DF65 National Championship 2026 at East Kent Radio Sailing Club

Wild conditions - DF65 National Championship at Barton's Point © Dave Budden

Barton's Point Coastal Park proved an inspired choice for the 2026 DF65 National Championship. With its expansive car park, on site café, proper facilities, secure motorhome area and most importantly a lake offering clean wind from every direction, the venue ticked every box for competitors and organisers alike.

Under the calm and capable leadership of Jim La Roche and his dedicated East Kent Radio Sailing Club team, supported by PRO Wayne Stobbs and volunteers Sharon Plested, Rob Owens, Mike Brand, Adrian Tomlinson, Ralph Wilkinson, Stuart Ord Hume and David Davies, the fleet enjoyed one of the most professionally run DF65 championships to date.

It was grim on Saturday - DF65 National Championship at Barton's Point - photo © Dave Budden

Saturday - Weather chaos, patience rewarded

Saturday afternoon brought the kind of weather that tests both sailors and race teams. With winds gusting to 28 knots and sheets of rain sweeping across the lake, conditions briefly became unmanageable. White horses covered the water, rescue boats were unable to launch safely, and the PRO wisely suspended racing.

But Barton's Point has a secret weapon: a layer of peat over clay that keeps the ground firm and walkable even after heavy rain. As the squalls eased, racing resumed and the fleet completed the full schedule for the day.

C rigs dominated, though a few brave optimists tried their B rigs with mixed results. Tacking off the choppy southern bank became a lottery, with several boats blown ashore before being kindly relaunched by boot wearing volunteers.

Walking the control area - DF65 National Championship at Barton's Point - photo © Dave Budden

Sunday - Sunshine, stability and superb racing

Sunday brought dry weather and a steadier 12-16 knots, perfect B rig conditions. The race team barely needed to adjust the course all day, testament to the versatility of the southern point of the lake.

The improved visibility and calmer conditions lifted spirits across the fleet but one sailor remained untouchable.

Just after a start - DF65 National Championship at Barton's Point - photo © Dave Budden

A Masterclass from Craig Richards

The championship belonged to Craig Richards. With blistering boat speed, sharp tactical calls and almost flawless execution, he delivered a commanding performance: 12 wins from 20 races.

His confidence was such that, on Sunday, he briefly switched to a C rig while the entire fleet remained on B rigs and still won comfortably before sensibly switching back.

Behind him, John Tushingham and Nigel Barrow both showed flashes of brilliance but also uncharacteristic unforced errors, not helped by Saturday's visibility challenges. Close behind came Poole's Paul Robson, local favourite Dave Adams, and rising talent Finley Dickinson, whose weekend was hampered by electrical gremlins.

Australia's Steven Findley added international flavour to the top end of the fleet.

A star in the making - Finley Dickinson

One of the weekend's standout moments came from newcomer Finley Dickinson, who executed a stunning port tack start that earned spontaneous applause from the bank.

A quick look at his CV explains everything:

• 2023 U21 ILCA 7 World Champion
• British Sailing Team athlete
• Campaigning for LA 2028
• Currently 2nd in ILCA 7 senior world ranking (last six events)

Craig may need to keep an eye over his shoulder. The hope now is that Finley encourages more ILCA sailors to discover radio sailing where you can pack a week's worth of tactical learning into a single day.

A Championship sailed in the right spirit

Despite the challenging conditions, the fleet maintained exemplary sportsmanship. Zero protests were lodged across the entire event, thanks to respectful sailing, attentive observers, and the steady presence of Judge Robert Owens.

Conditions took their toll - DF65 National Championship at Barton's Point - photo © Dave Budden

A host club to be proud of

The East Kent Radio Sailing Club delivered a superb championship from start to finish. From car park marshalling to race management, from hospitality to rescue cover, every volunteer played their part. The club's efforts were widely praised, and the success of the weekend reinforces Barton's Point as one of the UK's premier radio sailing venues.

This event also marked the first-ever use of the new aFleet app version, with results at: connect.afleet.app/events/fzw7YIfc13hZFeEXmCiH

Craig Richards' boat in action, superbly trimmed - DF65 National Championship at Barton's Point - photo © Dave Budden

Overall Results: