Allen SuperSouth Topper Championships 2026 at Poole Yacht Club

 

The Allen SuperSouth was held at Poole Yacht Club, with 71 sailors taking part in the Topper 5.3 and 4.2 fleets.

Saturday started off looking quite nice, but once we sailed out towards Brownsea Island, it was a lot windier than we expected! The wind was around 15-25 knots, with some big gusts and waves, so we knew it was going to be hard work.

Saturday - Race 1

The first race was windy and tricky, with lots of shifts.

In the 5.3 fleet, six of the leading sailors had problems with the race flags and received NSC scores. Alfie Tollit won the race, with Isabelle Simpson second and Sasha Gerra third.

In the 4.2 fleet, Emily Doughty came first, Oak Hickman second and Jonathon Pendle third.

Saturday - Race 2

The wind was still strong, but everyone was getting used to the conditions.

Leo Kaneko won the 5.3 race, with Brooke Browning second and Alfie Tollit third.

In the 4.2 fleet, Emily Doughty took another win, followed by Oak Hickman and Isaac Prue.

Saturday - Race 3

By the third race, everyone was getting tired after a long day on the water.

Alex Murray won the 5.3 race, with Xander Collins-Black second and Brooke Browning third.

In the 4.2 fleet, George Klaschka came first, Isaac Prue second and Alannah McGuire third.

After three races, we all headed back to shore. It had been a really good but tiring day!

Sunday - Race 4

Sunday was even windier, making the racing really difficult.

In the 5.3 fleet, Alfie Tollit won, followed by Xander Collins-Black second and Harry MacLeod third.

In the 4.2 fleet, Isaac Prue took the win, Sophie Elliott came second and Jonathon Pendle third.

There were quite a few capsizes, and some sailors got their masts stuck in the mud. With the wind getting stronger, the race officer decided to stop racing after just one race.

Overall Results:

Topper 5.3

Alfie Tollit

Xander Collins-Black

Brooke Browning

Leo Kaneko

Harry MacLeod

Topper 4.2

Emily Doughty

Isaac Prue

Oak Hickman

Sophie Elliott

Jonathon Pendle

Brooke Browning also finished first female in the 5.3 fleet.

Thank You!

It was a really fun weekend, even though the wind made it hard work. There was some great racing, and everyone did really well in the tough conditions.

A big thank you to Poole Yacht Club, the race team, safety crews and all the volunteers.

Also, a massive thank you to Allen Brother for sponsoring the event and providing some great prizes.

Well done to everyone who took part, and hopefully see you all at the next event!

Oliver Davenport Wins Solo Midland Area Championship at Rutland Sailing Club

 

The 2026 Solo Midland Area Championship at Rutland Sailing Club delivered two closely fought races and some excellent sailing, despite Storm Austen threatening to disrupt the event.

Originally scheduled as a two-day championship, the event was rearranged into a single day in response to the forecast. The conditions understandably deterred some potential competitors travelling from Scotland and the south, but the fleet that assembled still provided a high standard of competition.

With two races completed in strengthening winds, Oliver Davenport emerged as the clear winner, taking first place in both races to claim the Midland Area Championship title.

The first race was sailed in a building Force 3. Davenport made a decisive start at the pin end, tacked clear of the fleet and quickly established a lead. Behind him, the racing was much closer, with places constantly changing as competitors battled for positions from second through to eighth. It was a tight, competitive race that kept the fleet on its toes.

By the second race, the breeze had increased to a Force 4, with gusts reaching Force 5 at the top end. Davenport changed his approach, starting at the committee-boat end before tacking away. Two boats headed left, and the fleet arrived at the windward mark closely packed. With little between the leading boats, the downwind legs proved crucial, as competitors searched for the best pressure and worked hard to gain every possible advantage.

As the wind continued to build, the race team made the decision to send the fleet ashore before a third race could be started. Although the breeze subsequently eased, the decision reflected the challenging conditions and changing forecast. With two races completed, the championship results were settled.

Davenport's two race wins gave him a perfect score of two points, with Jasper Barnham taking second overall on seven points. Jamie Cuxson also finished on seven points, securing third place on countback after a second and a fifth. Andrew Wilde finished fourth, with Michael Sims completing the top five.

