Emirates GBR out of racing on day 2 in Canada Sail Grand Prix after dramatic nosedive damages F50

 

During practice laps on Race Day 2 of the Canada Sail Grand Prix on Sunday, Emirates GBR suffered a nosedive which caused damage to the wing of the team's F50 race boat.

All team members were OK, but the damage to the wing meant they were unable to race. The F50 and team have returned to the shore and work will begin to repair the damage before Emirates GBR's home event, the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth on 25-26 July.

Emirates GBR Driver Dylan Fletcher said: "We were just doing our typical warm-up laps and in a bearaway around the top mark we lost the rudders and the boat spun round out of control into the gybe and broke the wing. We need to look into exactly what happened but ultimately we lost the rudders. Likely three flaps on the wing broken and the wheel broke as well, all sailors were safe. It's obviously very disappointing to not have raced but we are very thankful that the SailGP tech team do such a great job and have a bank of spares so I'm sure the boat will be fighting fit for Portsmouth. We've had a real rollercoaster of a season so far but hopefully we will be back on the up and putting on a great show for the home fans."

Emirates GBR Shore Team Manager Matt Haslam said: "There's quite a lot of damage to the wing but in terms of the platform of the F50, that's mostly superficial damage. We will give everything a good inspection and do some ultrasonic testing but SailGP has spare wing parts and with the next event being Portsmouth, and so close to SailGP Technologies in Southampton, everything is in good shape for the team to get back on the water for our home event."

After Emirates GBR had to come ashore, Race Day 2 got under way in Halifax with the split fleet racing initiated on Saturday carried through to Sunday. Each group did two races on Saturday and two races on Sunday, before the two teams from each group progressed to the winner-takes-all event final. The four teams in the final were Australia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, with Diego Botin's Spanish crew sealing the deal after nailing the start and fending off stiff competition from the Swedes.

The next stop on the Rolex SailGP Championship 2026 Season calendar will be the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth on 25-26 July. Fans can expect adrenaline-fuelled, close-to-shore racing on Southsea Common, as well as live performances from Jess Glynne on Saturday and Craig David on Sunday. Tickets are available to buy online at SailGP.com/Portsmouth.

British Moth Open at Leamington Spa Sailing Club

 

On 20th June Leamington Spa Sailing Club held their British Moth Open Meeting that was postponed in March due to adverse weather. The forecast was for a reasonable breeze from the west (the best direction for the club) and a dry, warm day. There were 13 competitors on the day made up of 8 visitors and 5 home sailors.

Race 1 started cleanly with Toby Cooper (Broxbourne) quickly breaking free followed by Tim Davison (Medley), the pair made the first mark ahead of the rest of the fleet. Home sailor Elaine Laverty showed good speed and cleared both Toby Smith (Medley) and Andrew Perrot (Oxford) at the first mark to hold third place, these positions held for most of the race until Toby S eventually overhauled Elaine. Peter Angwin (Severn) came through strongly for fifth place and Andrew Parsons (Medley) was the only retirement of the day having had his tiller extension come adrift requiring a quick fix before race 2.

Race 2 was held back to back with race 1, again the fleet got away cleanly with Toby C showing a clean pair of heels, the real battle of the race was between Toby S, Andrew Perrot and Tim for the minor places with Toby S winning the battle and Tim finding himself in fourth place Pete Lee (Leamington Spa) in a boat borrowed for the day was fifth and Steve Baker (Leamington) was sixth.

After race 2 the fleet came in for a hearty lunch prepared by the lovely ladies in the galley.

Race 3 Toby C sat this race out as he had already won with 2 first places allowing other sailors to have a chance of a win. Tim showed a clean pair of heels from the start leaving Toby S battling in the middle of the fleet but eventually pulling through into second place and when they crossed the line the duty team were unable to split them and scored it as a draw, Peter Angwin was a good solid third having battled with Elaine for most of the race.

As is traditional at Leamington once the boats were packed the sailors were offered a selection of homemade cakes, special mention to Dot Meredith for her Victoria sandwich which was eaten in record time!

Prizes were presented, thanks were given, more cake was eaten before the visitors went on their way.

