2025/26 University Sailing League Round 3 at Rutland Sailing Club
by Matt Taylor 19 Feb 03:31 PST
14-15 February 2026
University Sailing League Round 3 at Rutland (also a British Keelboat League event) © BKL
Rutland Sailing Club hosted the latest stand-alone rounds of both the British Keelboat League and University Sailing League, delivering 25 races across two sharply contrasting days and a weekend that combined tight racing, winter weather and the sort of social atmosphere that keeps teams coming back.
Saturday arrived with the first proper sunshine of 2026. It was still undeniably cold, but the clear skies and bright conditions gave the fleet a welcome psychological lift after a grey start to the year. The breeze, however, was in no rush to match the optimism. Light and patchy across the course, it demanded patience, smooth handling and above all, momentum. Boats that rolled through manoeuvres and connected the pressure lines made steady gains, while those that hesitated found themselves parked with unnerving efficiency.
The start line quickly provided reminders that league racing rarely offers second chances. Derbyshire's youth team supplied one of the more memorable moments of the day by asking whether it was the start while sitting around 20 metres over the line at go. It was. Elsewhere, one crew achieved the rare distinction of sitting in apparent breeze with sails correctly trimmed and still moving backwards, which prompted quiet reflection on whether boat speed is ever truly guaranteed.
At the committee boat, James and the rest of his Plymouth crew demonstrated admirable sportsmanship by allowing a boat to squeeze in at the start, only to find themselves firmly shut out seconds later. It was generous, if not especially rewarding, and a reminder that start sequences remain an uncompromising environment.
Through Saturday's light air, consistency began to separate the fleet. Portsmouth 1 in particular were clinical throughout the weekend, completing all their races without a single finish below third place. In short course league racing, where rotations are quick and margins are tight, that level of repeatable scoring is ruthlessly effective. Solent Red also looked strong after the first day, putting together a composed and efficient series that positioned them well in the university standings heading into Sunday.
A large majority of teams stayed on site for the evening, giving the event a proper league feel rather than a quick dispersal to nearby accommodation. Spirits were lifted after some underwhelming rugby earlier in the day, helped considerably by good food and the inevitable retelling of races that grew marginally more dramatic with each version.
God Save the Queen made an appearance despite the modern complication that few sailors now carry coins, and as the evening progressed suitable objects from behind the bar were creatively repurposed for additional games. Later in the night, traditions were upheld with the return of the cardboard box game, confirming that while the racing format may evolve, certain post-sailing rituals remain reassuringly constant.
Sunday presented a different kind of challenge. The forecast had hinted at more breeze, yet what arrived was wind filtering off the trees, creating narrow and shifting bands of pressure that looked reliable until they dissolved without warning. It was not dramatic in the heavy-weather sense, but it was tactically demanding and mentally draining.
Solent Brown produced one of the standout moments of the weekend with an ambitious and perfectly executed pin end flyer, launching cleanly and sailing across the fleet off the start to appreciative cheers from the changeover ribs.
The Plymouth teams again found themselves central to proceedings when one sailor exited head first at the start and was rapidly hauled back aboard by his crew. The retrieval involved what has since been described as on-board waterboarding, an enthusiastic but ultimately ineffective performance enhancement strategy, though undeniably entertaining for those watching from nearby RIBs.
Throughout Sunday, the changeover RIB drivers worked tirelessly in freezing conditions to keep rotations smooth and efficient. Alongside them, the race committee, bosun and shore team ensured that the event ran seamlessly despite the light patches, shifting breeze and tight turnaround times. From maintaining boat readiness to keeping the course running and schedules on track, the behind-the-scenes effort was considerable and played a major role in successfully completing all 25 races.
Cardiff added a subplot of their own, with both teams appearing at times to engage in a determined race to the bottom rather than the top. In an event where accumulating high points is the objective, their impressive collection of low scores may have reflected an enthusiastic embrace of the socials. The race director even found himself issuing wake-up calls on Sunday morning when one Cardiff crew, drawn first on rotation, required encouragement to rejoin the day's proceedings.
While Solent Red had looked strong after Saturday, Sunday's shifting pressure proved less forgiving and a handful of difficult races nudged them down the order. Plymouth, meanwhile, continued their steady upward progression, reflecting years of consistent USL participation and a growing depth within the squad. It was encouraging to see returning teams investing in the format and clearly enjoying the competition enough to keep coming back.
Across the full 25-race series, the underlying message was clear. Heroic moments were entertaining, but consistency was decisive.
PINTS had never sailed together as a crew before the weekend. In conditions that rewarded patience on Saturday and sharp awareness on Sunday, that steady approach accumulated quietly but effectively.
All teams competed together in the combined British Keelboat League standings, while university teams simultaneously scored towards the University Sailing League leaderboard, effectively running two competitions within the same event.
Overall BKL podium:
1st PINTS
2nd Marconi FM
3rd Portsmouth 1
Within the USL standings, the top three university teams were:
1st Portsmouth 1
2nd Solent Red
3rd Portsmouth 2
Rutland once again demonstrated why this style of racing continues to grow in popularity. The format offers something slightly different from traditional series racing, encouraging teams to rotate, collaborate and sail as cohesive units rather than individuals within larger fleets. It provides an opportunity for experienced club teams and younger university crews alike to test themselves in a competitive but sociable environment, where performance on the water and camaraderie off it go hand in hand.
With the next round heading to Royal Southern in March, there is clear momentum building. For teams old and young looking to change up the routine, sharpen teamwork and enjoy a full weekend of close racing and strong socials, league sailing continues to prove it is well worth signing up.
Results breakdown:
| Final Pos | Team | Num Rs | Total points | Points per race | Sum finish positions | Avg finish pos |
|---|
| 1 | PINTS (6) | 12 | 63 | 5.25 | 21 | 1.75 |
| 2 | Marconi FM (5) | 11 | 56 | 5.09 | 21 | 1.91 |
| 3 | Portsmouth 1 U (9) | 12 | 60 | 5.00 | 24 | 2.00 |
| 4 | Solent Red U (12) | 11 | 52 | 4.73 | 25 | 2.27 |
| 5 | Marconi AM (4) | 11 | 49 | 4.45 | 28 | 2.55 |
| 6 | Derbyshire Youth (3) | 12 | 52 | 4.33 | 31 | 2.58 |
| 7 | Portsmouth 2 U (10) | 11 | 34 | 3.09 | 43 | 3.91 |
| 8 | Plymouth B U (8) | 12 | 37 | 3.08 | 47 | 3.92 |
| 9 | Plymouth A U (7) | 12 | 35 | 2.92 | 49 | 4.08 |
| 10 | Southampton U (13) | 11 | 23 | 2.09 | 54 | 4.91 |
| 11 | Solent Brown (11) | 12 | 24 | 2.00 | 60 | 5.00 |
| 12 | Cardiff B U (2) | 11 | 20 | 1.82 | 57 | 5.18 |
| 13 | Cardiff A U (1) | 12 | 20 | 1.67 | 64 | 5.33 |