A huge thank you goes to Rutland Sailing Club and the race team for putting on a great event in challenging weather conditions. Thanks also to the championship sponsors, CB Dinghy Chandlery and Allen Sailing, for their continued support.

The Solo fleet's End of Season Championship takes place at Draycote Water Sailing Club on Saturday, 14 November. Entries are now open, with links available through both the Draycote Water Sailing Club website and the Solo Class Association website.

With one of the final major events of the year approaching, the championship offers another great opportunity for the Solo fleet to get together for a competitive day of sailing and finish the season in style.

Championship sponsors: CB Dinghy Chandlery, Allen Sailing, National Solo Class Association.

Overall Results:

Pos Helm Boat Name Sail No R1 R2 Pts

1 Oliver Davenport 1 1 1 2

2 Jasper Barnham Mrs Jones 5887 5 2 7

3 Jamie Cuxson 5704 2 5 7

4 Andrew Wilde Solo 6125 6 3 9

5 Michael Sims 6128 3 7 10

6 Harry Lucas S5746 5746 7 4 11

7 Vincent Horey Peppermint Patty 6134 4 8 12

8 Chris Brown cb dinghy chanderly 6148 6141 8 6 14

9 Camron Griffin Norris 4448 10 9 19

10 Chris Bunn 6138 9 11 20

11 Ian Norris X‑Why 4434 11 10 21

12 Andy Beston Solo 5533 12 12 24

13 Maria Franco 6013 6013 13 13 26

14 Thomas Gillard ‑ 6141 DNC DNC 32

14 Stephen Dickinson Rocket 5721 DNC DNC 32

Rutland Sailing Club to host International Inclusive Keelboat Championship

 

Rutland Sailing Club is looking forward to welcoming competitors from across Europe and beyond for its International Inclusive Keelboat Championship 2026.

Taking place on England’s largest reservoir from 19 November – 22 November, eight teams are already signed up and there’s still time to enter the #rockupandrace championship.

Competitors will take to the water in a fleet of six RS21 keelboats in teams of four or five sailors. Entry is just £530 per team and includes the use of boats, opening ceremony buffet and Saturday evening meal, plus on-water coaching support on 19 November before racing begins on the Friday.

Entry is open until midnight on 16 November and all the details, including the Notice of Race, are available at the International Inclusive Keelboat Championship 2026 hub.

The club is a premier inland venue located on the south shore of Rutland Water. It is a renowned centre of excellence for both Sailability for people with disabilities and for running major national and international championships.

Event director David Wilkins, of Rutland Sailing Club, said: “We’re getting set for three action-packed days of fast turnaround racing using a keelboat league format with short windward-leeward courses. There’s also an opportunity for teams to get some advance practise in the boats with our coached support sessions the day before the championship gets underway.

“It would be fantastic to welcome teams from other Sailability and Help for Heroes/Invictus groups in the UK as well as from overseas, who may have competed at the recent World Sailing Inclusion Championships, or who may find our Rutland event more accessible. Our keelboat events are known for their friendly and supportive atmosphere both on the water and ashore. It’s going to be a really fun, competitive and sociable weekend and there’s still time to enter!”

Inclusion sailing aims to increase opportunities for participation in events up to international-level sailing, specifically for disabled sailors whose disability does not meet the para classification ‘Minimal Disability’ (MD) criteria. For the Rutland event, at least two of the crew shall consider themselves as a disabled person and must be active in sailing the boats, including the helm.

Among the teams already entered are competitors from GBR Blind Sailing, who recently won the Vision Impairment title at the 2026 World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Portimão, Portugal. The club is encouraging other International VI teams to come to the Rutland event to take on again the GBR teams who were successful at the Worlds.

All facilities at Rutland Sailing Club are fully accessible, with sailing taking place in front of the clubhouse, making it ideal for spectators as well as competitors.

The club is well connected for transport links with several major airports within easy reach. Oakham Railway Station is just a 10-minute car ride from the club and the journey from Stansted and Birmingham Airports by train is just over one hour, with a number of other UK airports accessible by train or road.

Find out more and enter as soon as possible to secure a spot for your team at the International Inclusive Keelboat Championship 2026. For further information / any questions please contact David Wilkins or Rutland Sailing Club.

Largs Yacht Haven nominated for Marina of the Year award

 

Largs Yacht Haven has been nominated in the Marina of the Year category at the British Yachting Awards 2026, the only Scottish marina in the running this year.

The nomination follows a standout year for the marina, which hosted major sailing events including the Fife Regatta, Richard Mille Cup, Optimist National Championships IOCA UK, and the Largs Regatta Festival.

A spokesman for Largs Yacht Haven said: "2026 has been an incredible year for Largs Yacht Haven and the Clyde.

"The events of the Fife Regatta, Richard Mille Cup, Optimist National Championships IOCA UK and Largs Regatta Festival have showcased our waters to the full spectrum of the yachting community, reinforcing our corner of the Clyde as one of the UK's premier destinations.

"So thank you for making the yachting community at Largs so special - we couldn't think of a better way to finish off a spectacular year."

Santorini Sailing Adventure

 

A  sailing holiday around Santorini and the surrounding Cyclades islands would make a fantastic trip. I'd suggest combining beautiful anchorages, swimming and snorkelling, traditional Greek villages, archaeological sites, lovely tavernas and a little island hopping.

My recommendation would be a circular itinerary starting and finishing in Santorini, with a mixture of sailing days and time ashore. I'd aim for a relaxed pace rather than trying to visit too many islands.

Suggested route: Santorini → Nea Kameni → Thirasia → Ios → Sikinos → Folegandros → Anafi → Santorini.

This gives you a lovely mixture of volcanic scenery, quieter Greek islands and traditional villages.

The day-by-day programme

Day 1 – Santorini and the volcanic caldera

- Collect the yacht at Vlychada Marina.

- Sail along the spectacular volcanic coastline.

- Visit the volcanic islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, with a swim where conditions permit.

- Enjoy dinner ashore overlooking the caldera, perhaps in Fira or Imerovigli.

Day 2 – Thirasia

- Short sail to the quieter island of Thirasia.

- Explore Manolas village, with its traditional whitewashed houses.

- Walk up to the village viewpoints.

- Lunch at a traditional Greek taverna.

- Afternoon swimming and snorkelling in a sheltered bay.

Day 3 – Ios

- Sail to Ios and anchor or berth at Gialos.

- Visit Chora, a beautiful traditional village with winding streets and windmills.

- Explore the shops and cafés.

- Visit Mylopotas Beach for swimming and watersports.

- Dinner in Chora overlooking the island.

Day 4 – Sikinos

- Sail to this quieter, less-developed island.

- Visit the beautiful hilltop village of Kastro.

- Explore the traditional lanes and churches.

- Enjoy a leisurely lunch in a family-run taverna.

- Spend the afternoon swimming in clear water.

Day 5 – Folegandros

- Sail to Folegandros.

- Visit Chora, one of the prettiest villages in the Cyclades.

- Walk up to the Church of Panagia for spectacular views.

- Enjoy a leisurely lunch and browse the boutiques.

- Spend the afternoon at a beach such as Agali, subject to anchorage and weather conditions.

Day 6 – Anafi

- Sail towards Anafi, a beautiful and relatively unspoilt island east of Santorini.

- Explore Chora and its traditional Greek architecture.

- Visit the impressive Kalamos rock formation and Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi.

- Enjoy a final island lunch and a relaxing swim.

- Overnight in a suitable sheltered anchorage or harbour.

Day 7 – Return to Santorini

- Sail back to Santorini.

- Enjoy a final swim and lunch on board.

- Return to Vlychada Marina.

- Finish with a special farewell dinner overlooking the caldera.

When to go

My preference would be June or September:

- June: warm weather, lovely swimming conditions and generally less crowded.

- September: warm sea temperatures, a slightly quieter atmosphere and beautiful evenings.

- July/August: busier and potentially much windier, particularly because of the Meltemi.