Overall Results:

Pos Helm Sail No Club R1 R2 R3 Pts

1st Toby Cooper 887 Broxbourne 1 1 (DNS) 2

2nd Toby Smith 888 Medley ‑3 2 1.5 3.5

3rd Tim Davison 892 Medley 2 ‑4 1.5 3.5

4th Peter Anguin 859 Severn 5 ‑7 3 8

5th Elaine Laverty 898 LSSC 4 ‑8 4 8

6th Andrew Perrot 893 Oxford ‑6 3 6 9

7th Peter Lee 886 LSSC ‑7 5 5 10

8th Steve Baker 890 LSSC ‑9 6 7 13

9th Jeremy Gorbold 372 Birchfield 8 ‑9 9 17

10th Gary Hogan 894 Emberton ‑10 10 8 18

11th Andrew Parsons 884 Medley (RET) 11 10 21

12th Janet Smith 850 LSSC 12 ‑13 11 23

13th Pam Coop 850 LSSC 11 12 (DNS) 23

7 Day Balearic Sailing Adventure

 

Here's a 7-day Balearic sailing itinerary that balances good sailing passages, anchorages, beaches, hiking, culture, and food. It assumes a monohull or catamaran charter starting and ending in Mallorca during the sailing season (May–September).

Day 1: Palma → Cabrera (20 nm)

Start from Palma de Mallorca and sail south to Cabrera Archipelago National Park.

Onshore activities

Walk up to Cabrera Castle for panoramic views.

Explore the island's nature trails.

Swim or snorkel in crystal-clear protected waters.

Visit the famous Blue Cave if conditions allow.

Overnight: Mooring in Cabrera (book ahead during summer).

Day 2: Cabrera → Colònia de Sant Jordi → Es Trenc (10–15 nm)

A relaxed day along Mallorca's southeast coast.

Onshore activities

Wander around Colònia de Sant Jordi.

Walk the dunes and white sands of Es Trenc.

Try paddleboarding or kayaking along the coast.

Enjoy fresh seafood at a waterfront restaurant.

Overnight: Anchorage near Es Trenc.

Day 3: Southeast Mallorca → Cala d'Or → Porto Petro (15–20 nm)

Cruise among Mallorca's picturesque calas.

Onshore activities

Explore the coves around Cala d'Or.

Rent bikes and ride coastal paths.

Visit the fishing harbour of Porto Petro.

Sunset drinks overlooking the marina.

Overnight: Porto Petro.

Day 4: Mallorca → Formentera (45–55 nm)

The longest sailing leg, ideally with an early start.

Arrive at Formentera, known for Caribbean-like water.

Onshore activities

Cycle the island's quiet roads.

Visit La Mola Lighthouse.

Relax on the beaches of Ses Illetes.

Enjoy a beachside dinner.

Overnight: Anchorage or marina in Formentera.

Day 5: Formentera → Ibiza (10–15 nm)

A short sail north to Ibiza.

Onshore activities

Explore the UNESCO-listed old town of Dalt Vila.

Visit local galleries and boutiques.

Hike sections of the coastal cliffs.

Experience Ibiza's renowned dining and nightlife at your preferred pace.

Overnight: Ibiza Town or nearby anchorage.

Day 6: Ibiza West Coast Exploration (15–20 nm)

Cruise along Ibiza's dramatic western shoreline.

Onshore activities

Swim and snorkel in secluded coves.

Visit viewpoints overlooking Es Vedrà.

Take a coastal hike near Cala d'Hort.

Watch one of the Mediterranean's most famous sunsets.

Overnight: West-coast anchorage.

Day 7: Return Passage to Mallorca (55–65 nm)

A full sailing day back toward Palma.

Optional stop if conditions permit

Lunch anchorage near Sant Elm.

Short walk with views toward Sa Dragonera Natural Park.

Arrive back in Palma for your final evening ashore.

Why this route works so well

Mixture of three islands: Mallorca, Formentera, and Ibiza.

Includes protected nature reserves, historic towns, beaches, cycling, hiking, and snorkeling.

Only two longer offshore passages (Mallorca–Formentera and Ibiza–Mallorca).

Suitable for intermediate sailors or a skippered charter.

Provides a balance between adventure and relaxed exploration.

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Tom joins Gery ahead of Round Ireland Race

 

One of Ireland's most accomplished offshore sailors has been confirmed as a late crew change for a leading French contender ahead of Saturday afternoon's start of the classic Round Ireland Race at Wicklow Harbour.

Meath sailor Tom Dolan, who was outright winner of the famous single-handed Figaro Race in 2024 has this week teamed top French contender Long Courrier skippered by Gery Trentesaux in the fleet of 56 starters expected to contest the 704 nautical mile course around Ireland.

Thousands of spectators are expected to line the quaysides and coastal paths towards Wicklow lighthouse to watch the fleet begin the race with the Irish Naval Service in attendance for the traditional guardship role.

As always, weather will play a big role in deciding the outcome of the race and whether or not one of the exotic large boats can win overall or will a smaller entry seize victory.

Likely to take early leads on the water are Khumbu skippered by Guy Gillon and Venemous skippered by Venomous Graeme Lewis and Christopher Brook. Both will be trying to reach the Tuskar Rock off the Wexford coast and the turn towards the Fastnet Rock before the wind dies as currently forecast.

Later in the race, winds are expected to become favourable and even deliver the classic "Atlantic sleigh-ride" conditions northwards toward the Donegal coast. Avoiding being becalmed at any stage will be the leading boats' goal to avoid handing an advantage to the smaller entries.

"We're looking forward to the challenge of being one of the smallest boats ever in the race," commented Mick Liddy, a Search & Rescue helicopter pilot who is competing with Barry O'Connor on Bergins Katanca. "As always, when we turn the corner and head for the finish, this is where the race will be won or lost."

While the overall race is decided on corrected time, a system similar to handicapping the leading boats on the water will be vying for 'Line Honours' and the first boat home. But it could be several days until the true winner reaches Wicklow and overall result confirmed.

In the 2024 edition of the race, Howth entry The Big Picture owned by brothers Mike and Ritchie Evans placed second overall, narrowly missing victory by just five minutes.

"The excitement before the Round Ireland is like a five year old the week before Christmas with the anticipation - it's such a great event," commented Ritchie Evans. "We just need to go five minutes quicker and focus on getting through the tidal gates."

Meanwhile, ports and marinas from Howth to Greystones to Dun Laoghaire have been hives of activity as anticipation grows and crews start gathering from around Ireland and overseas. Safety inspections are being carried out on every boat and final provisions are being loaded. Saturday morning will see a steady stream of boats muster at Wicklow with crowds expected to gather from late-morning onwards.

Emirates GBR hoping to recreate success across the pond at Canada Sail Grand Prix

 

Emirates GBR currently sits second on the 2026 Season leaderboard on 44 points, 11 points behind Australia’s BONDS Flying Roos in first, while the US SailGP Team is in third on 36 points.

This weekend is set to be the first time all 13 SailGP Teams will be in action since February, as New Zealand’s Black Foils return to the race course following their crash in Auckland which led to their F50 needing extensive repairs.

The Brits are currently defending champions in Halifax after taking the win at the last event in the Nova Scotia city in 2024. Back then, double Olympic gold medallist Giles Scott MBE was at the wheel of Emirates GBR F50, and with Scott now Driver of the North Star Canada SailGP Team, there’s potential for some healthy competition between him and Emirates GBR Driver Dylan Fletcher MBE on the race course.

But Fletcher, who took over from Scott ahead of the 2025 Season and led Emirates GBR to championship glory at the Grand Final, said he was not thinking about “what’s happened in the past” in Halifax and was focused on the team’s performance this weekend.

“The last time the team was here they won which was fantastic but it was very different conditions to what we’re expected to see this weekend,” Fletcher said.

“The main thing we’ve been discussing as a team is just how shifty and tricky the conditions are here, so it’s not necessarily a venue to think about what’s happened in the past.

“It’s my first time racing in Halifax and I’m looking forward to it. It’s a fantastic race course in the middle of the city with a natural amphitheatre. It’s going to be a challenging weekend with very cold water but fingers crossed we get good breeze and great conditions out there.”

Following the Canada Sail Grand Prix this weekend, the Rolex SailGP Championship heads to Portsmouth for the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix on 25-26 July. The event will bring adrenaline-fuelled, close to shore racing to Southsea Common, followed by live performances by Jess Glynne on Saturday and Craig David on Sunday. Tickets are selling fast and it’s set to be even bigger than last year, which saw nearly 20,000 people attend across the race weekend.

This weekend’s action at the Canada Sail Grand Prix in Halifax is expected to draw in more than 12,000 spectators. The inaugural Canada Sail Grand Prix delivered one of Season 4's most memorable weekends, with rain, wind and capsizes. This year, it’s all to race for as teams look to bank as many points as possible as the championship enters to second half of the season. The action is available to watch live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 from 20:00 BST on Saturday and Sunday.

Blind sailor and stroke survivor overcome the odds

 

A blind sailor and a stroke survivor have qualified for a European championship – and they hope their success will inspire others to get involved in inclusive sailing.

Simon Mahoney will man the sail and Terry Shiels will steer the helm when they represent Great Britain at the Hansa Class European Championship in Barcelona.

The Derbyshire pair said they wanted their success in getting to the para and inclusive sailing regatta to encourage others to sign up to Sailability, which they have attended at Carsington Water.

Mahoney, 79, said: "When you're on the water, you forget the past, you forget the future, it's just now and it has an extraordinary beneficial effect on your mental health."

The former Royal Marines officer, from Ashbourne, said sailing had been a "very important" part of his life since the age of eight.

He started losing his sight in 2012, which he described as "very difficult", and became blind in 2020.

"I found being sight impaired a lot harder because my sight changed every few minutes, let alone days," he said.

"When you lose your sight, you go through a hell of an emotional firestorm and I knew that sailing would be ideal to get me back on an even keel," he added.

Mahoney joined a Sailability club, which use specialist equipment and modified Hansa boats, designed with a heavy ballasted centreboard.

This lowers the centre of gravity of the boat, acting as a counterweight to the wind in the sails, making the boats virtually impossible to capsize.

At Carsington in 2016, Mahoney teamed up with Shiels, from Belper, who said it was "life-changing" to be introduced to the sport.

Shiels suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2011, which caused a stroke and left him without the use of his left arm and limited use of his leg.

"At the time the statistics were 60% of people didn't survive, so I was one of the lucky 40%. Every day I remember that and tell myself I'm lucky," he said.

He added: "Once I'm in the boat and on the water, I can do anything that everybody else does. I'm on a level playing field and it's just amazing."

Shiels said he had been amazed by Mahoney's incredible hearing to identify approaching boats and race course buoys.

"One of the standing jokes is I have to be careful what I'm saying about him at the other side of the clubhouse, because he'll hear it," said Shiels.

The pair have been working "like an old married couple" to develop their sailing skills and teamwork to a competition level.

"If somebody had told me 10 years ago that we'd be going to Barcelona to compete in September, I'd say, 'Don't be crazy,'" said Shiels.

The championships are due to begin on 6 September.

Irish Challenge Builds For 2026 Dragon Edinburgh Cup

 

Irish Dragon sailors will be among a strong international fleet contesting the 2026 Dragon Edinburgh Cup and UK Grand Prix in Cowes this August. Around 40 teams from 10 nations have already confirmed entries for the championship, with six weeks still remaining before the initial entry deadline.

The regatta, which incorporates the British Open Dragon Championship and the third leg of the International Dragon Association European Grand Prix Series, will be hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes from 16-21 August.

Ireland's challenge will be led by former Edinburgh Cup winner Martin Byrne. Irish sailor Nicola Halloran is also among a record number of female helms already entered for the Seagull Trophy. The fleet will include competitors from Austria, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the USA, Ireland and the UK.

Event Director Gavia Wilkinson-Cox said the championship returns to a venue closely linked to the trophy's history. "The history of the Edinburgh Cup is deeply rooted in Cowes, as it was here that the trophy began and was first raced for nearly 80 years ago," she said.

Wilkinson-Cox said organisers were working to deliver "the very best Edinburgh Cup/UK Grand Prix" and looked forward to welcoming both British and international Dragon sailors.

Championship racing will take place on windward-leeward courses in the central Solent from 18 to 21 August. Four races are required to constitute a series, with one discard permitted after five races. Race management will be led by experienced Dragon sailor and former Edinburgh Cup winner Rob Brown. "The Royal Yacht Squadron is once more honoured and delighted to be hosting this prestigious event," Brown said.

