505 Autumn Open at Hayling Island Sailing Club

Hayling Island welcomed the Fireballs and 505 fleets for an Autumn Open this past weekend. The 505s are resurgent in the UK with a strong and growing local fleet.

With 14 entries, including several championship winners from different classes the scene was set for some close racing. Even a hardy few from Scotland and Ireland made the trip. It was lining up to be an exciting competition.

Saturday kicked off with a relatively medium forecast: 12-15knts from the South. The PRO, Greg Wells, and his team took the fleet to the western race area south of the island and got things off bang on schedule.

Race 1 kicked off with a slight starboard bias luring a few to the boat end of the line, but in the long run it didn't pay as the veterans of Hayling went for the port end and as the left-hand favoured beat proved to pay dividends, with Rob Gullan and Paul Childs leading from the left-hand side. As the race developed, National Champions Mike and Carl slipped into the lead and dominated the rest of the race, with Roger and Ian Mitchell in second, followed by Ian Pinnell and Charles Dwyer.

Start of race 2 of the 2025 505 HISC Open - photo © Peter Hickson

Race 2 started quickly afterwards, and again the left-hand track paid off with Roger and Ian leading out from the left with a cracking start. On the menu again was the windward/Leeward course, so there was plenty of high-speed downwind with full wiring reaches as the breeze gradually increased. Roger and Ian showed their talent by extending their lead, followed by Ian and Charles, with Mike and Carl. Mike and Carl slipped into second when Ian and Charles picked the left leeward gate and the race finished in that order.

Race 3 got going with a more pin-end bias on the line, which was owned by Ian and Charles. As they led out to the left, it looked golden. After tacking over, there was a knock on port, and the boats that came back from the right were now lifted. Jim Blyth and Darrel Samerdule from Largo Bay, along with Roger and Ian, powering in from the right. Rounding the top mark by the end of the beat were Mike and Carl, who led for the rest of the race, with Ian and Charles in second and Roger and Ian in third.

Rob Gullan and Paul Childs leading Hyde Sails Ben McGrane and James Ross race 1 of the 2025 505 HISC Open - photo © Peter Hickson

After the long day's racing, the sailors returned to the club for a well deserved beer (aren't they all!!), and to watch England win the Womens Rugby World Cup. Then the fleet met in the HISC members' area for a debrief of the day's racing to discuss and share knowledge across the fleet. The legendary multiple world champion Ian Mitchell led the session. It was a brilliant way to develop the sailors in the fleet, and everyone took away lessons and ways of improving technique, boat setups and teamwork improvements.

Day 2's forecast had been looking dodgy all week. It was unlikely to happen with little to no wind forecast across all models. Start time was scheduled for 11 a.m., and surprisingly, as the sailors arrived in the club for the HISC's tasty English breakfast, they were greeted with a steady southerly 8-10knt breeze from the southwest. Boats were readied and the fleet launched at 10.45. As the fleet rounded the headland past the Hayling Lifeboat Station, they faced a gloomy day, with the Isle of Wight hidden entirely behind low clouds.

Steve Culpitt and Mark Nicholson at the top mark of the 2025 505 HISC Open - photo © Peter Hickson

With a short postponement, Greg got the Race 4 going—the strong tide down the course, kept all the boats behind the line for the start. There was a 5-degree bias on the port end, and just when Ian and Charles thought they owned the pin, Harvey Hilary and Cam Mitchell who were sailing the UK Class boat "Marlow Ropes" came blasting in on port and crossed the fleet clear and in style.

As they continued to the right-hand side of the beat with wet telltales and a slight tendency not to go close hauled up the beat!!, the breeze filled from the left and the leader came in with it. Charles and Ian rounded the top mark first, Mike and Carl in second, and Rob and Paul in third. The breeze died away over the race, and they all finished in that order. It's important to note that young Cam Mitchell out "kite-trimmed" his dad, Ian Mitchell, who, in the absence of Roger Gilbert, had jumped on board with Judith Williamson for the day and passed them on the last run home to get 6th.

National Champions Mike Sims and Carl Gibbon approaching the downwind gate at the 2025 505 HISC Open - photo © Peter Hickson

As the breeze died and the drizzle arrived, the day looked over. The race committee moved to the AP and waited to see if anything developed. After 20 minutes, the fleet was sent home, and the event was drawn to a close.

As always, Hayling Island Sailing Club hosted a fantastic event with a great social.

The next event for the 505 Class is the European Championships at L'Estartit in Spain 21-25 October: www.int505.org/european-championship-spain

After that there will be the Open Winter Series at Hayling Island followed by plenty of training events and sprints over the winter in preparation for the International 505 Class World Championships hosted by Hayling Island 2-11 July 2026.

If you would like to try a 505 then please either email or via our website: 505news.co.uk/tryout

Overall Results: