Chichester Harbour Series Finale 2026

by Kendall Massey 20 May 02:53 PDT 18-19 April 2026

5th Chichester Harbour Series Finale © Kirsty Bang

Glamour conditions, record numbers and keen sailors made for a spectacular finale to the 2025/2026 Chichester Harbour Series. Boats departed Saturday morning from Bosham, Hayling Island and Itchenor, converging on the Hayling Island Committee Boat for two days of brilliant racing. Whether veterans or first-timers, every competitor brought the right spirit — and collaboration among Harbour clubs once again delivered a lively event.

A slight delay to the opening race only heightened the anticipation. Felix Gladman and Corin Mitchell were early leaders, joined by Sophie Fox and Florence Lewin and Sebastian Rogers and Barnaby Dixon. Sebastian and Barnaby edged into first at the second windward mark. Felix and Corin narrowed the gap with Oscar Mills and Ethan Shaer close behind, but Sebastian and Barnaby held the lead and took a well-deserved race win. Felix and Corin finished in second and Sophie and Florence took third.

More breeze and a dropping tide set the scene for the second race. Most of the fleet went east off the start with Felix and Corin in the lead, followed by Cam Wilson and Felix Dobrijevic and Henry and Freddie Everett, all heading up the tide. Felix and Corin rounded the windward mark in front, but Liberty Aldrige and Georgia Thompson and Jake Petevinos and Theo Marshall-Lee worked their way up the order. In an exciting finish, Liberty and Georgia just pipped Felix and Corin to take first and Luke Moore and Iain Coward came in third.

5th Chichester Harbour Series Finale - photo © Kirsty Bang

The weather changed once again before the third race, with a big 90-degree wind shift forcing the Committee Boat to re-lay the course. Following a nervy approach and a general recall, the second start was more conservative. Felix and Corin took an early lead, which they held until the leeward mark with the whole fleet hard on their tail. (The warmer weather and building wind gave some the chance for an involuntary swim!) Despite a spinnaker mishap at the Leeward mark, Felix and Corin came through to win, followed by Emily Tyrell and Isabella Edgecombe, with Ari and Isla Hayman in third.

The second and final day of the weekend's races greeted sailors with more blue skies. The excitement was palpable on Sunday as competitors arrived early to the race area, and the first race was off promptly at 11.

In the first race, Charlie Holland and Felix Dobrijevic were first around the windward mark, with Barnaby and Henry Everett close behind. Sophie and Florence opted to go left heading toward the leeward mark and took the lead, but Charlie and Felix made a comeback — sailing half the distance without a kite — to round the leeward mark first. But all the while, in their first race of the weekend, Rachel Elms and Laura Jubb continued to make steady gains to secure a win. Emily and Isabella were second and Sophie and Florence third.

Rachel and Laura carried that momentum straight into the second race, leading from the gun with Liberty and Georgia in second and Sophie and Florence in third. In the final race of the day, Liberty and Georgia got a blasting start off the line, but Rachel and Laura in War Horse quickly took the lead and ran with it. Monty Fry and Freddie Everett had a great start and held firm in second for the race, with Ollie and Jasper Fillery coming in third. A fine finish to the day.

5th Chichester Harbour Series Finale - photo © Kirsty Bang

A huge congratulations to the overall 2025/2026 Feva Harbour Series winners Sophie Fox and Florence Lewin. Runners-up were George Bayliss and Henry Everett, with Liberty Aldrige and Georgia Thompson rounding out the podium in third. Well done for their brilliant sailing in all three events of the series.

We were delighted to see a small but plucky contingent of ILCAa out competing. With strong fleets at all three clubs, we hope more ILCAs cas will join the fun next year for another round of exciting competition.

Thank you to PRO Jamie Wilson and all the Hayling Island team for hosting the final weekend of the Series, as well as to the rescue boat teams from Bosham, Hayling and Itchenor. Finally, thanks to our sailing managers Mike Storey, Theo Galyer and Ryan Breach, whose administrative magic makes the whole Harbour Series happen.

We're already looking forward to next year's races and we hope many more of you will join us. Sailors can launch from any Chichester Harbour Club and join the friendly, competitive racing for just £5/day.

The next season's dates are: