Navigators & General Bass Week 2026
by Bass Press 11 Aug 14:52 PDT
1-9 August 2026
Navigators & General Bass Week 2026 delivered another memorable week of racing on Bassenthwaite Lake, combining superb champagne sailing, competitive racing and the family atmosphere that has become synonymous with the event.
More than 160 boats took to the water as sailors ranging from complete novices and members of the newly formed Bass Opi Squad through to national champions and Olympians enjoyed nine days of racing and social events. Families sailed together across multiple fleets, while two Olympic coaches were on the race course during the week and 2012 London Olympic ILCA 6 Gold Medallist Xu Lijia joined the fast handicap fleet racing a VX One.
This year's event featured some classic Bassenthwaite sailing. On two days, a favourable south-easterly breeze allowed the Race Team to make full use of the lake's unique geography and send competitors on spectacular courses stretching almost three miles towards Keswick.
The highly contested pursuit races once again produced some of the most memorable moments of the regatta. Tuesday's Nairn Pursuit was won by 15-year-old Megan Gowers from Port Dinorwic Sailing Club sailing an ILCA 4, a great achievement in conditions that saw many of the adult competitors capsizing!
Thursday's RNLI Pursuit provided another thrilling contest. Oliver Smith started first in an RS Tera and led for much of the race before being reeled in by the chasing fleet. In the closing stages, Phil and Lucy Smith sailing a Mirror narrowly held off Dave and Caroline Exley in their RS400 to take overall victory.
The final weekend welcomed two Northern Championships to Bass Week. The Enterprise Northerns were won by Alan Roberts and Diane Roberts from Chester Sailing & Canoe Club, while the Phantom Northerns were won by Rob Cook of Bassenthwaite and Northampton Sailing Club.
Off the water, Bass Week once again lived up to its reputation as a true family regatta. Thanks to Ellie and her team, competitors enjoyed a packed social programme including live music, discos, quiz nights, themed evenings and a popular fancy dress party. These activities remain a key part of the Bass Week experience and help create the atmosphere that keeps sailors returning year after year.
A highlight was a talk and Q&A session from Olympic Gold Medallist Xu Lijia and leading Olympic coach Jon Emmett, who shared their experiences of Olympic and high-performance sailing.
Bass Week also received wider recognition this year with another visit from ITV Border, whose excellent feature on the regatta is now available on ITVX. The programme captured the friendships, community spirit and family traditions that make the event so special.
Red Seal Rescue once again provided safety cover throughout the regatta and, given the stronger breezes experienced on several days, proved an invaluable part of the event. Their professional, high-quality support gave competitors confidence to enjoy the racing while providing reassurance to sailors, families and race officials alike. Bass Week is extremely grateful for their continued commitment, with the team having supported the regatta for an incredible 33 years
At the final prize-giving, Commodore Joe Roberts thanked the many volunteers whose dedication makes the regatta possible. Bass Week is run almost entirely by volunteers and their efforts continue to be the foundation of the event's success.
In addition to the fleet prizes, several special trophies were awarded to:
- Miner's Trophy (Best Overall Flying Fifteen): Rob Mountain and crew Chris Clancy
- Ovington Trophy (Best Overall Fast Handicap): Chris Gowers and June Riley
- Endeavour Trophy: Saskia Leonard
- HiJinx Trophy (Best Junior): Oscar Davenport
- Caroline Storey Trophy: Isabella Tunicliffe
Bass Week's three prize-givings once again featured an impressive array of trophies and glassware thanks to the support of our sponsors. Special thanks go to title sponsor Navigators & General, together with Cumbrian Ales, Embleton Spa Hotel, Luchini Ice Cream, Euro Auctions, Hire & Supplies, Bass Lake Station, Heavenly Fish & Chips On The Go, and Shake, Waffle & Roll.
While trophies were awarded there were simply too many standout performances throughout the week to mention them all. From junior sailors and family crews to class winners and first-time visitors, memorable stories unfolded across every fleet. Daily reports, photographs and full race results can be found at www.bassweek.org.uk. With so many highlights from across the regatta, a visit to the website is the best way to relive all the action from Navigators & General Bass Week 2026.
Bass Week 2027 will run from 31st July to 8th August, so if you feel it was so good that you could do it all again, get the date in your diary. We look forward to welcoming competitors, families and friends back to Bassenthwaite next year.
www.bassweek.org.uk