Albacore season opener open meeting at Maidenhead Sailing Club

Albacore season opener at Maidenhead © Peter Ford

Sunday 12 April 2026 saw the traditional season opener at Maidenhead Sailing Club. Albacore sailors from eight visiting clubs — including competitors travelling from as far as the Shetland Islands — joined nine local boats for a demanding and competitive day's racing, with a good dose of spring sunshine and breeze.

Water levels were high, and a South to South-westerly Force 5 breeze, gusting Force 6, provided challenging conditions for tactical racing. The joint Race Officers took full advantage, setting a variety of courses, making good use of the lake. The format called for five races, with one discard.

Races 1 and 2 rewarded those bold enough to start on the port end of the line, although the blustery conditions led to frequent position changes throughout the fleet. In Race 1, Steve Brown (8264) broke clear from the fleet to take the win, followed by Andrew Yates (8186), with local Commodore Martin Hayward crewed by junior Harry Strudwick (8151) in third.

Conditions remained lively for Race 2. With a slight course adjustment, Barry Wicks (8132) made a strong start and led the fleet home, with Brown taking second and Charles Devenport (6649) in third.

After a hearty lunch, the fleet returned to similar conditions although the wind had veered South-westerly, leading to a further change in course. The new course was no problem for Brown who regain control at the front, while Paul Grimson (7912) delivered a strong performance, and Hayward secured another third-place finish. A notable mention goes to Maidenhead junior Heath Messenger (7911), who achieved a top-ten finish in the race.

This race also produced the first retirement of the day, as local sailor Howard Witt (8130) executed a spectacular pirouette capsize on the beat, followed by another capsize in full view of spectators near the clubhouse, which can only be referred to as 'show boating'.

Capsizes were a recurring theme throughout the rest of the day, with gusts and wind shifts catching several crews off guard. In Race 4, Richard Smith (7987) capsized and became stuck in the mud, and the shifty conditions prompted several competitors to retire. This left nine boats to contest the Race 4, where Brown secured his third win of the day, ahead of Grimson and Devenport.

Having already secured overall victory, Brown elected to sit out the final race, leaving Yates, Hayward, and Grimson tied on points and battling for the remaining podium places. The trio filled the top three positions in the final race, with Yates taking the win, followed by Grimson and Hayward in third, racing back to pack up before the heavens opened.

The deserved overall winner was Steve Brown, with Andrew Yates in second and Paul Grimson in third, just edging out the local boats. The Silver Fleet was won by Jonathan Redfern (731), with the first Junior secured by Heath Messenger.

At the prize-giving, thanks were given to event organisers, the race team who did a fantastic job during the Open Meeting, bar staff and the galley, catering for over 40 people with four different dietary requirements. Competitors commented on the picturesque and friendly club, with everyone looking forward to welcoming the Albacore Class again next year!

The next Albacore event is a one day open at Bartley SC on Sunday 7th June closely followed by the Inlands at Ogston SC over the weekend 13/14th June

Overall Results: