200th Cowes Week annual regatta.2026

 

After one hundred and ninety-nine (and a half!) years there's just three more days to wait until entries open for the 200th Cowes Week annual regatta.

We'd be willing to bet that there weren't any sailors racing in 1826 who would've dreamed that 200 years later the regatta would be the biggest and most famous Corinthian regatta in the world. But, while the boats have changed, the ethos remains the same. Passionate sailors coming together in the first week of August, in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, to race boats against each other, to meet friends old and new and to enjoy a fabulous week of parties.

Super early-bird entries will open at 00:01 on Friday 13th February and run for three weeks until Friday 6th March. The Notice of Race will be online and call for entries from 37 different classes, ranging from the evergreen Flying 15 dinghy right up to the TP52s in Class Zero. The only major change in the NOR is the move from the ISC Rating System for Performance Cruiser and Club Cruiser divisions to the RYA endorsed and RORC run YTC rating system. YTC is a free rating system that's becoming increasingly popular with the cruiser racer community, and the Cowes Week Sailing Committee felt now was the right time to move to YTC. For more information and to get a YTC rating go here after February 16th.

Cowes Week has always been about an eclectic mix of boats, and the regatta committee is delighted that the classic classes of the Solent such as the XOD and Solent Sunbeam remain regular attendees, along with newer classes such as the Weekend Warriors, racing stock production boats under the YTC handicap system. It really is a regatta for everyone. If you can't find a class in which to enter your particular boat, please let us know on entries@cowesweek.co.uk. If we can find a few like-minded sailors with similar boats, we will certainly put a class together for you.

Everyone at Cowes Week is mindful of the cost of racing boats, and we've worked hard to prevent fees from rising, keeping entry prices at the same level as 2025 and ensuring the Bicentenary Regatta remains accessible to as many sailors as possible. Almost everybody who works at the regatta is a volunteer, and it takes 200 of them from nine different yacht clubs to make the event happen. It's Corinthian on the water and can only happen thanks to those hard-working volunteers.

We are expecting a bumper entry for the 200th anniversary regatta. Entry numbers have been up over the last couple of years, and we've already had a lot of enthusiastic calls to the office from people wanting to enter for 2026. We've also received our first entry - on a list that we're predicting will be over 600 long come August - from Royal Yacht Squadron Commodore Robert Bicket;

"I dropped my deposit cheque in before Christmas! Entries weren't open at the time but I wanted to be first and to support the team as they prepare for the 200th anniversary regatta. I can't wait for Cowes Week to come round in August - it's one of my favourite regattas of the year. I love racing on the Solent and Cowes Week really is very special. All 200 of them! Amazing!"

Race Day 1 is Saturday August 1st 2026, and we're planning for the first start off the RYS line to be the J70 class at 10.30am. Prizegiving is on Friday August 7th.

The Bicentenary Regatta. Literally, history in the making. Be there!

To keep up with everything planned for the Bicentenary Regatta, we'd encourage competitors, spectators and fans of the regatta to subscribe to the Cowes Week monthly newsletter.

Alongside on-the-water updates, the newsletter will also share what's planned shoreside for the Bicentenary year, plus our Recollections of Cowes series - short personal reflections on what Cowes Week means to sailors across the sport. Recent issues have featured Ian Walker, our new PRO Philip Warwick, Shirley Robertson and photographer Paul Wyeth, with many more voices to come as we count down to August.

2026 Mirror Class Events

 

 

With the class going from strength to strength, and whilst second-hand boats were being snapped up instantly, the winter has seen the highest number of new boats being built for many years which has in turn helped to put more quality second-hand boats back into the market.

To support this increase in demand, and as the class builds toward the 2027 World Championship in the UK (Poole), we have an expanded calendar for 2026, that includes a circuit for the 1st time in many years. We also have club fleets growing around the country, with Plymouth and Poole joining the traditional hotbeds of Mirror sailing, such as Netley, Itchenor, Bassenthwaite, Derwent Reservoir, Restronguet and Brightlingsea.

The major events are:

The circuit will consist of 8 events with 4 event results to count, with the Nationals counting for double points. The Mirror team (Helm/Crew) with the best result to count over the 4 events will be crowned series winner. To encourage younger crews to start helming, the team may swap round for different events and still qualify.

The qualifying events are the following Championships: Spring, Westerns, Southerns, Northerns, Nationals, Welsh, Easterns and Inlands. To add extra incentive (if any is needed) Hyde Sails have kindly agreed to provide spot prizes and the chance to win a spinnaker if you enter one or more events - the more you enter the higher your chances of winning.

In addition regional open meetings are being added to the calendar including:

Poole YC (Venue for the 2027 World Championship)

Looe SC (A world class family venue in its own right)

Hollingworth Lake SC

Hunts SC (including a training day)

Entries for Suffolk Yacht Harbour Classic Regatta 2026 Open

 

Entries are open for the Suffolk Yacht Harbour Classic Regatta, returning from 26 – 28 June at Suffolk Yacht Harbour, Levington.

Now firmly established as a highlight of the East Coast sailing calendar, the regatta welcomes a broad range of classic sail and motor boats, combining competitive racing with a relaxed social programme ashore. The weekend will feature an optional race on Friday evening, followed by a three-race series across Saturday and Sunday in the waters of Harwich Harbour, Dovercourt Bay, and the Orwell and Stour estuaries. Separate classes will be run for Deben Cherubs, Stellas, Gaffers, Yachts, and Motor Boats, with the popular Parade of Power returning for motor boat entrants.

Alongside the racing, competitors and guests can enjoy a full social programme hosted at Suffolk Yacht Harbour, reinforcing the friendly and inclusive atmosphere the event is known for.

Dates: 26-28 June 2026

Location: Suffolk Yacht Harbour, Levington

Eligibility: The regatta is an invitational event. Eligible entries include sailing and motor yachts of pre-1970 design and traditional construction. Sailing yachts should be Bermuda or gaff rigged and built in wood or steel. Modern classic yachts with wooden or steel hulls are also welcome to apply.

 Entry forms and further event details are available online at: www.syhclassicregatta.co.uk

J/111 UK Nationals 2026 : Close Racing Guaranteed on the Solent

 

The J/111 UK National Championship returns to the Solent from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 July 2026, hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club and run from the Hamble River. With a reputation for tight one-design racing and competitive fleets, the event promises another high-intensity weekend of performance sailing.

Adding to the atmosphere, the J Cup UK will take place on the same weekend, bringing the J community together both on and off the water.

Few boats inspire the same loyalty as the J/111. Long-time owner Tony Mack sums it up neatly: "I have owned 6 racing yachts and, without doubt, the J111 is my favourite. A boat that is fast in the light, planes in a breeze is great fun" That blend of pace and accessibility is exactly why recent UK Nationals have gone down to the wire, often being decided in the final race on the final day.

the appeal goes deeper than pure speed. The J/111's owner-driver rule, allowance of just one Category 3 professional, and a strict two-new-sails-per-year limit keep the class refreshingly free of an arms race. For many teams, it's the ideal step up from displacement racing into something more dynamic, without sacrificing fairness or affordability.

The strength of the class is clear to see across the Solent. Week in, week out, J/111s line up to deliver relentlessly close racing. At the J Cup, boats JourneyMaker 11, Frequent Flyer and Jagerbomb traded wins throughout the series, before the same names — joined by McFly — continued their points-tight battles across the season. Margins are small, mistakes are punished, and consistency is king.

Fast, physical and uncompromising, the J/111 fleet is very much alive — and growing. For owners looking to join the action, Key Yachting currently have a couple of J/111s on brokerage, making this an ideal time to get involved with one of the UK's most competitive one-design classes.

Entries for the 2026 J/111 UK Nationals are expected to be strong. If you enjoy hard racing, tight rules and a fleet where every race matters, this is one Solent fixture not to miss.

World Sailing invites responses from global sailing community as part of Olympic events review

 

World Sailing is inviting responses from the global sailing community as part of its review of Olympic events for the post-LA28 Games programme.

The review is required under its regulations, in this case Regulation 11 which mandates that at least four Olympic events are placed under review every four years.

At last year's Annual Conference, the World Sailing General Assembly voted to place the Men's Kite, Women's Kite, Mixed Dinghy and Mixed Multihull under review.

Following the review, this year's General Assembly will vote, deciding for each event to either:

retain the event and equipment,

retain the event but evolve the equipment,

retain the event but adopt entirely new equipment,

replace with a new event (equipment to be determined).

Where there is a vote to evolve or change equipment, that will be subject to a further review for a final decision in 2027. The full text of Regulation 11 can be read here.

Proposals will be considered by a joint events and equipment committee working group.

How to submit a proposal

Proposals to inform and support the working group can be submitted by:

Member National Authorities,

World Sailing Class Associations,

Continental Associations,

Associate Members,

Committees, Sub-committees or Commissions,

World Sailing Race Officials.

Proposals should be submitted to proposals@sailing.org using the template available here. The deadline for these proposals is 31 March 2026. Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be considered.

Decisions related to Olympic sailing events will be subject to approval by the International Olympic Committee.

Musto Skiff 2026 UK Circuit and Training update

 

The Musto Skiff is a boat with a steep learning curve, which is what makes it so much fun to sail, and it is always good to see the class continue the great ethos of helping each other with tips, advice and camaraderie. Additionally, the Class WhatsApp and Facebook groups continue to be hotspots for help and advice, while egging on the enthusiasm across the country!

With the new GBR committee team in place, we have been quick off the mark to finalise our events calendar for the 2026 season. We now have a packed calendar for events and training, and we are also pleased to confirm the continued sponsorship with Noble Marine Insurance, who will be our Event Title Sponsor for this year's UK National Championship in September, as well as once again supporting our formal training programme for this season.

Here are the latest dates and venues for 2026 UK events and training for the Musto Skiff class:

Noble Marine UK Musto Skiff National Championship 2026

10-13 Sept: East Lothian Yacht Club, North Berwick, Scotland

UK Inland Championship 2026

21-22 Mar: Grafham Water Sailing Club (part of Ovington Inlands)

Musto Skiff 2026 Southern Circuit

25-26 Apr: Stokes Bay Sailing Club

9-10 May: WPNSA

27-28 Jun: Medway Yacht Clu

4-5 Jul: Ullswater Lord Birkett Trophy*

29-30 Aug: Stone Sailing Club

31 Oct - 1 Nov: Itchenor Sailing Club

Musto Skiff 2026 Scottish & Northern Circuit

25-26 Apr: Ullswater Yacht Club

15-17 May: Largs Sailing Club

4-5 Jul: Ullswater Lord Birkett Trophy*

1-2 Aug: Chanonry Sailing Club

15-16 Aug: Aberdeen and Stonehaven Yacht Club

19-20 Sept: Dalgety Bay Sailing Club

*Joint event for Southern Circuit and Scottish & Northern Circuit.

Musto Skiff 2026 Formal Training - Sponsored by Noble Marine Insurance

18-19 Apr: Organised training weekend at Ullswater Yacht Club

8 May: Organised training day at WPNSA (Pre-Event)

9 Sept: Organised training day at East Lothian Yacht Club (Pre-Nationals)

Events can change during the season, so always check with the host sailing club or the GBR class committee closer to the event. Any changed schedules are also often shared on the GBR class member WhatsApp group and Facebook group.

The small Mainsail X will also be a big focus this season, with demo sails available for those who want to try it out both here in the UK and in some other countries. If you are keen, get in touch with anyone in the GBR class committee to find out how to arrange a test sail in the UK or to borrow it for one of our organised event weekends.

