Mild and Moderate forecast for this Saturday's Polar Chase

 

Following a breeze outing last weekend at the Datchet Flyer, it's a more moderate forecast for this Saturday's Robline UK Polar Chase.

The third event in the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series heads back to the west midlands, just north of Birmingham, for what was a really well-received event when it joined the Series for the first time last year. Visitors loved the warm welcome from the club members at Chase.

A year ago Sam Watson and Charlie Cotter sailed their GP14 to victory ahead of an 86-boat mixed handicap fleet. Simon Hawkes finished runner-up in his K1 keelboat and the sailor from Castle Cove is back this year to see if he can go one better.

This is the last event in the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series before Christmas, and online entry closes tonight, so do it now while you remember.

Enter at enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/new.asp?eventid=227303

The following events are in the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 2025/26 :-

Robline UK Polar Chase, Chase Sailing Club - 13 December 2025

Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club - 27 December 2025

Grafham Grand Prix, Grafham Water Sailing Club - 4 January 2026

GJW Direct Bloody Mary, Queen Mary Sailing Club - 10 January 2026

John Merricks Tiger Trophy, Rutland Sailing Club - 31 January 2026 & 1 February 2026

Oxford Blue, Oxford Sailing Club - 14 February 2026

Prizegiving at RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, Farnborough - 21 February 2026

You can find out more about the Series here: www.SailJuiceSeries.com

Sailing Chandlery RS400 Southern Tour 2025

 

Congratulations to Chris and Rachel Eames, Royal Thames YC, winners of the Sailing Chandlery RS400 Southern Tour 2025.

Counting a win at Chew, second at Parkstone and third at Warsash, their score of 6 points put them 4 points ahead of second-placed Jon Gorringe and Toby Lewis, Parkstone YC, who were just one point ahead of Chew's Paul and Anna Smalley.

It's once again testament to the enduring popularity of the RS400 that the tour results list 51 boats from 26 clubs, with the final top ten all from different clubs and four different event winners across the series of 5 events.

The challenge this popularity poses is how to get them all in one place for competitive racing and the friendly, welcoming atmosphere that the fleet are known for. For 2026 we are planning a well-spaced calendar of four Southern Tour events, at popular clubs with good home fleets.

So far we have confirmed the Southern Championships at Warsash, 6/7 June and Parkstone 18/19 July and are hoping to add the Salcombe May regatta and a Chew date soon.

Thanks go to Sailing Chandlery for their generous sponsorship, we are delighted that they have agreed to continue for 2026, so their members' discount code, offering £10 off orders over £50 is still valid - ideal for Christmas! (email Sally if you have lost it).

Thank you also to Paul Hilliar, our Southern Tour Rep, who has produced these results and also agreed to continue for another year.

Dates for the diary, including National and Northern Tour events (both complete) are at

 www.rs400.org/index.asp?fleet=RS400&pg=eventsgrid

Overall Results: Top Twenty 

Pos Sail No Helm Crew Club BCYC Salc Parks Warsash Pts

1st 1528 Chris Eames Rachel Eames Royal Thames YC 2 3 6

2nd 1555 Jon Gorringe Toby Lewis Parkstone YC 2 5 10

3rd 1557 Paul Smalley Anna Smalley Chew Valley SC 3 ‑4 4 ‑9 11

4th 1376 Tim Le Coulliard James Le Coulliard King George SC 2 15 22

5th 1535 Tom Halhead Paul Hilliar Llandegfedd SC 1 1 57

6th 1981 Howard Farbrother Louise Hosken Lymington Town SC 5 6 66

7th 1504 San Knight Chris Bownes Lyme Regis SC 1 111

8th 411 Figs Cain Oliver Scrimshaw Starcross YC 1 111

9th 1502 Jon Heissig Nicky Griffin Llangorse SC 112

10th 1444 Robin Kirby Alex Horlock Warsash SC 2 112

11th 1469 Martin Powell Phil Jackson Parkstone YC 3 113

12th 1327 Jonathan Moss Rich Sheridan Bough Beech SC 3 113

13th 1481 Ian Walker Anna Warren Warsash SC 4 114

14th 1324 Richard Watney Grant Showbridge Hayling Island SC 4 114

15th 1210 Niall Houston George Zavos 5 115

16th 1292 Will Fennelly Rob Clarke Chew Valley SC 116

17th 1189 Steve Restall Katie Walworth Downs SC 6 116

18th 1448 Mike Baker June Baker Weybread SC 6 116

19th 1526 Ollie Groves Esther Parkhurst Beaver SC 7 117

20th 1369 Leo Dixon Mellissa Franklin Parkstone YC 7 117

Final‑Race Drama Seals Medals at World Sailing Inclusion

 

In the One Person Keelboat (Hansa 303), Great Britain’s Rory McKinna held off a strong late push from Portugal’s João Pinto to win by just one point. Japan’s Takumi Niwa finished third.

The ILCA 6 event for sailors with intellectual impairment saw Great Britain’s Murray Macdonald dominate all 10 races to claim gold. The UAE’s Marwan Suloom took silver, with Hong Kong’s Man Hong Leung winning bronze and narrowly edging out a compatriot for fourth.

In the FarEast 28R Visually Impaired class, a second British crew skippered by Lucy Hodges secured gold. Spain’s Dani Pich finished second and a second British boat led by Karl Haines took third.

At the closing ceremony, Oman’s Minister of Social Development praised the event’s success. “We are deeply proud of … the remarkable performance and exemplary sportsmanship,” said Dr Laila bint Ahmed Al‑Najjar, highlighting the message that persons with disabilities can compete at the highest level.

Oman Sail CEO Dr Khamis Salim Al Jabri described the Championships as “a new chapter in the global journey of Para Inclusive Sailing,” welcoming participants from 28 nations and signalling future growth.

With 127 sailors from 28 nations competing across four classes, the first‑ever World Sailing Inclusion Championships says it has delivered an emphatic debut and laid the foundations for future events.

Two-day family dinghy cruise on the Norfolk Broads: Wroxham to Wayford B...

J Cup Europe 2026 heading to Cherbourg

 

We're crossing the Channel and turning up the volume! The J Cup Europe 2026 is heading to Cherbourg - and you're invited.

Running in partnership with Axe Sail and hosted by the Yacht Club de Cherbourg, this is your chance to join a buzzing fleet of J/Boats for two unforgettable days of racing and shoreside socials, all delivered in classic J Cup style.

What to Expect

Delivery race from Hamble to Cherbourg

2 days of racing

2 nights free berthing in Cherbourg

Welcome pack

Onshore events and socials

Entry: €300

Early bird price €250 - until 31st December 2025

Enter Here

Coming from the UK?

Make a weekend of it. Join the Cherbourg Delivery Race - a perfect warm up leg for your crew before the main event.

Get Ready for 2026

Prepare your crew, fine-tune your boat, and get set for an unforgettable chapter in the J Cup story. More event information will follow soon.

Questions?

Contact Harry Tilling +44 (0) 23 8045 5669 | harry.tilling@keyyachting.com

Cooler series 2025 at Shoreham Sailing Club

 

Shoreham SC Cooler series is run every weekend in November as an open event before the winter chills kick in. This November proved to be a blustery affair with high winds and mountainous seas greeting the hardy competitors to the south coast.

Excellent course management and easy launching into the calm waters of the harbour, meant that we were able to sail all but one of the Sundays on offer with average laps on a trapezoid course. Visitors from as far as West Oxford, Frensham Pond, Papercourt and more local clubs helped swell the local fleet and a total of 33 competitors took part in a highly competitive Cooler.

Fabulous weather greeted the sailors for the final weekend with glorious, although chilly, sunshine. A lovely force 3 NW breeze provided the fleet with champagne conditions for our final sea sail of the year. Another perfect course was set by our Race Officer, Rowan Chaplin and Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley took the two race wins, from William Warren and Andy Prince, both in Merlin Rockets. In race one the first single hander was James Gerwat in his Supernova in fourth, and in the second race it was Simon Barrington in his ILCA finishing third.

The strong local Merlin fleet dominated the series with Chris and Sophie fighting off some close competition from William and Andy (second), Caroline Gould and Livvy Bell and others (third). Paul Walker in his Hadron was the first single hander in fourth and first visitor was Richard Bentley in his Aero 7 who had travelled along the coast from Felpham.

Sea sailing starts once more at Shoreham on 22nd March 2026 and the following are open events where visitors are welcome:

Easter Cup - 5 and 6 April

Tiko trophy - 4 May (there is also racing on the Sunday)

Festival of the Sea - 20 and 21 June

If you can't make these dates visiting sailors can pay a temporary membership of £15 for a weekend of sailing, so come and join us for THE best sailing on the south coast next season. You won't be disappointed.

shorehamsailing.org

Hydons win the 2025 Lark Travellers Trophy (again!)

 

Stuart Hydon has again won the Lark Travellers' Trophy series, sponsored by Craftinsure, with son Nick and partner Ann Biglin sharing crewing duties.

Stuart wins the coveted Belle Isle Trophy - past winners of which is a roll-call of top Lark sailors - for a record 9th time (and Nick for a 6th time).

This year the Travellers series comprised 13 events ranging from Rock in Cornwall, to South Staffs SC in the Midlands and Waldringfield in Suffolk. An impressive 64 boats took part in the series. Turnouts to each event have increased year on year, providing close racing across Gold, Silver and Bronze fleets and enhancing the all-important social scene.

Team Hydon won 3 of the six events they sailed in, more than anyone else. They finished with 5pts from their best 4 races. However, they didn't have it all their way, with runners-up Ed Bradburn & Holly Evans finishing just one point behind (with two wins). Nigel Hufton and various crews (including Chris Whitehouse and Matt Wood) completed the podium, another 2pts behind (with one win).

Across all events, there were 10 winners, demonstrating the strength-in-depth in the class and varying strengths of each team.

The class hopes to see all Lark sailors when the 2026 series kicks off at Barnt Green SC on 8 Feb/1 March 2026.

Stress Free Sailing Holiday Plan around the Greek Islands

 

Here’s a lazy, relaxed 7-10 Day low-stress sailing holiday plan around the Greek Islands with gentle sailing days, beautiful anchorages, and chilled on-shore activities—perfect if you want relaxation first and adventure second.

Region: Cyclades (calmest in late spring & autumn) or Saronic Gulf (always calmer and best for lazy cruising).

Style: Short sailing legs (1–3 hours), sheltered bays, pretty coastal towns, easy swimming stops.

Super-Relaxed Saronic Gulf Route 

Start/end: Athens (Alimos or Lavrion Marina)

1. Aegina

Why: 

Close to Athens, mild sailing, green and peaceful.

Lazy activities:

Pistachio farm visits

Temple of Aphaia (gentle hike with views)

Chill at Perdika village taverna

Easy swim/snorkel coves nearby

2. Agistri

Why: 

Tiny, laid-back, pine-covered island.

Lazy activities:

Bike rentals around the island

Aponisos Beach (blue lagoon style)

Paddleboarding in quiet bays

3. Poros

Why: 

A beautiful natural harbour, great food, calm waters.

Lazy activities:

Take a slow stroll up to the clocktower

Kayaking around Love Bay

Beach tavern evenings

Optional cooking class in town

4. Hydra

Why: Car-free, artistic, incredibly charming.

Lazy activities:

Explore narrow stone alleys

Donkey rides (traditional but optional)

Sunset cocktails by the harbour

Swim off rocks at Hydronetta

5. Spetses

Why:

Chic but chilled, great for slow days.

