming while we got our heads around the asymmetric," Clare recalls. "But once we got going, we flew!"

She also spent several seasons racing a Topper before moving into a 420s and Laser 2s. Since then, Clare has spent years following both of her sons through the Parkstone YC youth fleet and beyond. With both boys now teenagers, "I think it is finally time for me to do some sailing of my own again and try out as many new fleets as I can."

Why the RS Aero?

On winning the Noble Marine Insurance prize draw - with an option of RS Tera, RS Feva, RS Aero, ILCA, Topper or Solo dinghies to choose from - Clare opted for an RS Aero.

"I have sailed RS boats for a number of years. This year I was lucky enough to accompany my son to the RS Feva UK Nationals. I think RS has the right balance between serious racing and enjoying the fun of recreational sailing.

Although I love being in a double-handed boat, I know life is busy and being able to go sailing without organising a crew will give me the opportunity to get out on the water regularly.

The RS Aero is a fast, modern boat. I love trying new fleets and I think the RS Aero has a bright future."

RS Sailing Managing Director, Alex Newton-Southon, was delighted to see Clare choose an RS Aero for her prize.

"Noble Marine Insurance has been a long-standing partner of RS Sailing, and we know how much our UK RS Class Associations value their generous support and sponsorship each year. Congratulations to Clare on her fantastic win, and thank you for choosing the RS Aero. We hope it brings you and your family plenty of great days on the water!"

Jo Haynes, General Manager at Noble Marine Insurance, added: "We were delighted to announce Clare as the winner of our 'Win a Boat' campaign. The initiative was launched to champion the dinghy sailing community, encouraging more people to get out on the water and embrace the sport. Noble Marine is thrilled that Clare has selected the RS Aero as her prize. The class is renowned for its blend of high performance and accessibility. As long-standing supporters of the RS Aero Class Association, we are pleased to see our partnership with the fleet continue through this prize."

A Prize for All The Family

With the boat now safely delivered to Parkstone YC, Clare is already looking forward to getting out on the water - and it seems she may have to share the new RS Aero:

"The whole family wants a go! My two teens, my dad, who is in his 70s and races dinghies regularly, and we might even take my 5-year-old niece out for a spin on a light day."

Clare is already aware of the nearby fleets and RS Aero Class where she can get involved with racing at local and national level. For now, though, she's planning to enjoy some 'me time' sailing and make the most of having a boat she can launch and sail whenever the opportunity arises.

"I will sail it recreationally to start with, but who knows? Now I am getting my own sailing time in, the sky is the limit!"

WASZP Welsh Championship at Bala Sailing Club

 

Sixteen WASZPs entered the Welsh Championship at Bala, rescheduled from August when a lack of wind stopped play. This time there was no shortage of breeze.

Six races were sailed on Saturday before Sunday proved too gnarly to race. The U19s dominated, taking the top four places, and Max Rawlinson won the title with four race wins from six, discarding a 4th to finish on 6 points.

Saturday

Day 1 delivered WASZP racing at its best. The race team set a NASCAR course with sprints across the lake and ran five races of 10-15 minutes each. The wind was never going to make it easy. Big gusts and equally big lulls rolled down the lake, and the breeze turned fickle near the shores, so no lead was safe until the finish.

Alex Jones set the pace early, winning races 1 and 3. Max answered by taking races 2, 4 and 5, and his 4th in race 3 was his only finish outside the top two. Thomas Dempsey was the most consistent of the chasers, with three top-three finishes. Behind them, Helena Mills Bowers was the top 7.5 rig claiming two 3rd place finishes, and Oscar Hoyle as the second 7.5 and top U17 taking a 2nd in race 5.

Sunday

The fleet launched on Sunday, but gusts of up to 37 knots, with big holes in between, made the conditions unraceable, and the race officer abandoned racing for the day. Some sailors stayed out to enjoy the pressure lines in the breeze with speed runs up and down the lake. Saturday's six races stood as the final results.

A big thank you to Bala Lake Sailing Club, the race officer and team, the safety boat crews and the volunteers ashore for some great hospitality and racing.

Top female and top 7.5 rig: Helena Mills Bowers

Top U17: Oscar Hoyle

Top Master: Ian Fitzgerald

Top Super Master: Colin Rawlinson

Overall Results:

Pos Sailor Sail No Division Rig R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Pts

1 Max Rawlinson 2924 Junior (U19) 8.2 2 1 -4 1 1 6

2 Alex Jones 2175 Junior (U19) 8.2 1 2 1 2 -3 8

3 Thomas Dempsey 3648 Junior (U19) 8.2 3 -6 2 3 5 16

4 Helena Mills Bowers 3363 Junior (U19) 7.5 5 3 3 4 -6 21

5 Oscar Hoyle 3285 U17 7.5 7 4 9 7 2 29

6 George Spence 2905 Junior (U19) 8.2 6 -8 6 6 4 30

7 Ian Fitzgerald 2607 Master 8.2 4 8 8 -10 7 31

8 Peter Hoyle 3476 Master 8.2 9 10 -13 5 8 37

9 Sam Watson 3154 Master 8.2 12 7 7 8 (DSQ) 43

10 Jim Bowes 2729 Junior (U19) 8.2 10 -13 5 11 11 44

11 Colin Rawlinson 2436 Super Master (50+) 8.2 11 5 11 -12 9 46

12 Ben Knapper 2437 U17 7.5 8 11 10 9 10 48

13 Chris Keatley 2522 Master 8.2 (DNS) 12 12 13 13 63

14= Theo Smith 2702 Junior (U19) 8.2 DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 75

14= Tristan Harding 2700 Junior (U19) 7.5 DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 75

14= Finley Kirkby 2976 U17 6.9 DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 75

RS500 Rooster National Tour set for thrilling finale at Grafham Water Sailing Club

 

The 2026 RS500 Rooster National Tour heads to Grafham Water Sailing Club for its eagerly anticipated finale, with the Inland Championships set to decide the season's honours.

After four varied and competitive events at Rutland, Dabchicks, Gurnard and Torbay, just one point separates the leading two teams. Tim Wilkins and Heather Wilkins top the standings on two points following victories at Rutland and Gurnard, while Mike Saul and Oli Kent are close behind on three points after winning at Dabchicks and taking second at Rutland.

With both leading helms entered for Grafham, everything is set for an exciting final showdown. Tim Wilkins will be joined at the Inland Championships by Fresh Abendstern, while Mike Saul and Ollie Kent return in boat 1689 looking to turn their consistent season into the overall tour title.

Currently third in the tour are Emma McEwen and Luke McEwen of Royal Lymington Yacht Club. Their campaign gathered real momentum with second place at the Torbay National Championships, adding to their sixth at Gurnard and putting them on eight points ahead of the final event. They arrive at Grafham with a clear opportunity to consolidate a tour podium and apply pressure to the two teams ahead.

Nigel Davis and Aaron Davis are another team to watch. Currently fifth on 11 points, they opened their season with third at Rutland and are one of the highest-placed established partnerships attending Grafham. A strong Inland Championships result could move them firmly up the final leaderboard.

John Reynolds and Fran Howell will also be back in action after finishing second at Dabchicks. Local knowledge could come into play for the Grafham Water pairing, who will be joined by fellow home sailor Peter Curtis, racing at the finale with Martyn Denchfield.

Completing the current entry list are Robin Leather and Emily Leather from Gurnard Sailing Club, bringing the fleet to seven boats and adding another fresh combination to the final event of the season.

The Inland Championships promise to provide a fitting conclusion to a season that has produced different event winners, close racing and rapidly changing fortunes across a wide range of conditions.

Can Tim Wilkins complete a hat-trick of tour-event victories? Will Mike Saul and Oli Kent overturn the one-point deficit? Can Emma McEwen and Luke McEwen carry their Nationals form into the finale, or will one of the chasing teams make a late charge up the standings?

With the tour title, podium positions and Inland Championship honours all on the line, Grafham Water Sailing Club is ready to host a fantastic final chapter to the 2026 RS500 Rooster National Tour.

Experience meets a new generation at the World Sailing Inclusion Championships 2026

 

The 2026 World Sailing Inclusion Championships will bring together around 230 sailors from 40 countries in Portimão next week, with Paralympic champions, established international competitors and a new generation of sailors preparing to take to the start line.

Racing is scheduled to take place from 5-10 October, and some of the most compelling stories are not only who might win across the fleets. Athletes returning to international competition, new nations emerging through World Sailing's Inclusive Development Programme (IDP), and entirely new disciplines joining the programme all add to the excitement at the second edition of this unique event.

In the Para Inclusive One-Person Keelboat World Championship, the Hansa 303 fleet brings together some familiar names. Piotr Cichocki (POL), Jens Kroker (GER), Gauthier Bril (FRA) and Rory McKinna (GBR) will be among an experienced group to watch.

But the fleet also demonstrates the growing reach of the sport. Zaida Perez Bugueño (CHI) has progressed through the development pathway since participating in the programme around The Hague in 2023, while Daniel McCollin (BAR) makes the step from the Antigua IDP earlier this year to the World Championships.

India and Korea will also return with multiple Hansa 303 entries following previous IDP activity, demonstrating how investment in development is translating into sustained participation at international level.

There is another great development story in the Inclusive Two-Person Keelboat, where Xervier Doney (NZL) will compete alongside his father, Paul. Xervier, as an Intellectual Impairment sailor, who participated in the Australia IDP in 2025 and now progresses to international competition in Portimão.

The Para Inclusive Two-Person Keelboat World Championship will feature plenty of established talent in the RS Venture Connect, with strong teams from Great Britain, France and host nation Portugal.

One of the biggest names returning to the two-person fleet is Maureen McKinnon (USA). A Paralympic gold medallist in the SKUD18, McKinnon returns to international two-person competition alongside Shan McAdoo.

Alongside that experience will be some exciting new international representation. Thailand's Tanat Upatising and Tammachat Sriopas progress to the Championships following the IDP held in India in August, while Jamaica joins the fleet following the Antigua IDP earlier in 2026. Ukraine will also be represented following work with the Superhumans Center.

The Championships will also see the Challenger make its debut in the Para Inclusive One-Person Multihull World Championship.

Among those returning to international competition is Russell Vollmer (RSA), who previously competed during the Paralympic era in the 2.4mR. Trinidad & Tobago, India and Vietnam are also represented in the new fleet, creating another pathway for sailors from developing Para programmes to compete internationally.

There will be plenty of experience in the Para Inclusive One-Person Technical Championship too. The 2.4mR fleet includes Niko Salomaa (FIN) and John Seepe (USA) among an international line-up spanning Europe, Asia and North America.

In the Vision Impaired Keelboat World Championship, Dani Anglada Pich (ESP) and Lucy Hodges (GBR) are two experienced names to follow. Both have also contributed to the wider development of VI sailing, helping create opportunities and share knowledge with sailors and nations entering the discipline. Racing in the RS21 will add another new dimension to the VI competition in Portimão.

From Paralympic champions returning to the water to sailors reaching their first World Championships through the IDP pathway, the 2026 field reflects both the history and the changing face of Para Inclusive Sailing.

And with new nations, new equipment and new disciplines joining established World Championship fleets, Portimão will offer an early glimpse of where the sport could go next.

The 2026 World Sailing Inclusion Championships is delivered in partnership with Vela Solidária, the Municipality of Portimão, and the Portuguese Sailing Federation, with backing from The America's Cup.

Racing runs from Monday 5 October-Saturday 10 October. Visit the event website for more information or @ParaWorldSailingOfficial on Instagram for event updates.

Autumn Regatta 2026 at Hickling Broad Sailing Club

 

Hickling broad sailing club Autumn open regatta had a different format this year. Instead of racing around the broad as usual, we decided that we would have a passage race; a race from the clubhouse at the bottom of Hickling broad, across the length of the broad, down Candle dyke, past Heigham Sounds, along the Thurne to Potter Heigham bridge and back, non-stop.

The day greeted us with a blustery fresh southerly wind which meant that after being gratefully fortified by bacon rolls provided by the team in the galley, the fleet set off on a beat across the broad and tacked all the way up Candle dyke. The broad is currently weed free, which means that long tacks using the whole of the width of the broad were possible and fully taken advantage of.

We had a good selection of boats; everything from half a dozen Norfolk punts of different ages and designs, to an Ilca 4.7, a beautiful half decker, several Wayfarers, an RS200, a sprinkling of single handers, some visitors and some intrepid juniors. The punts, as expected, were well clear of the rest of the fleet by the top of the broad, and there was some close tacking between them as they fought for places up Candle dyke.

Simon and Rachel Clayton in their beautiful 90 year old traditional punt managed to hang on to their second position throughout the race, despite being chased by newer and faster punts. At the end of Candle dyke the fleet turned right towards Potter Heigham, reaching to the gybe mark before reaching back. The wind was now gusting around 20kts which meant that every blast between the bungalows ensured the boats were struggling not to blow over to leeward, and every bungalow ensured that crews were struggling to avoid a capsize to windward.

Those that were trapezing got a good T-bagging!

Returning down Candle dyke the fleet were now on a dead run most of the time, with many enforced gybes which ensured that those with spinnakers had plenty to do. The final run across the broad home saw many boats flying, with even the slowest of boats returning in not much more than 2 hours.

Final honours went to Charlie Stewart and Seth Footer in their hardchine punt, who just beat Simon and Rachel Clayton on handicap in their traditional punt. Third place and first single hander went to Mike Gower in his Solution, and Ed James took the half decker cup, sailing with Jane Monteith and Julian Jefferies. First junior was Lucy Pitcher in her ILCA 6.

All involved felt that the day was a great success, and we will definitely schedule it again next year.

Overall Results:

Pos Class Sail no Helm Crew PY Minutes Seconds Corrected

1 PUNT HC 96 Charlie Stewart Seth 884 81 34 5536.2

2 PUNT 40 Simon Clayton Rachel Clayton 926 86 11 5584.2

3 SOLUTION 392 Mike Gower 1112 105 2 5667.3

4 LASER STD 164754 Adam Osborn‑Jones 1103 105 20 5729.8

5 PUNT HC 103 Jane Pye Megan Pye 884 88 31 6007.9

6 PUNT HC 52 James Clarke T Evans 884 89 8 6049.8

7 SOLO 4250+ 5148 Martin Smith 1139 116 55 6158.9

8 PUNT M 86 Noel Bradshaw Emily Vaughan 875 91 56 6304

9 Wayfarer 4842 M Filipiak P Fisher 1107 116 48 6330.6

10 LASER RADIAL 137012 Lucy Pitcher 1156 122 45 6371.1

11 RS 200 1290 Willow Osborne Emily Pike 1053 113 31 6468.2

12 PUNT M 88 B Sawyer R Sawyer 875 96 25 6611.4

13 Laser 4.7 7397 Sam Howell 1218 138 28 6821

14 SOLO 4250+ 4251 Susie D 1139 131 11 6910.4

15 Half Decker J Hareith 1160 133 49 6921.6

16 WAYFARER 9507 Bryan Morum Clive 1107 129 13 7003.6

17 Wayfarer 7415 John Perrem Jane Reeds 1107 134 16 7277.3

Aquavista expands into Scotland with Clyde Marina acquisition

 

Aquavista has announced the acquisition of Clyde Marina in Ardrossan, Scotland, expanding its marina portfolio and marking the UK operator’s entry into the Scottish market.

Located on the North Ayrshire coast, around 48 kilometres from Glasgow, Clyde Marina can accommodate yachts measuring up to 30-metres in length and forms part of Scotland’s west coast cruising network. It now joins Aquavista’s portfolio of 34 inland and coastal marinas across the UK.

The acquisition also incorporates Sunbird International Yacht Sales, which is headquartered at the marina, into the Aquavista Group, further expanding its presence in the coastal marine tourism sector.  

According to Aquavista, Clyde Marina features large boatyard facilities and provides access to Scotland’s west coast cruising grounds and islands. Moreover, the marina joins its coastal network alongside Glasson, Hull, Birdham Pool and Royal Clarence, which collectively extend across the north, east, south and west of Britain.

The acquisition will also give Clyde Marina customers access to Aquavista’s wider network of marinas, alongside benefits including Explore 100 and Marina Swap, allowing boaters to use facilities across the group.

Commenting on the acquisition, Aquavista CEO Steve de Polo said: “We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Clyde Marina with its large boatyards, ideally positioned for Scotland’s world-renowned west coast cruising grounds and islands. It is a respected name within the Scottish marine industry, and we can’t wait to welcome its customers and crew into the Aquavista family.

“We pride ourselves on investing in our marinas and waterside teams, ensuring that our customers’ lives by the water are made easy and enjoyable. I look forward to working with the team and their broad client base at Clyde Marina and Sunbird International Yacht Sales to further improve their marina experience.”

Contessa 32 National Championship at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club

 

September sees the end of the Contessa 32 inshore racing programme, this year warmly hosted by the Royal Lymington Yacht Club. Located in the town that is the birthplace of the class, there was a very special sense of homecoming as the fleet gathered on Thursday 17 September with frontal storm clouds gathering for a windy weekend of racing.

The programme followed the usual format of a seven race series with five windward leeward courses and two round the cans. Day one of racing on the Friday saw a building westerly airstream which provided an exciting first race with three laps to the windward marks near the river entrance and testing spinnaker runs. Race one saw Nick Bradley's Merak II take the lead opting for the right hand leeward mark in more tide but with clear air to the windward mark allowing her to take the race from Drumbeat by 40 seconds with Andaxi about a minute behind in third.

The second race over the same course saw much more wind across the Western Solent race area with some boats opting for less sail although only one went down to the Heavy Weather Jib. Spinnaker work was not for everyone in this race as some boats chose to exercise caution in the conditions. The race was taken by Drumbeat with Merak II less than 50 seconds behind and nationals newcomer Gigi under new ownership this season taking third place foreshadowing more success to come.

Saturday turned into a lay day as all racing was sensibly cancelled with 30 knot winds being forecast to combine with strong tides to make racing too dangerous. Crews were able to explore the Lymington area finding a range of distractions from saunas to shopping, the Lymington Art Gallery, Hurst Castle and of course a number of local pubs. The crews enjoyed a memorable dinner hosted at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club with guests including Fiona, Simon, Kit and Jessie Rogers ever supportive of the class.

By Sunday morning more normal western Solent weather conditions were restored allowing race officer Roger Wilson to set three more races to complete the series. In Race three, the first of two windward leewards, sailed in a shifting north-westerly breeze, Jemima took the win beating Drumbeat by just under a minute very closely followed by Concerto.

Race four on Sunday was Eddie Steel's day as Gigi found good lifting breeze heading out on starboard tack enabling her to take a commanding lead over the fleet in very challenging conditions to win the race beating Concerto by over a minute with Merak II in third.

Going into the last race, the only round the cans of the shortened series, the fleet was again met with shifty wind conditions still from the north-west and very hard to read. This time it was Concerto's turn to head the podium with Andaxi taking second some 40 seconds later and Jemima by some 15 seconds in third.

The series was won by Drumbeat with Merak II in second place and Concerto taking third. With only 6 points separating the top six, this was another classic Contessa 32 nationals showing why the class continues to provide the best cruiser racing one design racing in the country. The 5 race series saw 5 different boats take line honours, surely a clear indicator of a great competition with two new boats joining this season.

The competitors summed up the series in their own words. Eddie Steel, owner of Gigi commented: "My first Nationals on Gigi served to further reinforce why I chose to join the Contessa fleet in the first place: competitive on the water, great fun and super friendly community off the water - we even managed to win a race, which was a real cherry on the cake!"

The winning skipper, Mark Hinsworth of Drumbeat observed that from Drumbeat's perspective, "the Nationals were immaculately-run and warmly-hosted. Against most of the fleet on number 1s, we flew our number 2 in 14 or 15 or so knots off the first start and never felt underpowered. Merak took the right gate mark on round 2 of race 1 and steamed into a commanding lead in clear air in the first race, with Drumbeat second, those positions reversing in the second race with Drumbeat enduring some serious rolling downwind."

Second placed Merak II's Nick Bradley noted "Boat handling management on a windy Friday. Hangovers, OCS and snakes and ladders in very shifty winds on Sunday."

And third placed Mark Dence of Concerto: "Tough day Friday and poor sail plan decision making was important learning! Don't expect crew to tack efficiently in 30 knots for 3 hours! Great day for us on Sunday. Good team communication and reading the shifts paid off. Fabulous racing conditions."

The Contessa 32 fleet would like to thank Sally Kalis, Commodore of the Royal Lymington YC and Roger Wilson the Race Officer and their teams for hosting a memorable, highly competitive series in difficult conditions.

The Contessa 32 class welcomed a good number of younger and mostly female sailors to the championship this year, in particular Andaxi and English Rose both with teenage crew reducing the average age; the latter with two Scaramouche Sailing Trust/Greig City Academy sailors in her crew building on their Cowes Week one design racing experience. Thanks are due to Jessie and Simon Rogers for giving the English Rose team at short notice an early morning tour of the yard with the latest Contessa 32 newbuild in progress and much else besides.

As Sally Kalis reminded the fleet in her welcoming remarks, the Macnamara Bowl was first sailed in 1978 in Contessa 32's and it is striking to note that this important event for women's sailing was only revived this year having been dormant since 1995. The Contessa 32 class is always open to young crew looking for exciting racing: just get in touch via the website.

Lest it be thought that Contessa 32's are only involved in inshore racing, this year has seen Contessa 32 members competing in RORC, JOG races and the biennial Channel Classic Regatta. 2027 promises to be another great year for the fleet.

Overall Results:

Pos Boat Name Sail No Club Entered By R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Pts

1st Drumbeat 651 Bar Yacht Club Mark Himsworth 2 1 2 4 ‑7 9

2nd Merak II 401 RSYC Nick Bradley 1 2 ‑8 3 4 10

3rd Concerto 640 CO32 Association Mark Dence ‑7 6 3 2 1 12

4th Gigi 7718 YYC Eddie Steel ‑5 3 4 1 5 13

5th Jemima 2751 RORC Gareth Penn (RET) 4 1 6 3 14

6th Andaxi 701 RAFYC Donna Rouse‑Collen 3 ‑5 5 5 2 15

7th English Rose 926 RORC Peter Binning 4 7 6 ‑9 6 23

8th Cu na Mara 908 Stokes Bay SC Paul Gardner 6 10 ‑11 10 8 34

9th Coric 222 RNSA John McNaughton ‑10 8 10 8 9 35

10th Carolina 3274 RLYC Nick Cameron (RET) RET 7 7 10 40

11th Starstreak 753 CO32 Class Roger Shinton 8 9 ‑13 12 11 40

12th Carinosa 718 RTYC/RSYC Jo Sammons 9 (DNS) 9 11 DNC 45

13th Connie 6541 RAFYC Mel McQueen 11 (DNS) 12 RET DNC 55

TYHA Marina of the Year Awards 2026

 

Marina teams from across the UK and around the world had plenty to celebrate at the Southampton International Boat Show (23 September, 2026), as The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA) revealed the winners of its 2026 Marina Awards, anchored by Haven Knox-Johnston.

Presented on the Boating Stage, the eight awards put the spotlight on the marinas boaters value most and the people who make them special. From coastal and inland favourites to international and superyacht destinations, the ceremony recognised outstanding service, dedicated teams and practical work to make marinas more sustainable.

The 2026 results

Coastal Marina of the Year, under 250 berths: Poole Quay Boat Haven.

Runner-up: Emsworth Yacht Harbour. Third place: IGY ST Kats.

Coastal Marina of the Year, over 250 berths: Cowes Yacht Haven.

Runner-up: Mayflower Marina. Third place: Jersey Marina.

Inland Marina of the Year: York Marina.

Runner-up: Shepperton Marina. Third place: Overwater Marina.

International Marina of the Year: Ayla Marina.

Runner-up: Marina De Vilamoura - Nova Marina. Third place: Setur Antalya.

Superyacht Marina of the Year: Marina De Vilamoura.

Runner-up: Yalikavak Marina. Third place: YAS Marina.

Marina Employee of the Year: Harry Durrah, Emsworth Yacht Harbour.

Sustainable Marina of the Year: Parkstone Bay Marina.

Highly commended: Emsworth Yacht Harbour

Marina Team of the Year: Shepperton Marina.

Special recognition: Dubai Harbour Marina.

5th Annual Start Racing Course Regatta at Bough Beech Sailing Club

 

Eight sailors took to the water on Saturday 27th September, in search of glory and the coveted Start Racing Regatta title. Now in its fifth year, the regatta has become a popular finale to the RYA course which the competitors completed the previous week. The regatta gives all course graduates two opportunities to win the trophy, so anyone who has a bad day can try again the following year.

The forecast was for a gentle breeze and despite a 180° shift in direction either side of the break for lunch, remained light and patchy all day.

In the first race, the ILCA7s of Ian Burroughs and Steve Gregory got decent starts and built a sizable lead. Was their choice of larger sail size going to prove decisive? Not as far as Sarah Yuile was concerned as she piloted her ILCA6 to a very creditable third place. But the two out front maintained their gap, and Burroughs managed to keep Gregory at arms length to take the first race.

In the second race, Dave Mahon (ILCA6) got a good start and remained at the sharp end of the fleet throughout, eventually taking second place behind an increasingly assured Burroughs. Gregory edged out an impressively fast finishing Teah Sloan (ILCA6) for third place.

The wind remained light and patchy, but as the forecast was for even less breeze in the afternoon, Race Officers Richard Lambert and Nigel Priestley decided to slot one more race in before the lunch break.

In the third race, one of the pre-race favourites with Burroughs Bookmakers, Anne-Marie George (ILCA6) finally found her mojo, nailed the start and led the fleet around the windward mark. Reigning and defending champion Oli Facques (ILCA7) also got away well and despite being dogged with persistent gear failure all day, was well in the mix. But it was Gregory who kept his title aspirations alive with a win, with George and Facques rounding out the top three.

During the break for lunch, the sailors kept a watchful eye on the lake to see if a fourth and final race was going to be possible. Happily, a modest breeze came in from the south, turning the leeward mark into the new windward mark, and vice versa.

Emily Fletcher (ILCA6) found form late in the day and got a good start, which she maintained throughout to lead the ILCA6s to the finish. But the 7s of Burroughs and Gregory would eventually battle it out for the title, and it was birthday boy Burroughs who expertly maintained momentum in the patchy airs to finally break free and take his third race win from Gregory in second, and Fletcher a very creditable third. So it was Ian Burroughs who took the title of Start Racing Regatta champion, with Steve Gregory runner-up and a consistent Anne-Marie George rounding out the podium - and first ILCA6.

Overall Results:

1st Ian Burroughs (ILCA7) 3pts

2nd Steve Gregory (ILCA7) 5pts

3rd Anne-Marie George (ILCA6) 11pts

4th Dave Mahon (ILCA6) 12pts

5th Teah Sloan (ILCA6) 13pts

6th Emily Fletcher (ILCA6) 16pts

7th Sarah Yuile (ILCA6) 17pts

8th Oli Facques (ILCA7) 19pts

Fireball Open at Blessington Sailing Club

 

Blessington Sailing Club hosted the final Fireball regatta of the summer last weekend. Fourteen Fireballs were entered for the event, run in tandem with a good fleet of Mirrors and 420s.

While the lake was noticeably lower than usual due to the summer drought this was a very well run event in beautiful surroundings. The race management team of Mairead Ni Cheallacha with John Corkery and Joe Crilly did a terrific job in sometimes challenging conditions.

The forecast had promised plenty of breeze on the Saturday, and it certainly delivered. A steady 22 knots was recorded on the committee boat, with gusts reaching as high as 29 knots. It was going to be a proper day of Fireball sailing. The first race got under way in a solid breeze, with the fleet quickly spread across the lake. Adrian Lee and Edmund Hynes got off to the perfect start, taking the race win. Ewen Barry and daughter Thea followed in second, with Noel Butler and Ismail Inan taking third.

The breeze remained strong for the second race, and Adrian and Edmund continued their good form, taking another win. Noel Butler and Ismail Inan moved into second, with Ewen Barry and Thea Barry rounding out the podium in third.

Between the second and third races, the breeze eased slightly. Naturally, this gave some sailors the confidence to power up their rigs. As it turned out, this was perhaps a little premature.By the time Race 3 got under way, the breeze had filled back in and the lake was once again throwing around some serious wind. Those who had straightened their masts may have been wishing they had waited a little longer. This time it was Ewen Barry and Thea Barry who came out on top, with Noel Butler and Ismail Inan finishing second. Adrian Lee and Edmund Hynes completed the podium in third.

Three races in strong and gusty conditions made for a proper opening day at Blessington. A couple of boats found the typical maintenance issues uncovered by these kind of conditions, in particular the Thompson brothers Daniel and Harry whose twelve year old mainsail handpicked for the days winds decided to fall apart. With the fleet showing plenty of pace and some close racing throughout, there was still everything to play for heading into the next day's racing.

The forecast for Day 2 was always looking light and tricky, with little promise for the morning. The race committer got the fleet out on the water on schedule, with a light south-westerly breeze filling in.

Race 4 got under way in light and shifty conditions. The lead changed several times throughout the race, with Noel/Ismal leading at the top mark, followed by Ewen/Thea and Rachel Deasy & Matty Cotter.The tricky conditions continued to shuffle the fleet, with plenty of changes in the top five. Ewen/Thea eventually took the win, with Josh Porter & Cara McDowell second and Rachel /Matty third.

Race 5 brought more of the same light and shifty conditions. Ewen/Thea led going into the final gybe mark, but a frustrating final leg saw them drop back to sixth. The changing breeze gave Pat McGoldrick and Paul ter Horst an opportunity to move through the fleet, using their strong downwind speed to finish third. Noel/Ismal made a late gain at the final leeward mark, closing the gap on Josh/Cara and Adrian/Edmund to take the race win, with Josh/Cara finishing second.

When the scores were totted up Ewen & Thea were the deserving winners of the Fireball Open with Noel & Ismail second and Adrian & Edmond third. Alan Henry & Alan Stamp took home the silver prize.

While the Open wraps up this summer season for Fireballs sailors will be taking just a brief rest before the winter adventures in the DMYC Frostbites in Dun Laoghaire and at Monkstown Bay SC. The DMYC Frostbites will run from Sunday November 1st through to late March with the entry system going live on the DMYC website in the coming days.

Fastnet Race Returns to Cherbourg for 2027 Classic

 

Cherbourg prepares for another Fastnet finish

The Rolex Fastnet Race will return to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in July 2027, with organisers preparing for another major offshore sailing spectacle following the success of the 2025 centenary edition.

The 52nd edition will run from 22 to 30 July 2027, with the fleet again starting from Cowes, rounding the Fastnet Rock off Ireland’s south coast before racing to the Normandy finish.

The finish partners — Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, the Cotentin Urban Community, the Department of La Manche and the Normandy Region — have confirmed their continued collaboration with the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC).

Port Chantereyne is expected to welcome more than 400 yachts and almost 4,000 crew members, ranging from ULTIM and IMOCA ocean racing yachts to Class40s and production boats.

Record-breaking centenary edition

The 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race marked the centenary of the event and saw one of the largest offshore racing fleets ever assembled.

A total of 421 yachts completed the 695-nautical-mile course, with more than 3,000 sailors from 50 nations taking part.

The overall IRC victory went to Cherbourg-based skipper Alexis Loison, sailing the JPK 1050 Léon with Jean-Pierre Kelbert. The home victory added to the celebrations as the fleet arrived in Normandy.

The race village at Cherbourg attracted more than 130,000 visitors over nine days, with hundreds of free events, concerts, sailing activities and opportunities for spectators to meet crews.

2027 edition aims for another maritime festival

Preparations for the 2027 finish are already under way, with organisers focusing on both race infrastructure and public engagement.

The plans include ensuring Port Chantereyne can provide facilities for a fleet of more than 400 yachts, while also creating another nine-day maritime festival for visitors and local communities.

RORC Commodore Deb Fish said Cherbourg had become a special part of the Fastnet Race story.

“The welcome we receive here is exceptional, both on the water and ashore, and the enthusiasm of the people of Cherbourg makes the finish a highlight for sailors and spectators alike,” she said.

Manuela Mahier, President of the Association Arrivée Fastnet Cherbourg, said the return of the race was a source of pride for the region.

“Sailing and the sea are in our DNA: we are ready to offer both the crews and the general public a great, popular and unforgettable maritime celebration,” she said.

Key dates and figures

Cherbourg-en-Cotentin race village: 22–30 July 2027

Start from Cowes: Saturday 24 July 2027

Expected fleet: More than 400 yachts

Expected crews: Nearly 4,000 sailors

Expected visitors: More than 130,000

Finish partners: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Cotentin Urban Community, Department of La Manche and Normandy Region

What Makes a Luxury Catamaran Charter a Truly Unforgettable Experience ?

 

Luxury catamaran charters take the inherent advantages of the platform and add the things that turn a week on the water into the week someone talks about for years.

1. The Bow Net, Which Is What Everyone Actually Remembers

Ask anyone who's done a catamaran charter what they remember most. Not the sailing. Not the restaurants. The catamaran netting. The mesh trampoline that stretches between the twin bows is where the good hours happen. It sits close to the water. It moves with the boat. Spray comes through when the sailing's good. Lying there watching a headland appear in the distance while the hull moves underneath is the kind of thing that's essentially impossible to recreate elsewhere, and it's the reason people book a second charter before they've disembarked from the first. A well-maintained net has proper tension and clean mesh. A saggy, tired one is immediately apparent. Luxury vessels treat this as a priority rather than an afterthought, because experienced charter guests know the difference before they've even sat down.

2. Stability That Changes Who Can Enjoy the Trip

Seasickness is the silent spoiler of sailing holidays. Not everyone gets it. But on a monohull, some percentage of any group will spend the first passage day horizontal and regretting their life choices. Catamarans are fundamentally more stable. The twin hulls and wide beam produce a motion that most people handle without difficulty. This matters more than it sounds because it changes the composition of who can realistically join a charter. Mixed groups where some people are experienced sailors and others aren't so sure suddenly become more viable. That's not a small thing when someone's trying to plan a family trip or a group holiday.

3. Anchorages Worth Getting There For

Most charter vessels need depth. Catamarans don't ask for much, typically a metre or less, which opens up anchorages that everything else has to sail past. A small bay, clear water, sand visible on the bottom, no other boats. Nobody else made it in because nobody else could. These are the spots that end up in the photographs and the stories told at dinner parties two years later when someone asks how the trip was. Good captains know where these spots are and how to build a week that reaches them. It's knowledge that doesn't appear on a charter specification but absolutely determines what the trip feels like.

4. Crew Who Run Everything Without Making It Obvious

The best charter crew is invisible in the best possible way. The captain who knows which anchorage will be sheltered tonight without being asked. The chef who figured out on day two what everyone actually likes. The crew who appear when something needs doing and disappear when the guests want to be left alone. Charter reviews consistently mention crew over vessel. The catamaran with the right people aboard outperforms the newer boat with indifferent service every time.

Final Thoughts

What makes a luxury catamaran charter stick in the memory isn't one thing. It's the trampoline at sunrise, the anchorage nobody else found, the meal that was better than expected, the day the sailing was genuinely good. None of those things happen by accident. They happen because the vessel, the crew, and the itinerary were all chosen by someone who understood what the week was actually supposed to feel like.

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