The small Mainsail X will also be featured at the upcoming RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show 2026 at Farnborough International over the weekend of 21-22 February. The Musto Skiff boat will be on display in the Musto clothing section of the P&B stand, with Ovington Boats running a limited special offer deal on any Mainsail X orders placed over the show weekend.

The sailing season will be here before we know it, so get your calendar updated and get ready for a fun season ahead and some great racing!

Irish Sailing League 2026 Set for April Showdown in Dún Laoghaire

 

The Irish Sailing League 2026 will take place from 18–19 April at the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire.

Racing will be contested in identical J80 one-design keelboats. Each team will consist of five mixed-gender sailors representing their home club. The event features short, high-intensity races lasting just 15 minutes. Racing is umpired, and all boats are included in the entry fee.

“Teams will compete in up to 30 races across the weekend,” said an event spokesperson. “There will be minimal downtime, with continuous action on the water.”

One or two teams will rotate off each round, ensuring fast turnarounds and sustained racing pressure.

All boats will be supplied and rigged by the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School. This levels the playing field, with results based solely on teamwork, tactics, and crew skill.

Entry is limited to 10 teams, with only a few places remaining. Interested clubs are encouraged to register promptly to secure a place.

Mersea Week 2026

 

Mersea Week 2026 promises another uplifting celebration of sailing, community, and island spirit. Our Race Team, a group of dedicated and committed volunteers, continues to be supported by the unparalleled generosity of West Mersea Yacht Club and the Dabchicks Sailing Club. Their welcoming waterfront venues provide the perfect backdrop for both our racing and our social gatherings.

Mersea Week 2026 begins on Saturday, 8th August, with an evening reception and welcome party for all competitors.

Racing will begin on Sunday, 9th, for all classes of sailboats: IRC - Sonata One Designs - YTC Cruisers - Classic Yachts & Gaffers - White Sail Cruisers - Smacks - Dinghies - Mersea Fishermen's Open Boats

Daily and weekly prize-givings will feature commemorative trophies and additional sponsor awards.

Evening entertainment runs throughout the week, culminating on Friday, 14th August, with the final prize-giving, fantastic sponsor prizes, a brilliant band, and a celebratory barbecue.

We offer free moorings, a free launch service, and a warm Mersea Week welcome to all visiting yachting folk. And truly, the best sail of your life may be waiting for you on the Blackwater, where the light falls differently, and the horizon feels close enough to touch.

NB: The RYA's YTC handicapping system will replace West Mersea Local Handicaps for all 2026 keelboat handicap racing except for the IRC class.

We remain deeply grateful for the generosity of our sponsors — Adnams, Fenn Wright, Dolphin Sails, Oakheart, OneSails, Fiducia, Mersea Homes, LoftZone, Marinestore, Allens, and City & Country. Their support enables us to plan and deliver an exceptional week.

Online 'Early-Boat' entries open on 4th April at www.merseaweek.org

Round Ireland 2026 Entries Reveal Strong Overseas Interest

 

Early registrations for the Round Ireland Yacht Race 2026 point to a strongly international fleet.

As of 7 February, 12 boats are listed, with nine based outside Ireland or sailing under overseas club affiliations, many connected to the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC).

The early entry list includes yachts from the UK, USA and Isle of Man, alongside a smaller Irish contingent.

Irish-based entries so far include Prime Suspect from Kilmore Quay Boat Club, Cristina from the Royal Irish and National Yacht Clubs, and Galway Bay SC’s La Veuve Noire.

The remaining boats represent a broad mix of offshore programmes, including US-flagged Hiro Maru and Leonard, and several RORC-regular campaigns such as Bellino, Promise 3 and Whiskey Jack.

The race begins on Saturday, 20 June 2026, from Wicklow Harbour, with monohulls starting at 13:00 and multihulls at 13:10.

The 704-nautical-mile course runs clockwise around Ireland, leaving all islands to starboard, except Rockall.

Organised by Wicklow Sailing Club in association with the RORC and the Royal Irish Yacht Club, the race carries 20 bonus points for the RORC Season’s Championship.

Entries opened on 14 January and are expected to build through spring as offshore teams finalise summer programmes.

Round Ireland Yacht Race 2026 Entries as at February 7th

No. Boat Name Entered By Design Length (m) Home Port / Club / Affiliation

1 HIRO MARU Hiroshi Nakajima S & S 49 (71) 15.05 Stamford YC, RORC, Cruising Club of America, NYYC, Storm Trysail Club

2 FINALLY Paul Kitteringham ELAN 350/360/E4 2.35 10.60 Pwllheli Sailing Club

3 J’OUVERT Simon Harris J 112 E 2.12 11.00 RORC

4 PRIME SUSPECT Keith Miller MILLS 36 Custom 10.99 Kilmore Quay Boat Club

5 CRISTINA John Treanor NMD 43 2.99 13.07 RIYC / NYC

6 Leonard Benjamin Owens JPK 1010 10.00 Lake Lanier Sailing Club

7 La Veuve Noire Mark Wilson Beneteau First 40 12.24 Galway Bay Sailing Club

8 PURPLE MIST Kate Cope SUN FAST 3200 R2 1.90 9.78 RORC / UKDHOS

9 POLISHED MANX 2 Kuba Szymański FIRST 40.7 2.40 11.92 Douglas Bay Yacht Club

10 Promise 3 Steve Robinson FIRST 47.7 2.80 14.50 RORC

11 Whiskey Jack Nick Southward J 122 2.20 (MOD rudder) 12.19 Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, RORC

12 Bellino Rob Craigie SUN FAST 3600 2.20 Fin6 10.80 RORC

WUKA and Royal Yachting Association partner to support women and girls in sailing

 

WUKA has announced a groundbreaking partnership with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), including RYA Scotland and RYA Northern Ireland, supporting women and girls in sailing.

Building on WUKA’s growing #TackleAnything campaign – which has already reached thousands of girls across sports in the UK – this collaboration brings practical period solutions into sailing.

Together, WUKA and the RYA are committed to breaking down barriers so periods never limit confidence, participation, or performance on the water.

Ruby Raut, WUKA founder & CEO, said: “Partnering with the RYA has been incredibly important for us at WUKA.

“Sailing is an amazing way for women and girls to build confidence, and periods shouldn’t hold anyone back from enjoying the water or reaching their full potential.

“Through this partnership and our #TackleAnything campaign, we’re proud to provide practical solutions and innovative products that help female sailors feel comfortable, confident, and free to focus on learning, performing, and having fun.

“Breaking down barriers and supporting women to tackle anything — on land, at sea, and everywhere in between – has never felt more meaningful.”

WUKA, which stands for Wake-Up Kick Ass, shares the RYA’s commitment to inclusivity and empowerment.

In 2023, WUKA launched #TackleAnything, a campaign supporting women, girls and sportspeople with periods. Since its launch, the initiative has reached 3,576 girls across 46 clubs and partnered with a range of sports across the UK – from Scottish Gymnastics to Titans wheelchair basketball – helping young athletes play without limits and stay confident, comfortable, and in the game.

The brand offers period-friendly aquatic apparel and practical solutions that help women train and compete with freedom of movement and total assurance.

Through this partnership, WUKA will provide innovative period swimwear for young sailors across key RYA programmes, including the NI Sailing Team, the RYA Scotland Performance Pathway Programme, and the British Sailing Pathways Talent Academies.

By combining WUKA’s mission to challenge stigma with the RYA’s commitment to inclusion, the partnership ensures young sailors can focus on what matters most – learning, performing, and enjoying their time on the water – with confidence and comfort. RYA members will also receive a 10 per cent discount on WUKA products.