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Sailjuice Winter Series countdown to Draycote - Enter 5 events and get a free Windie Race Timer

 

The Navigators & General SailJuice Winter Series 2026/27 gets under way at the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash on 21 & 22 November. Sailors who enter five or more events by 19 November will receive a free Windie Race Timer worth £64.99.

Clocks are back, but the UK's most dedicated dinghy racers are looking forward to one of the most competitive part of the season. The Navigators & General SailJuice Winter Series enters its 18th year, with seven events running from November through to February. Once again the Series brings together sailors of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels, racing an enormous range of dinghy classes - from the latest high-performance designs to boats that have been racing for decades.

The action starts at Draycote Water Sailing Club with the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash on 21 & 22 November, before heading to Datchet, Chase, Yorkshire Dales, Queen Mary, Rutland and Oxford. The champions will be crowned at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show in Farnborough on 20 February 2027.

Enter Early, Get a Free Windie Race Timer

This season there's an extra reason to commit to the winter circuit early. Enter five or more Series events by Thursday 19 November 2026 and you'll receive a free Windie Race Timer, worth £64.99.

That's just two days before the opening race at Draycote, so the sooner you plan your winter, the better. With seven events on the calendar, picking five gives you plenty of flexibility around Christmas, work and the weather.

Here's what to do:

Choose five or more events from the 2026/27 calendar below

Enter online by 19 November 2026

Receive your free Windie Race Timer

Entering more events also gives you the most out of the Extracted Results, as you'll be able to follow your progress against your class, age group or boat type right across the season.

Enter now at www.SailJuiceSeries.com

Your Own Race Within the Race

Like Park Run, the SailJuice Winter Series gives you lots of ways to look at your performance. The Extracted Results take the main SailJuice results and automatically create additional rankings, so you can see how you compare against sailors and boats like your own.

There is still one set of official results - the same event, the same course, the same corrected times. Competitors who don't match your chosen criteria are simply removed, leaving you to see where you stand within that group.

Rankings are available for:

Sailor categories: Top Lady, Junior, Youth, 19-30, 31-60 and Masters

Boat types: Fast Symmetric, Fast Asymmetric, Slow Symmetric and Slow Asymmetric

Old Boats: celebrating older designs racing in the modern handicap fleet

Forces Challenge: for eligible competitors associated with the Armed Forces

100+ individual classes: effectively creating a class series within SailJuice, even where events don't have a separate class start

The following events are in the Navigators & General SailJuice Winter Series 2026/27:

Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, Draycote Water Sailing Club - 21 & 22 November 2026

Datchet Flyer, Datchet Water Sailing Club - 5 & 6 December 2026

Polar Chase, Chase Sailing Club - 12 & 13 December 2026

Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club - 27 December 2026

GJW Direct Bloody Mary, Queen Mary Sailing Club - 9 January 2027

John Merricks Tiger Trophy, Rutland Sailing Club - 6 & 7 February 2027

Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club - 13 February 2027

Prizegiving at RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, Farnborough - 20 February 2027

Find out more about the Series www.SailJuiceSeries.com

Sailing a Topper Across the English Channel for Cancer Research UK

 

15 year old Faith Turner has sailed her Topper from Dover to Cap Gris Nez, in a record time, fund raising for Cancer Research UK.

The crossing time of 2 hours and 56 minutes is faster than the previous record set for a solo dinghy, in an International Moth!

It was an idea that Faith had one cold winter night during a sailing training weekend last December tucked up in the family motorhome. To see that turn into a reality and the lengths her support crew worked towards it in order to make it happen has been incredible; it was months and months in the planning. Her parents are forever grateful for a moment in time that will live with Faith and everyone forever.

More importantly her challenge and experience contributes a significant donation to help beat cancer and save lives. The donation link will remain live until Channel 4 have aired their documentary about the crossing.

You can donate at    fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/faith-sails-to-france-in-a-topper

and see how the total is creeping upwards; currently the £6000+ will become £8000 when Gift Aid is added.

Thank you to the Port of Dover for amazing support in helping make it happen.

When asked how the day went, Faith had this to say: "I faced many challenges along the way such as having to avoid ferries, warships and cargo ships which was difficult in the giant waves. I have never sailed with such big waves and once I got the hang of surfing them, they were no longer as big and scary and more fun as I was going average 8-9 knots.

"In order to get the world record, I had to get out of my boat and touch the French land which was very difficult because the waves were crashing onto me and rocks were either side of me so it was extremely difficult to get back in the boat and get sailing again but I managed to do that without drifting onto the rocks.

"I would like to thank all my sponsors; XB44, Saxon Air, Rooster Sailing, Performance Sailcraft Europe, GP Watercraft.

Brixham Marina shortlisted for Marina of the Year

 

Brixham Marina is in the running for Marina of the Year at the British Yachting Awards 2026. The MDL Marinas site is among the nominees in an award decided entirely by public vote, with voting open until 7 November 2026.

Located within Brixham’s fishing harbour on the South Devon coast, the marina provides a base for exploring the ‘English Riviera’ and cruising further afield in the South West.

The awards cover marinas, boats, brands and people in the UK boating sector. Last year, they attracted more than 12,000 votes.

“We’re incredibly proud to see Brixham Marina nominated for Marina of the Year,” says Sophie Kirkpatrick, head of sales & marketing at MDL Marinas.

“It’s a great achievement for the team and reflects the dedication that goes into maintaining the high standards we strive for across our marinas. With the winner decided by public vote, we hope everyone who knows Brixham will get behind the team and show their support.”

Martyn Sherratt, marina manager at Brixham Marina, adds: “It’s fantastic to see Brixham Marina receive this nomination. Our team takes great pride in looking after our berth holders and making sure everyone who visits feels welcome. Brixham is a special place to berth, and the community here plays a big part in that.”

MDL says it continues to invest in customer facilities across its marina network. Brixham is part of that UK network, giving berth holders access to facilities and cruising destinations along the South Coast and beyond.

K6 Travellers Trophy 2026 Finale at Carsington Sailing Club

 

Carsington Water under clear blue sky and a strong northerly wind greeted the seven K6s entered for this final event of the 2026 season. The picture book setting and sunshine belying the biting wind temperature.

Despite the low water level, the main body of water was sailable, luckily accessed via a deep but narrow channel from the shore. Helpfully the Club had laid on a number of RIBs to support competitors off the jetty and along the channel.

Six races scheduled over the two days. With the forecast showing two days of the northerly, the fleet were set for perfect conditions sailing the long length of the reservoir.

Race 1. Locals Richard Harvey, Kate Franklin and Stuart Harvey (K6 216) and Toby and Mark Woodings (K6 165) led off the start on a long starboard tack up the reservoir, followed by George Barker and Audrey Graham (K6 197), Thomas and Pauline Woodings (K6 135), Mike Deane and Eddie Waring (K6 119) and Mike Kneale and Kath Simpson (K6 231). John Tabor and James Bennett (K6 122) had a rudder stock issue and did not start.

Towards the top of the course, the wind was quite shifty so a number of tacks were needed to reach the windward mark lay line. Rounding the top mark with no change in the order the race became a procession as the top three pulled away from the fleet over the remaining four laps.

Race 2, four laps. Clean start. Team Harvey and Toby and Mark taking the top two positions at the windward mark. Team Barker and Team Tabor had a number of close crossings up the course closely followed by Thomas and Pauline. Close racing continued with these three boats to the final leeward mark when Thomas and Pauline just got inside George and Audrey to claim fourth behind Team Tabor in third.

Race 3, three laps under continuing wind and late afternoon sun. Team Harvey showing consistent speed leading once more chased home by George and Audrey with Team Tabor in third just ahead of Toby and Mark.

Sunday, race 4. Same conditions, same course. With three wins Team Harvey was one short of securing the win overall. From the start they pulled out a lead on the first beat, followed by Toby and Mark, George and Audrey and John and James. That set the tone for the race with the order remaining to the finish, giving Team Harvey the overall win. However with just two points separating Team Woodings and George and Audrey in second and third there were still podium places to contest.

Race 5. Clean start. Toby and Mark made an excellent start pulling away from the fleet. At the top mark they had a good lead with Team Harvey in second chased by George and Audrey. The order remained the same to the finish. The win took Team Woodings four points clear from George and Audrey as they looked to secure second place.

Race 6 Final race and another good start by Team Harvey. George and Audrey in second and Team Woodings in third. The wind shifts requiring a number of tacks to reach the windward mark. Team Tabor came under some pressure from Tom and Pauline but managed to pull away as the race progressed. At the front, Team Harvey secured the win with George and Audrey chasing hard in second and Team Woodings in third.

A really good event in great conditions. Notables in the fleet were Mike Kneale and Kath Simpson (K6 231) competing at their first K6 event. Huge thanks go to Carsington SC and its volunteer teams for making the event so enjoyable, to the race officer and his team for setting a great course and surviving the chilly wind! And to Richard Harvey for using his car to tow the boats up the steep slipway at the end of each day, good work Richard!

The event was the final round of 2026 Travellers Trophy, with double points available. The trophy was presented to the overall winner, George Barker with 114 points from four events, ahead of Mike Deane with 95 points from five events.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Net

1 216 Richard Harvey Kate  +  Stuart Carsington 1 1 1 1 ‑2 1 5

2 165 Toby  Mark Woodings Carsington 2 2 ‑4 2 1 3 10

3 197 George Barker Audrey Graham Oxford 3 ‑5 2 3 3 2 13

4 122 John Tabor James Bennett Oxford (DNC) 3 3 4 4 4 18

5 135 Thomas and Pauline Woodings Carsington 4 4 ‑6 5 5 5 23

6 119 Mike Deane Eddie Waring South Windermere 5 6 6 ‑7 6 6 28

7 231 Mike Kneale Kath Simpson Bala 6 ‑7 7 6 7 7 33

Capital Opens: A Chance for Irish Sailing Clubs to Renew Their Training Fleets

 

With the new Community Sport Facilities Fund now open, Irish RS distributor MarineServices.ie is urging sailing clubs to look at fleet renewal, safety boat repowering and the move to electric power.

The Government's Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF), the successor to the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, opened for applications on Monday 19 October 2026. It runs until 5pm on Friday 26 February 2027.

For sailing clubs, this round looks more promising than most. Minister of State for Sport Charlie McConalogue has said the CSFF will specifically target sports and geographic areas that have been historically under-invested in, and it encourages multi-club and multi-sport projects.

Under the Local Grants tier, clubs can apply for up to €70,000 in equipment funding. For equipment-only applications, ownership of the property is not required. That matters for the many Irish sailing clubs and training centres that operate from leased harbour, foreshore or shared slipway sites.

A training fleet is often a club's biggest single equipment cost, and one of the clearest ways to grow participation. MarineServices.ie, the Irish distributor for RS Sailing, supplies a range of boats designed for exactly that job.

Sailque Optimist. The classic single-handed junior trainer, and the first boat for generations of young Irish sailors. It remains the pathway into junior racing.

RS Zest. A stable, forgiving first boat for junior and adult beginners. It suits training fleets and summer courses.

RS Quest. A roomy, versatile trainer for groups, families and adult learners, equally at home with an instructor on board.

RS Feva. The modern youth double-hander that takes sailors from training into racing, with a strong class and event circuit.

The RS training boats are built for club use: durable, low maintenance and suitable for all ages and abilities. A mixed fleet lets a club take a sailor from their first lesson through to racing, all within one programme.

Repowering safety and coaching boats

No training fleet goes afloat without safety cover, and many clubs are running coaching RIBs on ageing engines. The CSFF is an opportunity to repower them.

Selva outboard engines. Reliable, competitively priced petrol outboards across a wide power range, for repowering safety boats, coaching RIBs and club launches.

ePropulsion electric outboards. For clubs looking to move to electric power. They are quiet, zero-emission at the point of use and low maintenance, and are well suited to inland waters, lakes and coaching launches.

An electric coaching boat also lets an instructor talk to sailors without shouting over an engine, which is a real benefit on a training session.

MarineServices.ie provides clubs with the formal quotations and product specifications needed for a CSFF application. It also offers advice on the right mix of boats and engines for each club, and delivery and commissioning nationwide.

Applications are made through the new SPRAOI system, accessed at gov.ie/SportsCapital. Clubs that have not applied before should register early and check the official CSFF guide for eligibility.

For quotations or advice, contact MarineServices.ie at info@marineservices.ie or +353 (0)1 233 0206.

Streaker P&B End of Season Championship at Northampton Sailing Club

 

Sandwiched between storms Austen and Boelo, chronologically and geographically, it was looking touch-and-go whether there would be any racing at the Streaker P&B End of Season Championship at Northampton Sailing Club. But, in the end, the sailors who made the trip were rewarded with three top quality races in some challenging but very sailable conditions.

Attendance may have been down, but the quality of the fleet certainly wasn't! National and Inland Champion Martin Penty (Beaver SC) was there, as were Pete Gray (Staunton Harold SC) and Giles Therkelson-Smith (Beaver SC) who, in September, both took race wins against Martin at the breezy Inland Championships at Grafham Water SC.

All bar one of the helms are Gold Fleet, so the stage was set for some highly competitive racing to decide who would take home the Freddy Bear Trophy. The event would also determine the overall winners of the Rooster Super Series, the North Sails Northern Paddle Series, the HD Sails Southern Paddle Series and the Midland Series.

At the briefing, the forecast breeze was yet to fully materialise but, as Race Officer Ian Pinnell said, "we know it's coming"! He made it clear that his priority was to get all the races in for both fleets, the Streakers and the OKs. He would be using the U-flag from the off and the races may well be a bit shorter than scheduled to beat the storm's arrival. Ian and his team delivered on his promise, with three races completed in quick succession around the trapezoid course. There were no delays whatsoever between races... thank you Ian!

Race 1 got away promptly in 15-20 knots. The bulk of the fleet were tightly bunched towards the slightly favoured pin end, with no-one wanting to give any advantage to their rivals. Giles nailed the pin and was the furthest left up the first beat when a handy 'lefty' gave him the chance to lead at the windward mark. Giles had a bit of a cushion to Dave Borrett (Beaver SC) in second as the whole fleet blasted down the short reach, line astern behind Dave. As the fleet spread out onto the more tactical run, Pete and Martin gybed left towards the centre of the reservoir and by the end of the run they had pulled through into second and third in pursuit of Giles. These three jostled for position over the subsequent laps, with Pete managing to grab the win ahead of Giles, then Martin. Dave held his place ahead of the chasing pack to take a well-earned fourth.

Race 2 followed a similar pattern as the breeze continued to build. This time it was Giles who showed his mastery of the conditions, with great boat speed and faultless handling giving him the race win ahead of Pete then Martin. Behind these three, the ability to stay upright and in control was starting to have a bearing on the results, but James Dawes (Redditch SC) managed to stay out of trouble to take fourth.

With the super-fast turnaround between races, the top three may not have had time to do the maths, but going into the final race, Giles and Pete were equal on points, with a first and a second each. The final race would decide which of them would win the Freddy Bear Trophy. Martin was unable to make up the deficit, with two third-place results already on the scoreboard.

In race 3, Martin, Pete and James were joined by Abby Yorkston (WOBYC) at the front, further emphasising the fine margins between everyone at the event. Giles had some ground to make up after a minor watch malfunction had put him last off the start line; he thought he'd blown his chances!

On the second beat, Pete and Martin were side by side, battling for the lead. Pete took Martin slightly past the port lay line but as he tacked Pete got caught under the boom and capsized. This gave Martin the lead and allowed James, Abby and, significantly, Giles to pass. The race finished with Martin first, James second and Giles third. Abby secured her best result of the day in fourth.

So, at the end of a very competitive and exciting day's racing, Giles Therkelson-Smith becomes End of Season Champion and takes the Freddy Bear Trophy, ahead of Pete Gray in second and Martin Penty in third. Credit to local Northampton SC sailor, Rory Odell, who borrowed his mum's Streaker. On any other day with a typical turnout, he would have been well up the fleet and so fully deserved to win the Silver Fleet at his first, and hopefully not last, Streaker event.

At the prize-giving, there were prizes for everyone from sponsors P&B, to recognise that just attending required some commitment! Well done to all who took part and thank you from the Streaker Class to the race management, the organisers and volunteers at Northampton SC for a very well run event. Also, thanks to the OK fleet for sharing the event.

Overall Results:

Pos Fleet Helm Sail No Club R1 R2 R3 Pts

1 Gold Giles Therkelson‑Smith 1982 Beaver SC 2 1 ‑3 3

2 Gold Peter Gray 2202 Staunton Harold SC 1 2 ‑5 3

3 Gold Martin Penty 2192 Beaver SC ‑3 3 1 4

4 Gold James Dawes 1975 Redditch SC ‑7 4 2 6

5 Gold Abigail Yorkston 2127 WOBYC 5 ‑6 4 9

6 Gold Neil Firth 1977 Banbury SC 6 5 (DNC) 11

7 Gold Dave Borrett 1864 Beaver SC 4 8 (DNF) 12

8 Silver Rory Odell 1809 Northampton SC ‑8 7 6 13

2026 World Sailing Awards finalists revealed

 

World Sailing is proud to announce the finalists for this year's male and female Rolex World Sailor of the Year, male and female Young World Sailor of the Year, 11th Hour Racing Impact Award and Team of the Year.

The finalists feature an exceptional selection of world champions, round-the-world record holders, rising stars, pioneers and organisations committed to making a difference to the global sailing community. Each finalist impressed the judging panel with their achievements over the past year.

This year's awards will be announced at a live ceremony on Wednesday 18 November 2026 in Qingdao, China, where the President's Development Award and Beppe Croce Trophy will also be presented.

Voting opens today and everyone who loves sailing is invited to help decide the winners. The public vote will make up 50% of the final decisions with 50% contributed by World Sailing's expert panel of judges.

Sign up or login with your email here to vote.

Voting closes at 12:00 UTC on Monday 2 November.

Award Shortlists

Rolex World Sailor of the Year finalists - Female

Paula Barcelo and Maria Cantero (ESP)

Maria Giubilei (ITA)

Lauriane Nolot (FRA)

Charlotte Rose (USA)

Rolex World Sailor of the Year finalists - Male

Thomas Coville (FRA)

Max Maeder (SGP)

Luuc van Opzeeland (NED)

Matt Wearn (AUS)

Young World Sailor of the Year - Female

Medea Falcioni (ITA)

Vaina Picot (FRA)

Catalina Turienzo (ARG)

Tamar Steinberg (ISR)

Young World Sailor of the Year - Male

Manuel Bragança (BRA)

Paul Loiseau (FRA)

Gian Andrea Stragiotti (SUI)

Federico Pilloni (ITA)

World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Impact Award

The Little Optimist Trust (RSA)

Shake-A-Leg Miami (USA)

Turning Point Foundation (GER)

The Yacht Club of Hyderabad (IND)

Team of the Year

Diego Botin and Florian Trittel (ESP)

Luna Rossa Team (ITA)

Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris (GBR)

Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush (NZL)

The Famous Project CIC (FRA)

Sandy Point Watersports sponsor Hayling Island Sailing Club Open Winter Series

 

Hayling Island Sailing Club is pleased to announce that Sandy Point Watersports have come on board as title sponsor of the upcoming SPW Winter Series.

This year's SPW Winter Series is a weekend dinghy racing series starting on Sunday 1st November, and finishing on Sunday 13th December.

The event is open to both HISC Members and Visitors and will feature a Saturday and Sunday Series.

The Saturday Series will be a single-start Handicap Series, formed of 6 races, running from 7th November until Saturday 12th December, whilst the Sunday Series will be a 5-start series (Medium/Slow/Fast/RS Elite/Solo), formed of 7 races.

Sandy Point Watersports will be providing prizes for top finishers in all fleets as part of their title sponsorship of the series.

Entries are now open - visitors can race in all 13 races across the two series for just £70, whilst HISC Members can sign up for free.

HISC is looking forward to welcoming racers for some great Winter Racing!