2025 OK Dinghy European Championship in Warnemünde

 

The 2025 OK Dinghy European Championship opens in Warnemünde this weekend with 118 sailors from 14 nations on the entry list. It will take place in the first half of Warnemünder Woche.

The entry list is a who's who of OK Dinghy sailing at the current time, though last year's champion, Luke Deegan, from New Zealand, is absent. Warnemünde is a favourite venue for the class and while the heatwave of the last week seems to have moved on, the wind forecast looks promising for some epic Warnemünde wave action.

Perhaps the strongest team here is the British. It includes current and six-time world champion Nick Craig, past world and European champion Charlie Cumbley, Matt Howard, and the runner up at last year's worlds and world no 3, Andy Davis.

There is also a raft of new and relatively new sailors to the class attending, highlighting the current growth across the world.

Registration and equipment inspection take place on Friday and Saturday with an eight-race series from Sunday to Wednesday. Racing will likely take place in two groups with two days each of qualifying and finals races.

Terminally ill Jazz Turner may be the first woman to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted circumnavigation of the UK

Lord Birkett ready for 230 on the start line

 

There's a huge array of dinghies and keelboats lining up to compete at this weekend's Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy, sponsored by Magic Marine. Hosted by Ullswater Yacht Club, the two-day event is going to be busy on and off the water with 230 boats entered.

They range from singlehanded dinghies and doublehanded hiking boats and skiffs through to a range of sportsboats and keelboats, all racing against each other under the Great Lakes handicap numbers that are used in the Selden Sailjuice Winter Series as well as this summer's new travellers circuit, the Sailjuice Challenge.

The Lord Birkett is being supported by Magic Marine who are making a big push into UK dinghy racing. Magic Marine's new trapeze harnesses are the first on the market to be officially approved under the new ISO standard for quick release systems - a development strongly recommended by World Sailing. Magic Marine is currently the only manufacturer to have passed the World Sailing CE / ISO 10862 certification for quick release.

More events are coming up in the Sailjuice Challenge this summer. For further information about how to get involved, either as a participating Class or a host Sailing Club,

Please contact Simon Lovesey, email: simon.lovesey@sailracer.co.uk

The UK Snipe Class – onwards and upwards in numbers!

 

There will be a record number (for many years) of Snipes participating in the Stone Sailing Club open meeting on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July which will be run in conjunction with the Shearwater Class open. Already there are 27 Snipes entered which includes 5 women and 4 junior helms.

All boats are UK based with one lady helm coming from Finland and two Belgum sailors joining us to crew. Thank you to all owners who are unable to race but have kindly lent their boats to others who wanted to race but don't own a Snipe... yet!

If you are in the area, please come along - Stone SC has one of the best bars with great views of the River Blackwater estuary. Three races each day are scheduled with the first race at 1230 on Saturday and 0955 Sunday. There will be the usual "Serious Fun" on the Saturday night!

Young Sailors Invited to 2025 Fireball World Championship at Lake Garda

 

Circolo Vela Arco and Fireball International are inviting young sailors from around the world to take part in the 2025 Fireball World Championship at spectacular Lake Garda, with a special discounted entry fee for eligible youth participants.

Sailors under 25 years of age who have been a member of a Fireball association for less than two years can enter the regatta at the special rate of €350 if registered by 31 July 2025.

This initiative aims to support and encourage young sailors to get involved in the high-performance Fireball class and experience elite-level international racing in one of the world's premier sailing venues.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for younger sailors to get a taste of world championship racing without the usual financial barriers," said a spokesperson for Fireball International. "We hope it inspires young Fireball crews to join the fleet and enjoy the fast, tactical, and inclusive racing the class is known for."

Event Details:

Dates: August 21-29, 2025

Venue: Circolo Vela Arco, Lake Garda, Italy

Eligibility for Youth Offer:

Born on or after August 31, 2000

Less than 2 years of Fireball association membership

Special Entry Fee: €350 until 31 July 2025

Standard Entry Fee: €600

Registration: 2025 Fireball Worlds - Junior entry

Lake Garda's consistent Ora wind, alpine scenery, and warm hospitality make it a world-class destination for dinghy racing. The regatta is open to all Fireball sailors and is expected to attract a strong international fleet.

Loan boats may be available for overseas crews, interested teams should enquire early to secure support.

For full details and to register, visit :-

 2025.fireballworlds.com 

or contact Circolo Vela Arco at info@circolovelaarco.com.

Countdown to the OK Nationals at Dabchicks

 

The OK class are just ten days away from their 2025 National Championships, which are this year being hosted by Dabchicks Sailing Club.

With the 2025 sailing season already showing some great racing, it's expected that the fleet will enjoy come close and competitive sailing. The club have arranged a great programme of racing and social events, and sailors and their families are looking forward to exploring West Mersea and the Blackwater estuary.

