The Spitfire class rebuilds momentum
by Ben Harris 6 Jun 11:17 BST
Spitfire sailing © British Spitfire Class Association
It's been a quiet few years for the Spitfire class. Following its deselection as the RYA Youth Multihull pathway class in 2017, and the disruption of Covid soon after, the class hasn't run a formal race circuit for some time... but the boats haven't disappeared, and neither has the community. In fact, the Spitfire is quietly building momentum again!
One of the strongest signs of this revival is the dedicated singlehanded fleet racing regularly at Grafham Water SC, where sailors have continued to show how versatile and rewarding the Spitfire can be - whether raced solo, with two adults, for parent/child combinations or for youth teams! The platform remains fast, responsive, and manageable, making it an ideal boat for anyone looking to sail high-performance multihulls without the costs associated with more modern designs.
Spitfires have also stayed active at major UK catamaran handicap events, most notably the East Coast Piers Race, where combinations of Olly, Ben & Ella Harris have earned line honours and overall victories in recent years. This season, Grant and Ella Piggott have upgraded their Dart 18 for a Spitfire, winning last month's Stokes Bay Cat Open and once again proving the class's potential on the racecourse.
With second-hand boats available at excellent value and boats still performing competitively, we believe the Spitfire offers arguably the best bang-for-buck multihull experience in the UK - whether you're an open meeting racer, a club sailor, or just looking for some fast fun!
2025 Calendar:
- Weston Catamaran Open - 28th - 29th June
- Grafham Spitfire & A-Class Open - 12th - 13th July
- East Coast Piers Race - 13th - 14th September
- Grafham Catamaran Open - 18th - 19th October
As we head into the summer, we're hoping to see more Spitfires back on the water racing at the above handicap events, building momentum towards a more formalised circuit in 2026!
If you're currently sailing a Spitfire - or thinking about it - drop a message to the British Spitfire Class Association Facebook page and we can add you to our growing WhatsApp group to stay in touch with other active sailors!