Warsash SC Club Championships
by Andy Le Grice 5 May 09:20 PDT
2 May 2026
Warsash Sailing Club hosted its annual Club Championships on Saturday, 2nd May. The variety of conditions and 25 classes of boat across the 64 entries reflected the diversity of sailing available at the club. This event was for the dinghies, with four races taking place in Southampton Water across Fast, Medium, Slow and Junior fleets.
Peter Knight and his experienced race team set a trapezoid course, which provided incredibly close racing. So close in fact that first and second overall in each fleet were to be decided by a single point or on count-back.
The first race started in about 6 knots and glorious sunshine. It seemed that going left upwind paid, which is typically where the leaders emerged from. Races two and three took place in 11-14 knots, providing planing conditions for most boats and making it challenging for the asymmetrics to hold their kites on the reaches. The closely fought racing and proximity to the mouth of the River Hamble provided a great spectacle for the Bank Holiday Weekend traffic, with one spectator quipping that the top reach was like watching a SailGP start.
Mother Nature mixed things up for the fourth and final race, with a bit of much needed liquid refreshment falling from above, killing the breeze for a while. The excitement returned on the sail home with a squall under dramatic skies.
There were smiles all round in the club afterwards for the prize-giving and social. A warm round of applause in recognition of the volunteers' efforts kicked things off, with another in gratitude for our sponsors; Henri-Lloyd, North Sails and our local chandlery; Xtremity Sports. All had generously provided a variety of prizes for the top three in each fleet and spot prizes besides. Thank you.
With the fleet podiums decided, focus turned to hearing who had become the Club Champion of 2026. The numbers were punched into the Warsash supercomputer to determine the fastest boat across all fleets in the last race, based on average lap times. The well-deserved winner and ex-British Sailing Team member was Pete McCoy in his Finn. Only he will know whether this win means more to him than his U23 Finn European Champion title.
Congratulations to the winners, to all who took part and those who worked behind the scenes to put on a great event. Thank you once again to our sponsors for supporting a vibrant club at the mouth of the River Hamble.
Junior Fleet podium:
1st William, Optimist
2nd George, Optimist
3rd Bear, Optimist
Full results
Fast Fleet podium:
1st Tim Norris, RS600
2nd David Swift & Rob Burgess, RS400
3rd Bruce Mills & Andrea Jarman, RS400
Full results
Medium Fleet podium:
1st Merrick Stanley & Victoria Upton, RS200
2nd Pete McCoy, Finn
3rd Martin Hughes, Finn
Full results
Slow Fleet podium:
1st Henry Noel, ILCA 6
2nd Maxwell & Leo, RS Feva
3rd Julie Maidment, Solo
Full results
Overall Warsash SC Club Champion 2026: Pete McCoy, Finn.