With some key 'names' from the fleet committed to sailing in other classes this year there could be some new names appearing on trophies. Watch this space for more information - and sign up to join in the fun via  :-

www.okdinghy.co.uk/ok-dinghy-british-class-association-nationals

Europe Masters & Youth Championships at Haying Island Sailing Club

 

The Europe Masters & Youth Championships kicks off on the 2nd July - with the Masters racing 2nd-6th July and the youth 3rd-7th July.

With an amazing depth in the class, for the Masters the sailors ranging from just over 30 through to the class legends (over 70's) its going to be a great week.

Who will prevail this year? Can French sailor Cyril Richard retain his overall title, will Soren Johnsen move up the podium from 2nd overall last year?

Could one of the Brits top the podium? Steve Cockerill, fresh off a 12th UK Nationals title earlier in June, or will it be time for Jason Belben to take the top spot? Can Tom 'Mozzy' Morris make gains from his downwind practice of the last few weeks and use his local knowledge to get his Synergy Marine Europe to the top spot?

The class is not short of legends, with Weronika Glinkiewicz-Madej from Poland using all her Olympic experience in the boat, having represented Poland in the 1996 games, Sarah Barbosa from Italy looking to improve from 3rd female overall last year. The 3 British women ' Mandy Horton, Emma Pearson & Lucy Boreham will be hoping some local knowledge to get them towards the top of the Women's categories.

Class legends of Richard Eagleton (GBR), Daniel Devos (FRA), Rene Chaudoy (FRA) and Evert-Ben van Veen (NED) will be racing for the legends trophy (over 70's).

For the youth, the event has subdivisions for Juniors & Youth as well as Men & Women.

A strong contingent from Spain should feel at home in the heat wave, but may find the tides of Hayling Bay to be a head scratcher, 15 youths from Germany will also be tested with the tides and shifts that the Solent has to offer.

Hugo Bejstup (DEN) returns in a bid to defend his 2024 title, or will Tomas Molto Romero (ESP) be able to take title?

For the Youth women, with last years champion not competing can Enea Poulain (FRA) improve and take the top spot this time or will last years 3rd placed Wiktoria Bazyli (POL) prevail.

Wednesday 2nd sees the Masters kick off with two races, it's measurement day for the Youth and the Opening Ceremony to look forward to in the early evening, Hayling Island is the place to be this week.

Harken Hadron H2 National Championships 2025 at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

 

The ninth H2 National Championships will take place next weekend, 4th to 6th of July. Sponsored by Harken UK, the event is being hosted by the WPNSA and we will be sailing in conjunction with the illustrious Finn class.

Last year's National and Inland Champion, Josh Hamer, is taking a sabbatical this year. Josh won both events in light winds - his speciality. But if it's to be light this year (and who knows? - the weather forecasts are currently all over the place) there are several helms who might take his place at the top.

Most notable amongst them is this year's Inland Champion, Ian Dawson. One of the earliest venturers into the class, Ian has an incredible record at the champs, with three second places and a third in the last 5 events.

If the wind pipes up to moderate, then several actors come into their own. Berry Wolfenden (fourth last year) is competitive over a wide range and could win the event if the wind speed varies each day.

Dave Barker is another keen and energetic competitor who could do well if the wind suits his light weight.

Richard Leftley will also be starting to make his mark as soon as the wind gets above a drifter. Richard has numerous open meeting victories to his credit and has been been runner-up more than once at the Nationals. His combination of weight, height and fitness make him a very serious contender indeed.

Steven Hendon, a relative newcomer to the class, made his championship debut last year, finishing third - the first of the heavier weight helms. I predict that if the conditions are more than 5 knots of wind then Steven will be well to the fore.

Tim Garvin is making a welcome return to the class in a borrowed boat and is another successful helm who will benefit form fresher conditions.

As the wind speed increases, another major player comes into the reckoning - Class Chairman Richard Le Mare. Second in 2021, Richard has not featured in the last three Nationals (all dominated by light weather), though on the one very windy day at the 2023 event he won both races. At the heavier end of the spectrum, the windier it gets, the faster Richard goes. But Richard Leftley, Steven Hendon and Barry Wolfenden will also be with him.

Harken UK have generously provided vouchers, beany hats and sun visors as prizes - thanks Harken!

Chris Brown, our Events Manager, has put in a great deal of effort to organise the racing and the shoreside events. We are all looking forward to an enjoyable Nationals - it's going to be a good one, whatever the weather. 

Summer Series at Royal Temple Yacht Club - Race 3

 

The combined RORC and 14 boat EAORA East Coast Race fleets converged on Ramsgate in the Cannon Ball race from Ostend on a Fastnet qualifier race on Saturday 28th June. A race back to Harwich started on Sunday 29th, just before the RTYC Summer Series race started with a slightly larger fleet. The local race had a shorter, 16 mile, course designed to be shortened due to the light and variable wind, forecast from the north east veering to the south.

A light airs running start suited Peter & Alex Jackson's Stimson designed Pronavia 42 Assassin, who led at mark 1 followed by Peter Pearson et al's HOD Buccaneer and the Barrett-Woodward X362 Stiletto. With only 6 knots of breeze Assassin pulled further away on the beat against the 2 knot south going tide. Stiletto pulled past Buccaneer, but both fell into the gap between the Easterly and new south to south west sea breeze on the hottest day of the year so far.

Martin Law had set the course but his Cork 1720 Flying Pig was near the back with the Melges 24, the latter suffering from the higher wetter surface to sail area ratio of its fast planing hull shape. As Assassin sailed away in the new sea breeze Flying Pig had a remarkable recovery, creeping past Jura, then also the HOD and X362, both rating slightly higher. A few boats retired, including Stiletto and Jura before the 8-10 knot sea breeze set in for the beat south to the Brake buoy marking the Gull Stream channel inside the Goodwin Sands.

Assassin revelled in the conditions and was well down the one hour run back against the tide to the Ramsgate Channel marker 2 buoy when the next boats reached Brake. With another long run to Broadstairs in prospect and the tide due to turn against the beat back the race team wisely shortened course to allow the smaller boats back in time to sample the Royal Temple's new chef's late Sunday lunch fare. Assassin finished at 13.02pm 36 minutes ahead of Buccaneer. The assy of Flying Pig didn't like the square run and slipped 6 minutes further back, but ten minutes ahead of 'Lock Stock'.

With three races run those latter three boats now stand level at the top of the series with 8 points each.

IRC Class 1-2 results:

1st Assassin

2nd Buccaneer

3rd Flying Pig

Sigma 33 Offshore One-Design Championship at Howth Yacht Club

 

The Sigma 33 Class Championships were hosted by Howth Yacht Club for the first time from June 26-29, which incorporates the Irish and UK fleets.

Howth delivered four spectacular days of racing under the expert guidance of Scorie Walls and her race management team. A total of 11 races were completed, thanks to the class's decision to run windward-leeward courses—maximising racing opportunities and keeping the action tight.

It was a standout regatta for Stephen Mullaney and his local team aboard Insider, who delivered a commanding performance to claim the championship title with an extraordinary 9 bullets from 11 races, discarding a fourth place. With this result, Insider becomes just the second Irish boat ever to win the Sigma 33 Class Championships since the first event in 1979, following in the wake of Tim Goodbody's White Mischief from the Royal Irish Yacht Club.

The 2023 winner, Griogair Whyte's Close Encounters from the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club (RNCYC) finished as runners-up with a notably consistent performance, including six second-place finishes.

The defending champions, Harper/Robertson's Leaky Roof 2, from Cove SC, completed the podium in third overall, winning two races—including Race 1 on Friday, which earned them the prestigious RNCYC Trophy.

The Silver Fleet was won by Mark & Andrea Mackey's Mithril, who also took home the Quaich Trophy for the best newcomer to the class—a promising debut that signals a bright future.

Flying Jenny is 2025 Cape 31 UK National Champion

 

The 2025 Cape 31 UK National Championships concluded on Sunday after an action-packed weekend hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron. With 14 teams on the start line (with Irish crews in the line-up) and near-perfect conditions on the Solent, the regatta delivered a true showcase of Cape 31 racing.

Day 1 saw ideal sailing with a 12–18 knot southeasterly breeze and plenty of sunshine. Bullit started strong with a win in Race 1, before reigning champions Flying Jenny responded with back-to-back victories in Races 2 and 3. The day closed with a relaxed BBQ at the Royal Yacht Squadron, generously sponsored by Hamble Yacht Services (HYS).

Day 2 brought another full race schedule and tighter competition. Katabatic took the win in Race 4, while Bullit delivered a powerful double in Races 5 and 6. Khumbu, building momentum, claimed Race 7 to cap off a solid day.

Day 3 came in wet and breezy. Anticipating the conditions, the race committee—led by Peter Saxton—had completed four races on Saturday, leaving just two for Sunday. Khumbu charged ahead with two wins to open the day, but it was Flying Jenny who held their nerve and showed trademark consistency to secure back-to-back UK National Championship titles.

The Corinthian title came down to the wire between Flurg and Toucan, with Toucan holding steady under pressure to take the win—an impressive feat in their first appearance at the UK Nationals.

Waveney Sailability marks 20 years of success in Lowestoft

 

Celebrating its 20th anniversary Waveney Sailability marked the occasion with a special sail and event that highlighted its achievements over the years.

Providing sailing opportunities for those with impaired health or disabilities, you will see members and volunteers of Waveney Sailability out on the water at Oulton Broad in Lowestoft every Tuesday afternoon from the end of April to mid October.

Managed and run entirely by volunteers, it has received major support from Rotarians and local businesses over the past 20 years.

By providing support, training and equipment, Waveney Sailability enables all those with disabilities and its volunteers to enjoy the challenge of a physical activity in a safe and friendly environment and experience the pleasure of sailing.

"We have numerous helpers who volunteer their time to come every week to ensure we've got enough to stage the event every Tuesday between April and October."

Squibs National Championships 2025 Royal Torbay Yacht Club Day 2