BLOOD RED Sponsored National 12 Open Meeting, Vintage Championships and Training Day at Whitefriars Sailing Club Held 30th and 31st of May, 2026.
The weekend began with a comprehensive training session led by Graham Camm and Kevin Iles, where sailors were divided into groups based on experience and received onshore boat inspections, rig adjustments, and coaching. Morning and afternoon on-the-water sessions were supported by experienced coaching teams, followed by classroom debriefs using video analysis.
The first races of the Vintage Championships also took place on Saturday, with David Peacock and Lesley Iles (2620) dominating the J&T Hancock series, overcoming a significant handicap deficit to secure three impressive victories.
Sunday brought stronger winds and more challenging conditions for the Open Meeting and second day of the Vintage Championships. With 20 entries, including eight visiting crews, competitors faced a demanding course featuring long beats, gusty wind shifts, and increasingly rough water. Chris and Seb Day emerged as Open Meeting winners after a consistent performance throughout the four-race series, narrowly claiming overall victory on countback ahead of Kevin Iles and Iolanthe Iosiphedes, while Steve and Austin Burgoine secured third place. Several crews delivered standout performances despite numerous capsizes and demanding racing conditions.
In the Vintage Championships, John Sears and Robin O’Keefe demonstrated exceptional consistency to win Day Two and secure the overall title, battling closely with Ed Willett and Sarah Robinson throughout the event.
The N12 Open weekend also celebrated strong performances from home sailors, including David Harris and Daniel Sadler, Trystan Leonard and Lyla Jacobs, and Emma and Chloe Brisley.
Supported by sponsor Blood Red Clothing and a dedicated team of volunteers, race officials, safety crews, and club members, the event was widely regarded as another successful and increasingly popular fixture on the National 12 calendar.