Sailing offers incredible benefits for women and girls, but time on the water can present unique challenges -particularly during menstruation.

Together, WUKA and the RYA are providing practical solutions that remove these barriers, helping young sailors participate fully and confidently in the sport.

Sara Sutcliffe, RYA CEO, said: “At the RYA, we have been making strides to break down barriers for women of all ages to help ensure they can experience the water in a supportive and positive environment.

“From education workshops and practical sessions, we want to make sure our female sailors are empowered and this partnership is another great example of how we can demonstrate possible tools to equip them to succeed”.

This partnership is part of the RYA’s wider commitment to making sailing a sport where women and girls can thrive. Alongside initiatives such as the Female Futures Group, the Women’s Race Officials Programme and all new Talent Academy Female Future’s Camps; it demonstrates a continued focus on removing barriers and creating meaningful opportunities across every stage of the sailing.

WUKA’s involvement ensures that practical solutions are available on the water, from innovative period swimwear to support resources, helping young sailors feel fully equipped and confident during training and competition.

By integrating these tools into RYA programmes, WUKA brings a new level of comfort and assurance to female athletes, allowing them to focus entirely on performance, enjoyment, and growth in the sport.

For any women and girls looking to learn more about sailing, visit www.rya.org.uk.

For more information on WUKA visit www.wuka.co.uk.

2026 RORC Easter Challenge

 

If there's a better way to launch your racing season than the RORC Easter Challenge, it's hard to find. Hosted from the RORC Cowes Clubhouse over the Easter Bank Holiday, the three-day Solent regatta delivers high-quality racing alongside expert coaching, providing outstanding value for teams building towards the season ahead. Entry fees start from under £500 for a 40ft boat.

First staged in 1991, the Easter Challenge was RORC's first all-inshore event and from the outset it broke new ground by allowing outside assistance and today that philosophy translates into complimentary, on-the-water coaching during racing, followed by in-depth video debriefs back at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse. Competitive racing, expert insight, and a famously friendly atmosphere are all part of the package, along with the long-standing tradition of Easter eggs as prizes.

The coaching programme for 2026 is led by Richard Moxey, formerly the RYA's National Keelboat Development Manager, supported by North Sails experts delivering targeted, practical advice across trim, setup and sail selection.

Joining the coaching team is Olympian Vita Heathcote. Vita won gold at the 2019 420 World Championships and silver at the 2024 470 World Championships. Vita was the youngest member of the 2024 British Olympic Sailing team.

Throughout the regatta, competitors will be part of an active WhatsApp group, providing real-time updates from the Race Committee and, crucially, a two-way channel where crews can ask for coaching advice while racing, a rare and highly valued feature.

As with all RORC events, the Easter Challenge welcomes a wide variety of sailors and boats. Expected entries range from teams preparing for major offshore campaigns such as the Round Britain & Ireland Race, to one-design fleets including J/109s, sailing school teams and Armed Forces entries. Whether you're building race sharpness or fine-tuning performance, the event is structured so everyone benefits.

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

National 12 Class 90th Anniversary - a new sponsor and an exciting, special year ahead

 

1936 was a turning point in the history of yachting and dinghy racing; the National 12ft Class was born. In 2026 the Class is celebrating its 90th Anniversary, first with a special stand at the upcoming RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show and the Class has a new National series main sponsor for 2026, Blood Red.

The stand will feature N1 Gipsy, built in 1936, and the first National 12ft dinghy, designed by Uffa Fox and winner of a competition run by the YRA to create a racing dinghy at a cost within the reach of many, opening the sport up to mass participation. The boat was recently "rescued" from a bankruptcy auction sale by two National Twelve Owners' Association members to save her from the possibility of going abroad.

Sharing the stand will be N3530 Very Hungry Caterpillar, one of the latest National 12s, a "Dead Cat Bounce" designed by Jo Richards and now the winner of multiple National Championships. While N1 represents the starting point, the "Dead Cat Bounce" represents over eighty years development and with radical new designs on the CAD drawing board, more development, within the cost limiting rules are anticipated in 2026.

The Class is truly delighted to be so closely associated with our new main sponsor, Blood Red and particularly their ethical principles. They engineer premium sailing, swimwear and sun-protection gear using regenerated ocean plastics. Every item is designed to optimise hydrodynamics, durability, and comfort—delivering precision fit, controlled compression, and long-lasting performance in salt, sun, and surf. Materials are selected for their strength, elasticity, UV resistance, and fast-drying properties, ensuring each garment performs at the highest level.

Sustainability is built into their process. By transforming recovered ocean plastics into high-performance textiles, waste is reduced without compromising function. We believe advanced design and environmental responsibility must evolve together.

Comparatively new to the UK and now UK based, but chosen by sailors, freedivers, and surfers elsewhere, Blood Red® delivers technically refined, ethically produced gear made to withstand demanding conditions—so you can focus on performance, not limitations.

The Blood Red National 12 Series includes open meetings around the UK with a mid-year highlight of the Class's 90th Anniversary Regatta at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club in July. The Burton Week National Championships are being held at Shoreham SC over the August Bank Holiday weekend and the season will be rounded off with the Inland Championships at Northampton SC in November.

In parallel, the Class's Vintage fleet has their own events and joins the main fleet for others. This year the "Witchcraft Bailer" Vintage series has been expanded to include the four plank hull boats and the later Admiral's Cup single-bottom designs. These older designs represent incredibly good value, offering competitive sailing or leisurely cruising in interesting boats at a fraction the cost of many one designs.

Mid-Point in the Howth Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbite Spring Series

 

A rainy and blustery start greeted sailors as they arrived to mark the mid-point of the Spring Series of the Howth Yacht Club Dinghy Frostbites. Rigs whistled as sailors watched the Brass Monkeys fleet venture outside the harbour, battling white horses on exit. However, when the time came for the dinghies to launch, the wind abated, and the first race got underway in improving conditions as both wind and rain eased off. 

A strengthening ebb tide combined with a westerly breeze made for long upwinds, followed by much quicker downwinds. An Olympic course was set for race 1, switching to a windward-leeward for race 2. The breeze varied throughout the races, with moments of hiking interspersed with lighter patches where sailors sat in, coaxing their boats to keep moving.

In the PY Class, the IDRA 14s of Alan Carr and Pierre Long swapped 1st and 2nd places in each race. Conor Costello’s Enterprise, crewed by son Brendan, made their first appearance on the podium in race 1, while Ryan Cairns’ IDRA 14 took 3rd in race 2. Series leader Daragh Sheridan’s RS Aero wasn’t out, but he still maintains his lead over Alan Carr by a healthy 6 points.

The ILCA 7s saw very close racing throughout the fleet of eight boats, with only boat-lengths separating many of the finishers. Conor Murphy, after an absence in the preceding four races, returned to form with two hard-fought wins over Tom Fox in 2nd. Andrejs Samoilovs was in the mix for a top-two finish in race 1 but just missed out to take 3rd, while Davie Carr fought off close competition from Jack McMahon to secure 3rd place in race 2. Dave Kirwan continues to lead the series, but Tom Fox sits just one point behind. With eight races still to go, it’s all to play for.

In the ILCA 6s, Peter Hassett recorded his 3rd win of the series so far, followed by Stan O’Rourke and Darragh Peelo. Darragh Peelo responded strongly in race 2, claiming the win over Peter and Dylan Cassidy. That result was enough to keep Darragh atop the leaderboard, but with only three points separating the top three, expect some snakes and ladders in the weeks to come.

There are four weekends remaining in the Spring Series, all leading up to the Round the Island Race to close out the season. Always a popular event, all are welcome to join for racing and craic afterwards at the prizegiving. NOR and entry forms will be available shortly on www.hyc.ie