The race committee will use the Vakaros RaceSense system, which provides live start-line detection and race tracking for competitors, officials and spectators.

Among the international entries are Swiss sailor Jan Eckert, Germany's Christoph Toepfer, Belgium's Xavier Vanneste, Sweden's Jan Secher and defending Corinthian Edinburgh Cup champion William Swigart of the USA. The British challenge will be headed by four-time Dragon World Champion Andy Beadsworth, alongside recent Dragon Gold Cup winner Grant Gordon and the Louise Racing Team.

The event also coincides with the 70th anniversary of the British Dragon Association. Celebrations will include a special anniversary race on 17 August ahead of the main championship. Racing concludes on 21 August with the Edinburgh Cup and UK Dragon Grand Prix prize-giving at the Royal Yacht Squadron.

Local yacht club prepares to host GP14 World Championships

 

WITH less than two months to go until Holywood’s Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club hosts the GP14 World Championships on Belfast Lough, excitement is building ahead of the arrival of  more than 100 boats.

Taking place from August 8-14, the prestigious championship has already sold out in record time, with a waiting list in operation, highlighting both the popularity of the GP14 class and Belfast Lough’s growing reputation as a world-class sailing destination.

Visitors from across Ireland, the United Kingdom and further afield are expected to stay throughout championship week, generating a significant boost for local hotels, restaurants, cafes, shops and visitor attractions across North Down and beyond.

The championship will showcase sailing at its very best, with competitors ranging in age from just 16 to over 80-years-old, demonstrating the unique appeal of a sport that can be enjoyed across generations.

At the helm of the host club, is Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club commodore Lindsay McCarty Nolan, whose own sailing story began at just four-years-old.

A lifelong sailor, Lindsay also met her husband through the sport and is looking forward to welcoming competitors from around the world to the waters she has sailed since childhood.

“To be welcoming the world to Belfast Lough is incredibly special. Sailing has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. It has given me friendships, opportunities and ultimately introduced me to my husband,” she said.

“Now, as commodore of the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, it is a real privilege to help host this championship and showcase both our club and Northern Ireland to an international audience.

“We know many visitors will extend their stay to explore our coastline, towns, attractions and hospitality, and we’re looking forward to giving them a very warm welcome.”

The event is expected to attract large spectator interest, both onshore and online, with competitors battling it out across a week of championship racing on the iconic waters of Belfast Lough.

As the countdown continues, organisers believe the championship will provide a unique opportunity to showcase Belfast Lough, North Down and Northern Ireland to a global audience, while inspiring a new generation of sailors.

Further event announcements, visitor information and race updates will be released in the coming weeks. For more information, visit www.rniyc.org.

Lymington Dinghy Regatta this weekend

 

The Melges 15 fleet is set for the Lymington Dinghy Regatta this weekend, with a fleet of ten boats expected to race. This event is jointly hosted by the Royal Lymington Yacht Club and the Lymington Town Sailing Club, and has become a firm favourite with sailors.

There are still three charter boats available for the special rate of £195 for the weekend, directly from Melges UK. With summer set to return, this is an opportunity not to be missed! To book your boat contact Shaun on 07377 628043 or email shaun@melges.uk

When the temperatures rise, the Western Solent is renowned for its fantastic south westerly sea breezes, which will be perfect for the Melges 15 to get up and fly, especially off the wind.

The first race on Saturday is scheduled for a very civilised 1pm, while racing on Sunday is set for 10.30am, with a Saturday evening social at Lymington Town Sailing Club, tea and donuts after racing, and camping is available just a couple of hundred metres from the club.

Meanwhile, fourteen of the UK Melges 15 Charter Fleet are set for the Europeans at iconic Lake Garda to join the fleet of 40 boats which includes entries from Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands, UK, USA, Canada and Australia. Racing takes place between 3rd and 5th July as the fleet continues to grow on both sides of the Atlantic.

Melges UK currently have a fantastic June deal on ex-charter Melges 15s, available to purchase for £9,750* with trolley, top cover, sails. Contact Shaun and he can have it delivered for you to race this weekend in Lymington, and you could then head to Garda yourself!

Find out more about the Melges 15 at www.gpwatercraft.co.uk/product-category/boats/melges/melges-15 or contact Shaun Priestley at GP Watercraft today: 07377 628043, shaun@melges.uk

2026 Fireball Worlds - The Greatest Show on Earth

 

The Fireball World Championships 2026 in Torbay are almost upon us, and the race to become the fastest, cleverest and luckiest sailors on the planet is well under way.

Following the revolutionary 2025 redesign, Fireballs have become undeniably sleeker and sexier. The new boats look absolutely fantastic: carbon is now in the hulls, the rear decks have slimmed down, and the one-string raking systems have made life so easy that even some helms can now adjust their rigs without asking their crews which bit to pull.

With teams arriving from all corners of the globe, Torbay is preparing for one of the biggest and most fiercely contested sailing events of the year. Entries are rapidly approaching the magical 90-boat barrier. That's 180 sailors, thousands of tactical opinions and at least three arguments over whether the wind has gone left.

Of course, this isn't just a UK benefit gig... half the fleet will be coming from overseas. The local Torquay watering holes are importing Fosters in industrial quantities because we all know that the Aussies don't give a XXXX for any other type of beer, the Continentals will be arriving en masse....as long as they can find the M3 junction off the M25, and the Irish are confident of a win because, well, how can you compete with the luck of the Irish?

Off the water, there will be enough stories, rumours and questionable race analyses to keep the bar entertained long into the evening. Friendships will be strengthened, excuses perfected and at least one sailor will claim they "would have won if it hadn't been for that shift."

For anyone thinking about joining the fun, entries are still open, but boats are becoming harder to find than a Fireball sailor admitting they were over the line.

So what are you waiting for?

Whether you're a seasoned World Champion, a club hero, or someone who just likes going very fast with a friend while getting spectacularly wet, Torbay 2026 is the place to be.

90 boats... fifteen nations... countless stories... and somewhere among them, one crew will earn the title of Fireball World Champion and everyone else will simply blame the tide.

Come and join the greatest show in dinghy sailing because life's too short to sail boring boats.

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

More information can found at: 2026.fireballworlds.com

Royal Highland YC Launches Season With Mull Muster

 

Perfect spring weather provided an ideal backdrop as Royal Highland Yacht Club members launched their 2026 sailing season with two popular gatherings on Scotland's west coast. The season opened with a Social Sailing Network cruise to the annual Mull Music Festival in Tobermory.

Yachts arrived on 24 April and took advantage of the harbour facilities provided by Tobermory Harbour Association. The three-day festival, held across venues throughout the Isle of Mull, featured a wide range of Scottish music from folk to contemporary rock and dance. Three days of uninterrupted sunshine helped make the event a memorable start to the season both afloat and ashore.

Just two weeks later, members gathered again for the club's annual opening muster in Loch Spelve. Yachts began arriving on 8 May for a pre-muster barbecue ahead of the main weekend event. While strong katabatic winds tested crews at anchor, sunny conditions continued and numbers steadily built throughout the weekend.

By Saturday evening, 50 RHYC yachts were anchored in Loch Spelve.

A highlight of the muster was the traditional gathering ashore at Inverlussa Mussel Farm, hosted by Douglas and Helen Wilson. Members enjoyed locally produced mussels from the Grade A waters of Loch Spelve while renewing friendships and discussing plans for the season ahead.

The club's next muster will take place at Lochaline on the Morvern Peninsula on 11 July. A fundraising collection during the gathering raised £1,107 for the Tobermory RNLI Station.

Ospreys at the Tenby Regatta

 

Seven Ospreys attended the Open Meeting at Tenby over the weekend of 13th and 14th June as part of the Tenby Regatta. After weeks of cold and rain Pembrokeshire lived up to its reputation and it was a pleasant weekend of warm and sunny weather.

Three races around the cans were held on Saturday with the "Round Caldey Island" long distance race scheduled for Sunday.

The breeze on Saturday was North Westerly coming over the land, varying in strength and direction giving a combination of champagne sailing interspersed with bits of high frustration.

The first race was definitely at the frustrating end of the spectrum with several examples of great skill in picking out the shifts to gain places followed by great misfortune while sailing into a hole watching others overtake. Dave Griffiths and Maurice Clarke won the race to retain the magnificent Galleon trophy. Fortunately Mrs Griffiths will not have to find anything else to fill the gap on the mantelpiece.

The second race was largely champagne. Ted Lewis and Lucas Boissevain led around the first lap but had clearly forgotten about the tide after a lay off from sailing. Their attempt to lasso the leeward mark with a spinnaker sheet and cause mayhem behind would have been successful but the mark tipped over and released the sheet. Dan Jackson and Matt Goldwait were clearly enjoying the conditions, in fact so much that they didn't want it to stop and instead of crossing the finish line sailed on for an additional lap. Strangely they were awarded first place - perhaps there is a local variation in Rule 28!

Just as it looked like the breeze may have settled it reverted to frustrating again for the start of the third race although champagne conditions did return.

It was a very enjoyable day sailing especially the champagne bits and followed by a great Osprey curry evening, at which Kenny proved he can eat three nan bread and a curry, finished off the day very well.

Despite a promising breeze on Sunday morning for the Caldey Island race this died to nothing when the fleet was around 50m from the beach and the race was abandoned. Disappointing as this race can be an awesome sail in an Osprey, but the correct decision in the circumstances.

As usual the Osprey sailing was very close with the final results all hinging on the result of race 1 where three boats crossed the line within a second. After a recount Paddy Lewis and Mike Priddle were declared the winners half a point ahead of Dave Griffiths and Maurice Clark who were a further half point ahead of Oscar Chess and David Downs. Although not entirely Osprey weather the Ospreys did well in the General Handicap results with the first boat in fourth place.

Overall Results:

1st 1386 Paddy Lewis and Mike Priddle 6.5 pts

2nd 1365 Dave Griffiths and Maurice Clark 7 pts

3rd 1348 Oscar Chess and David Downs 7.5 pts

4th 1380 Dan Jackson and Matt Goldwait 9 pts

5th 1338 Kenny Brown and Chris Butters 16 pts

6th 1342 Ted Lewis and Lucas Boissevain 17 pts

7th 1330 John McKellar and Alastair Knibb 21 pts

Royal Lymington Yacht Club X IOCA Optimist Development Weekend 2026

 

On the 13-14 June thirty young optimist sailors from around the south arrived at the Royal Lymington YC to attend a development weekend. Development weekends are regular events in the fleet's calendar but often focused on the more experienced sailors.

This weekend, organised with IOCA, was different. It was targeted at those new to the fleet with the objective of showing them that coaching weekends can be for them, that training can be fun and to leave them wanting to do more: sailing, coaching and racing.

The sailors were in very capable hands with a coaching team led by Lola Andrews, IOCA's regular coaching regatta lead, and Richard Mills, head of RLymYC's training centre.

Saturday was a test for the sailors. First, they had to navigate the Lymington river, busy with ferries, yachts, motor cruisers and other traffic, then they were out into the Solent. This was the first time sailing in the Solent for most of these young sailors so quite an experience. They sailed to Oxey Lake, part of the shallow water edging the Lymington-Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve, where the day's activities took place.

These included elephant ears, tack on the whistle and other exercises familiar to those that have come through the junior ranks. There was a break for lunch with Oppies tied up to coach boats giving the sailors a well earned rest. This was necessary as after lunch the day got even more exciting as the sea breeze kicked in and the wind began to build.

There were a few capsizes and some deep breaths but the sailors showed their resilience until finally the wind built enough that they were towed back in for a well earned BBQ on the club balcony.

Sunday started more calmly, with not a lot of wind but then it swung to the south and the sea breeze kicked in giving the sailors a day afloat in glorious sunshine and a perfect 8 knots of breeze. Early exercises were followed by an early lunch and then a very competitive race series.

Then one last exciting sail back up the river to the club, avoiding the ferry and trying not to go aground in the process. It was great to see the smiles on the sailors faces as they returned ashore, a little weary but with a strong sense of achievement.

The weekend introduced the sailors to lots of elements that are core to development weekends and IOCA events: coach briefings, rig checks, tallies, coaching exercises, lunch afloat, being towed and debriefs. This experience, over a whole weekend, means that these sailors know what to expect at any coaching weekend or event and, thanks to the efforts of the great coaching team, they can appreciate that these weekends are fun, not intimidating.

Thank you to the Royal Lymington YC for hosting, to IOCA for supporting and the excellent coaches.