SVYC Regatta Round Up 2026

Published 18:00 on 17 Aug 2026

DAY 1

The forecast for Day 1 of the 2026 regatta looked tricky a few days out, and unfortunately proved to be just that. A few races (or floating competitions) got away throughout the morning. Charlotte Self was the only finisher in the SVOD Cadets race. Charlie White took the first win in the Squibs, and Henry Knight won the first ILCA Fleet race after an hours float around the patch. The wind did manage to fill in for the afternoon, however, allowing most fleets back out onto the water. Graham Smyth won a postponed Cruiser race from Paul Newell, Harriet Davies won the Slow Handicap and Chris Sproat from BHYC won the Fast Handicap. Both races were inshore and tricky with a building tide, so clean sailing and maintaining boat speed were critically important.

The Mermaids finally got away for the 14:30 start in the Easterly breeze. A long run down to 22 awaited, after which Anthony Ward won in Dragonfly, from Hugo Mills and Ben Few Brown. Charlie White took a second win in the Squib class to take a lead in the series. In the second and final Mermaid race of the day Ben Few Brown took revenge and won the Few Brown salver (appropriately) from Guy Mattinson and class newcomer Adam Jay. Rob Orr took the win in the SVOD Victory fleet after a good race up and down the moorings. The Amber fleet started off a CV just off the club with a reduced entry list given the fickle conditions. Robert Holbrook won from Colin Simonds and Charlie Proddow, with plenty of familiar names in the top 10.

DAY 2

The wind held throughout the day, with very few postponements and recalls. A very strong SVOD Cadet fleet lead the day again with George Cecil taking a comfortable lead from Barney Edwards and Tom Charlton. The Handicap Cruisers followed a very similar course to yesterday, albeit with the wind 180 degrees different. David Jones won on handicap after 2 hours of racing. The wind lightened halfway through the Mermaids first race whilst it swung round to the west. Colin Simonds came out ahead after the course was shortened from Senan Bottomley and Hugo Mills. Charlie White lead the Squibs again to extend his series lead.

A strong Cadet Squad fleet had a cracking race around the red cans. The Optimists came out on top on handicap, with Guy Evans leading from Bertie Thomas and Sam Winser. The Luggers went down to Seagrove Bay on the tide before working their way back up to the line. Unfortunately most did not finish correctly, only Richard White corrected himself, with Claudia Arney behind in 2nd. The ILCA Fleet also struggled with understanding the inshore finish line (all sailors please keep this in mind for next time!) allowing Angus Mayhew to take the win on handicap from Tom McCahon and Ed Chads. 

The Mermaids had a great second race, beating out towards the fort between Somers and Twenty Two. Guy Mattinson took the win on this one from Richard Hill and Colin Simonds. A record breaking Slow Handicap fleet of 31 boats raced off Seagrove Bay in a building westerly breeze. The Fevas all crossed the line first, but Lille Bottomley took them on handicap by 20 seconds from Harriet Davies and Sue Thomas. There was close racing throughout the fleet though! Finally before lunch, the Redwings and BODs came across from Bembridge in strong numbers to race in the Regatta. Racing on the same axis as the Mermaids, Mark Downer comfortably won the Redwing race, and Mark Hodgkinson lead the BOD fleet across the line.

Fleet sizes continued to surprise the race team after lunch, with close racing again in the second Cadet Squad race of the day. Sam Winser improved on his 3rd place finish this morning to win the race, from Roley Armstrong. The strength of the fleet this year was clear to see - a credit to all those sailing. The Fast Handicap went on time at 14:20 in a building breeze, and flew round the sausage-square course set across the central axis. Chris Sproat took the win on handicap by just 4 seconds from Toms' Griffiths and McCahon. The third Mermaid race course was a more traditional zig-zag out to Acland and Bunny. David Hunter played the shifts right on the final beat, leading from Thomas Youngman and Ben Few Brown. Sophie Palmer won the final Squib race after a shift first beat into Seagrove Bay, though it may be too little too late to change the Series scores.

For the final flight of starts, the Mermaids raced out to Acland and Somers, the Victory Fleet out to the west and the Amber fleet raced in the middle. It was champagne sailing with 12-16kn SW across the race area. The Mermaids were swapping places all the way round, but Hugo Mills finally won the Pam Donald Trophy after multiple podium places throughout the regatta. Guy Mattinson and Barnaby Cotterell were also on the podium. Multiple SVODs were unfortunately caught out by the building wind, with a healthy number of capsizes across the fleets - huge thanks to the safety fleet who worked flat out to make sure everyone recovered. Charlotte Self won the Victory race from Rob Orr and David Whelan, but well done to everyone who went out and raced (or tried to race!). The Amber Fleet got away second time (cleanly!) after the only general recall of the day. After three laps out to Bunny, Robert Holbrook took the trophy from Edwin Simonds - some aggressive covering took place on the last beat! Amelia Garnett finished third across the line with 38 finishers and 5 capsizes.

The Organising Committee would like to thank all the deck team, boatman, safety boat teams and club staff that make the regatta possible. The Sea View Yacht Club Regatta will return next year on Sunday 15th and Monday 16th August 2027.