Albacore Inland Championship at Ogston Sailing Club
by Mike Banner 28 Jun 23:47 PDT
13-14 June 2026
Fourteen Albacores arrived for their Inlands at the picturesque Ogston Sailing Club nestled in the Derbyshire countryside near Matlock. The two-day event was sailed in a variety of wind conditions ranging from 30 knot gusts to almost zero however the weather stayed mostly sunny throughout the weekend.
On the strong wind Saturday three races were sailed in gusty conditions with many legs just on the jib with the main flogging! Tacking in the lulls was the order of the day! In Race 1 Mike Banner and Colin Gardiner played the shifts to establish a good lead and despite the efforts of a number of chasing boats managed to take the bullet. Paul Gimson/Helen Baines were second followed by Peter Snowdon and Carl Whitehead in third. Race 2 started in even stronger gusts and this time Judy & Paul Armstrong took the lead and won the race from Snowdon/ Whitehead with Clive Gimson/Tim Norman in third. There were plenty of capsizes including Banner/Gardiner who managed to stick the mast in the mud whilst challenging for the podium. Matt Biggs and Mark Fowler were forced to retire whilst in the lead following a shroud failure.
In the final race of the day there was close racing with Banner/Gardiner talking the lead then losing it to Snowdon/ Whitehead who looked like they might take the win before a spectacular "down the mine" capsize pushed them back into third just behind the Armstrongs.
Sunday dawned with a gentle breeze and a few sore heads from the previous evenings beer and barbeque hospitality shared with the Enterprise fleet who were gathering for their one day open. The wind soon dropped and Race 4 started in zephyrs with slow progress around the course.. The Armstrongs soon established a lead that they retained to the finish followed by Sam Wadoups and Ethan Elliot in second and Ogston SC's Simon Law/Matilda Harrison in third.
A bit more breeze arrived for Race 5 with Banner/Gardiner taking their third win of the weekend closely followed by Snowdon/Whitehead with Paul Gimson and Helen Baines in third.
The wind stayed for the final race with the Armstrongs taking their third win of the weekend followed by Law/Harrison then Paul Burnham-Smith with Chris Goodwin/Lisa Burnham-Smith.
A special mention to Class Chair Richard Smith crewed by Annissa Baines who sailed the oldest boat in the fleet, 1504, to a very creditable 6th overall with the sails he used being first measured over 30 years ago!
A great weekend of close and exciting racing topped off with good race management from PRO John Mellors and his team plus excellent galley hospitality.
Overall, the Armstrongs retained the Inlands trophy for another year with Banner/Gardiner taking second on countback from Snowdon/ Whitehead. A special prize was given to Ethan Elliot who was the youngest crew and in only his first season of sailing!
The Albacores are heading North for their next event - way up North! - to the Shetlands for the Scottish and European Championships at South Yell Boating Club in early July with many stopping off at the Birkett en-route.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm & Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 8228 | Judy Armstrong & Paul Armstrong | Scaling Dam Sc | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 10 |
| 2 | 8233 | Mike Banner & Colin Gardiner | Rya/ Covenham Sc | 1 | DNF | 1 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 15 |
| 3 | 7920 | Peter Snowdon & Carl Whitehead | Scaling Dam Sc | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 15 |
| 4 | 8135 | Simon Law & Matilda Harrison | Ogston Sailing Club | DNF | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 21 |
| 5 | 8192 | Sam Waddoups & Ethan Elliott | Covenham Sailing Club | 7 | 5 | DNF | 2 | 6 | 8 | 28 |
| 6 | 1504 | Richard Smith & Annissa Baines | Thorpe Bay Yc | 8 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 28 |
| 7 | 7912 | Paul Gimson & Helen Baines | Rudyard Lake Sc | 2 | 4 | DNF | 12 | 7 | 9 | 34 |
| 8 | 6654 | Clive Gimson & Tim Norman | Notts County S.C. | 10 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 40 |
| 9 | 8235 | Steve Swinchatt & Helen Mac Vean | Broadwater Sc | 11 | DNF | DNC | 6 | 9 | 6 | 47 |
| 10 | 8263 | Stephen Bailey & Ilze Bogdanovica | Nottingham Sailing Club | 9 | DNC | DNC | 4 | 8 | DNC | 51 |
| 11 | 8266 | Matthew Thompson & Heather Thompson | Tewkesbury Cruising And Sailing Club | 6 | DNF | DNC | 7 | 10 | DNC | 53 |
| 12 | 7926 | Paul Burman‑Smith & Chris Godwin / Lisa Burman‑Smith | Snettisham Beach Sailing Club | 12 | DNC | DNC | 13 | DNC | 2 | 57 |
| 13 | 8264 | Matt Biggs & Mark Fowler | Bartley Sc | 4 | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 64 |
| 14 | 8267 | Paul Carrington & Hannah Goodson | Nbyc | DNF | DNC | DNC | 5 | DNC | DNC | 65 |