505 UK Nationals at WPNSA starts next weekend
by Dougal Henshall 20 Jun 15:01 BST
26-29 June 2025
Big winds, big waves and a big fleet, truly the fine line between brilliance and insanity : The gate start on day 4 of the SAP 505 Worlds at Weymouth 2016 © Mark Jardine
There have been questions asked about the health of the dinghy scene going right back to the early 1970s, but sadly these days, with the cost of living and so many other forms of fun to be had on the water, no-one would want to argue that sailing isn't facing a challenging time.
Yet the evidence is there, writ large, of a direct relationship between effort put in and positive results in terms of engagement and participation; clear examples of this can be seen in fleets such as the Europe and the Scorpion. It's one thing wanting to steer away from the long grass at the back of the dinghy park but another thing to reverse the trend of long years of falling numbers.
But the message is clear; it can be done. The Fireballs went for something of a kickstart with their new layout that is already proving so popular, but the legendary 5o5 fleet are using the news that the World Championship will be returning to these shores as a driver to reinvigorate their fortunes.
Once again, Hayling Island, one of the near spiritual homes of the class will be welcoming boats next June from across the world to compete for what has to be one of the great titles to win, the 5o5 World Championship.
Like the 14s and their PoW Trophy, the list of names on the 5o5 silverware is an amazing record of top sailing royalty; far bigger though is the list of top helms from around the world who have set themselves the challenge of winning it but come up short. Sailors with a chest full of winners medals from the Olympics and other World Championships have given the FiveO challenge their best, only to finish a few steps off the top spot.
This talk of silverware is an important part of the latest 5o5 story, as the UK fleet has been busy tracking down the trophies that are awarded at the UK Championships: these have been located, cleaned and brought back up to spec with any missing names added in, so now there really is something to race for.
As a result, the FiveOs are aiming for something of a bumper fleet for this year's event, which is being hosted by the WPNSA. They could well be in luck, as already there has been a run of purchases that has seen a number of the available competitive boats being snapped up by top quality teams.
Nor is it just 5o5 old names coming back into the fleet (though a number of them are!) but helms from across sailing, from Fireballs, Contenders and other fleets are already putting boats together for a campaign.
Nor does it have to be one of the latest superb boats being built by Ovingtons (though these are always going to be a help).
Modern lightweight skiff sailors might mock the beefier construction of the 5o5, but boats made using foam composite construction can have a remarkable lifespan, as was seen over in the US, when what would almost qualify as a 'barn find' was pulled out, re-rigged and went on to win the coveted top prize. The FiveO is a boat that rewards talent, this particular boat had plenty of it on board, highlighting again it is what you do as much as the boat that you do it in that counts.
Certainly, talent is one thing that for over 70 years now the FiveO has never lacked, and even 'just' a UK Nationals will be rich in previous champions, at National, European and World level. The UK event will also attract some of the very best talent from overseas, for the 5o5 is one of the classes that put the I into international; the first IYRU class to host a worlds in Australia, Africa and South America.
Although an Australian boat took the title on their home waters back in January, the UK Nationals (and the Worlds in 2026) will be another matter, for as we look ahead to next year, there will be a full house of top US boats, (who all benefit from regular training sessions on a Tuesday afternoon out on the West Coast, no matter how windy it may be), the always quick Australians, but the dark horses may be the Germans, who have added a great deal of structure to their part of the class, aimed at bringing in exciting new, young talent... and all this before we consider our own home grown stars.
Now it is the turn of the UK Class Association to be doing everything right: they have the boat, the event, the people and now a surge of new interest which is putting the 5o5 right back to it's rightful position as one of the pinnacles of dinghy sailing that anyone can aspire to - and it all starts in Weymouth, Thursday 26th June for four days, though there's a welcome reduced entry 'deal' for those who can only make days 3 and 4 at the weekend.
Weymouth is always wonderful: why not be there next weekend?