Lazy activities:

Horse-drawn carriage tour

Easy coastal cycling route

Picnic at Zogeria Bay

Wine tasting at local boutique estates

Would you like help planning your next trip?

Please let us know about your sailing experiences and where you're planning to go by using our Contact Form on this Blog, with your requirements to receive immediate help and assistance and using our Vast Knowledge and Experience to Help and Guide You.

WITH 12,000 RENTAL YACHTS ACROSS 60 COUNTRIES WHICH ONE WILL YOU CHOOSE?

#yachts2rentnow

Bowmoor Bubble RS Aero End of Seasons 2025 - Bowmoor Sailing Club

 

The Bowmoor Bubble RS Aero End of Seasons Open took place on Saturday, 29th November 2025. Right on cue, as a passing downpour eased and bright skies emerged boats were being rigged.

With a fantastic turnout with 25 competitors, the fleet was split into RS Aero 9 and mixed handicap RS Aero 7 and 6 divisions. As the clouds lifted, the wind settled into a steady light breeze, ideal for getting racing under way. Close competition became the theme of the day.

Race 1 began with a short postponement while the race team reset the course after a significant wind shift. Early gains were made by those who best read the changes in pressure and direction. At the first gybe mark the leading three boats jostled for inside rights, with the rest of the fleet sweeping in behind them in an almost armada-style formation.

In Race 2, the mixed RS Aero 7/6 fleet pushed the line too hard, prompting a general recall. The restart was clean, and both fleets enjoyed competitive racing. The RS Aero 9 fleet made the most of the remaining breeze, while the mixed RS Aero 7/6 fleet completed their race just before conditions softened for the lunch break.

Over lunch the wind backed and freshened, setting up for two excellent afternoon races. Race 3 delivered further tight sailing, with a revised course layout producing a figure-of-eight pattern. This gave spectators superb views as the two fleets crossed paths, each second proving critical.

As Race 4 began, a rain shower loomed on the horizon, but it passed harmlessly along the edge of the lake, allowing the day to finish dry and upbeat.

The results showed success across both age and gender, highlighting the RS Aero's wide appeal as an all-round, accessible racing class. Congratulations to (1) Buzz Keck, (2) Sam Fewings and (3) Richard Gimmler, winners of the RS Aero 9 fleet, and Congratulations to (1) David Lynall, (2) Toby Banbrook and (3) Ollie Holden for taking the top spots in the mixed handicap RS Aero 7 and 6 fleet.

As always, the series concluded with prize-giving and birthday cake — three birthdays celebrated this year - an enjoyable end to a great day's sailing and another fantastic season in the RS Aero. Many rounded off the day in true Bowmoor style with a traditional meal and a lively evening party.

Our thanks go to Bowmoor Sailing Club for hosting the event and to the race team lead by David.

The next UK Winter Training weekend is at Hayling 13/14th and the Lymington Festive RS Aero Stadium Racing and Christmas lunch is on Saturday 20th Dec! If you prefer to keep your toes warm through the winter months you can still make progress with the RS Aero Class Online Coaching this Fri 5th Dec!

See the RS Aero UK Events List, for full details of all UK events coming up.

RS Aero 7 Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Club R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts

1st 4619 David Lynall Bowmoor SC 2 ‑4 1 1 4

2nd 1840 Toby Banbrook Bowmoor SC 1 1 (RET) 3 5

3rd 4584 Ollie Holden Hayling Isalnd SC 5 2 2 ‑6 9

4th 2458 Will Morris Bowmoor SC 3 ‑12 7 2 12

5th 2439 Tim Hire Royal Lymington YC ‑5 5 3 5 13

6th 3294 Neil Crosby Bowmoor SC 7 4 4 ‑11 15

7th 2550 Chris Jones Sutton Bingham SC ‑10 8 5 4 17

8th 1655 Sarah Pickard Bowmoor SC ‑15 9 6 8 23

9th 3888 Marcus Pakes Haversham SC 9 7 ‑10 7 23

10th 2392 Darcy Lynall Bowmoor SC 8 ‑11 8 11 27

11th 1806 Charlie Sansome Bowmoor SC 6 6 (RET) DNS 30

12th (6 rig)1293 Charlotte Hitchmough Bowmoor SC ‑14 10 12 9 31

13th 1233 Alex Pegg Whitefriars SC 13 ‑14 9 12 34

14th 2925 Dave Buzzard Restronguet SC 12 ‑13 11 13 36

15th 1398 Elizabeth Hill‑Smith Papercourt SC ‑17 15 13 14 42

16th 4637 Ian Aplin Bowooor SC 11 (RET) DNS DNS 47

17th 2050 Robin Pitt Bowmoor SC 16 16 (DNS) DNS 50

RS Aero 9 Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Club R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts

1st 4628 Buzz Keck Bowmoor SC 1 1 1 (DNS) 3

2nd 2146 Sam Fewings Bowmoor SC 3 2 (RET) 1 6

3rd 3748 Richard Gimmler Whitefriars SC 2 ‑3 3 3 8

4th 1655 Ian Pickard Bowmoor SC ‑4 4 2 3 9

5th 4091 Phil White Bowmoor SC 5 ‑6 4 5 14

6th 2643 John Banbrook Bowmoor SC 6 ‑7 5 4 15

7th 3852 Nick Allen Papercourt SC ‑7 5 6 6 17

Entry open for 2026 OK Dinghy World Championship in Skovshoved, Denmark

 

Entry has opened for the 2026 OK Dinghy World Championship, to be held in Skovshoved, Denmark, from 5-12 June. The Notice of Race has also been published.

It will be the first time the world championship has been held in Denmark since 2012, when there was a then record-breaking entry of 145 boats. That record was smashed this year with 212 boats at the worlds on Garda, while Skovshoved is expected to attract more than 150 boats.

The event is being hosted by The Royal Danish Yacht Club (KDY) and Hellerup Sejlklub (HS) in Skovshoved Harbour, just to the north of Copenhagen. Hellerup Sejlklub boasts one of the biggest fleets of OK Dinghies in the world.

The early entry period is open until 15 April, after which there will be a late entry fee.

The Notice of Race has also been published and can be found with the entry form through Manage2Sail here.

The event website with lots of information about the venue and accommodation can be found at 2026.okworlds.org

More OKDIA news can be found here: okdia.org

Icicle Series 2026 at Bough Beech Sailing Club

 

Once again, Bough Beech Sailing Club is holding our Icicle Open Series, running for eight Sundays through January and February 2026, starting on 4th January.

We run two fleets - a conventional and an asymmetric fleet - 2 races per day, with the possibility of running an extra race if we need to catch up any missed races from earlier in the series. All information, including the NoR, SIs and the Online Noticeboard . The Online Noticeboard will be used to communicate information throughout the series.

We are also running our second Youth Icicle Open Series, on 17th and 31st January, 7th and 28th February. Like the main Icicle Series, there will be 2 races per day but in one handicap fleet. It is open to anyone under the age of 19 years on 17th January 2026. This is an absolute bargain anyway, but if you are already entered into our main Icicle Series, this series is totally free! 

This was incredibly successful last year and we are looking forward to another fantastic series this year. Enter now.

RS400 Final Fling at the Blessington Artic Blast 2025

 

Over the weekend of 29/30 November, Blessington SC organised a RS400 Winters Event to round off the 2025 season with a final fling before the Christmas period. The plan was for some light-hearted, fun and fast racing before the cold sets in and return to the big burning stove in the ever-friendly clubhouse.

Dave Mullaly among his rescue crew ably performed OOD duties setting the plan for 2 races each day windward-leewards with quick turnarounds. The local HAWK20 keelboats also joined in on a separate start to total 13 boats.

Saturday began with a flurry of people rigging up their RS400s with a tuning session from Alan Claffey for the 12-18 knot Northerly chilly and shifty breeze. Boats planed out full beam to the racecourse hitting over 15 knots speed starting off and setting the tone for the day.

Each boat had some mishap, a swim, a rip in the kite, a broaching experience but with a gybe-set and a big gust on the last run McCartin/Thompson robbed 2nd at the final mark from Mullaly/O'Sullivan in 3rd and that called an end to the 1st day.

Day 2 dawned with less wind but filling in and Race 3 got under way right on 11am by Dave Mullaly. This time in the 7-10 knots.

Overall a really fun event sailed in good company and friendly atmosphere showing RS sailing is still strong down south. Big thanks to Alan Claffey who was the main driver in making the event happen. All the rescue crews and their photographer skills, PRO Dave Mullally for setting great courses and of course Blessington SC for their exemplary hospitality as always, any visitors always look forward to coming back.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts

1st 1406 Barry Mc Cartin Harry Thompson Greystones SC ‑2 2 1 1 4

2nd 1452 Chris Helme Alan Claffey Blessington Lakes SC 1 1 ‑2 2 4

3rd 1251 Ben Graph John McGonigle Lough Ree SC ‑4 4 3 3 10

4th 1190 Sam Street Jim Haide Blessington Lakes SC ‑7 7 4 4 15

5th 1436 Andrew Mullaly Dominic O'Sullivan Killaloe SC 3 3 (DNS) DNS 16

6th 1207 Canice Keane Peter Dolan Blessington Lakes SC 6 6 5 ‑7 17

7th 1451 Lisa Flynn Savannah Blessington Lakes SC ‑8 5 7 6 18

8th 1240 Sam Smith Carl Smith Blessington Lakes SC ‑9 RET 6 5 20

9th 1509 Aaron Bailey Mike Blessington Lakes SC 5 8 8 (RET) 21

10th 728 Coen O'Reilly Odin Keane Greystones SC (DNC) DNC 9 8 28

North West Norfolk Week Returns for 2026

 

After what was meant to be its final outing in 2025, North West Norfolk Week is back for a 76th edition—thanks to the enthusiasm of the competitors.

The North West Norfolk Sailing Association has now confirmed the dates for the 2026 Week as 8-15 August, giving everyone plenty of time to plan another great week of summer of racing along this beautiful stretch of coastline.

For anyone who hasn't done it before, North West Norfolk Week is unlike most regattas. Rather than settling in at one club for the whole week, the event takes you on a mini-tour of the North Norfolk coastline, racing at Snettisham, Ouse Amateur SC (Saddlebow), Wells, Blakeney, Burnham Overy Staithe and Brancaster Staithe.

That means you get a real mix of conditions—open sea, tidal harbours, and inland water—all within the same week. No two days feel the same, and everyone gets a chance to sail somewhere that suits them. North West Norfolk itself is just a stunning place to sail: big skies, wide beaches, long tidal horizons and saltmarsh make it one of the most scenic parts of the UK.

As usual, the National 12s are a big part of the Week, alongside the Allcomer fleet. One of the nice traditions is that any class that musters more than five boats to enter the week gets its own start, which often encourages groups of sailors to rally friends and bring a few extras.

2025 saw a whole host of classes, fast and slow, take part in the week. Classes included N12, Streaker, ILCA, RS200, 2000, OK, Albacore, Miracle, Supernova, Solo and more.

North West Norfolk Week has always been a real family event, and it works just as well for non-sailors as it does for those competing. With racing often scheduled early in the morning or later in the afternoon, families have plenty of time during the day to explore the area together. North Norfolk is packed with attractions: Holkham Hall and its vast beach, the colourful harbour at Wells-next-the-Sea, the coastal paths around Brancaster, seal trips out of Blakeney, the grand estate at Sandringham, and seaside favourites like Hunstanton. There's more than enough to keep everyone entertained throughout the week.

Anyone who is interested in taking part in North West Norfolk next year can contact the association for further details:

Website: www.norfolkweek.co.uk

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/110858312359570