2026 Mirror Class Events and discover the class at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show
by Nick Charles 11 Feb 10:20 GMT
Mirror UK National Championship 2025 at Netley Sailing Club © Tim Bees
With the class going from strength to strength, and whilst second-hand boats were being snapped up instantly, the winter has seen the highest number of new boats being built for many years which has in turn helped to put more quality second-hand boats back into the market.
To support this increase in demand, and as the class builds toward the 2027 World Championship in the UK (Poole), we have an expanded calendar for 2026, that includes a circuit for the 1st time in many years. We also have club fleets growing around the country, with Plymouth and Poole joining the traditional hotbeds of Mirror sailing, such as Netley, Itchenor, Bassenthwaite, Derwent Reservoir, Restronguet and Brightlingsea.
The major events are:
The circuit will consist of 8 events with 4 event results to count, with the Nationals counting for double points. The Mirror team (Helm/Crew) with the best result to count over the 4 events will be crowned series winner. To encourage younger crews to start helming, the team may swap round for different events and still qualify.
The qualifying events are the following Championships: Spring, Westerns, Southerns, Northerns, Nationals, Welsh, Easterns and Inlands. To add extra incentive (if any is needed) Hyde Sails have kindly agreed to provide spot prizes and the chance to win a spinnaker if you enter one or more events - the more you enter the higher your chances of winning.
In addition regional open meetings are being added to the calendar including:
- Poole YC (Venue for the 2027 World Championship)
- Looe SC (A world class family venue in its own right)
- Hollingworth Lake SC
- Hunts SC (including a training day)
The Nationals are being held at Derwent Reservoir SC in July. With children as young as 4 now taking part, this is an ideal location with easy launching, on-site camping, socials and a big local fleet. This year is especially poignant, as the class celebrates and remembers Jackie Gebhard, who sadly passed away last year. She was a key member of the Trident team that have supported and championed the Mirror for many years, Nationally, Internationally and locally at Derwent Reservoir, where the Gebhard's have been active members for 40 years. If, like me, you grew up sailing Mirrors against many members of the Gebhard family, please join us for the Nationals, even if just for the socials, to help celebrate her life.
In addition to the Nationals the other big event of the year is Abersoch Mirror Week, with both events attracting 50 boats for the last few years. If you have not been to Mirror Week before, it's a bucket list event - a great family venue, a short sail to the racecourse, crew swapping (if wanted) and socials to match. It's a truly family friendly sailing event / holiday.
Additionally, this year we will be looking to encourage "cruising" Mirrors to attend events where the club offers "day sailing", meaning that Mirror sailors who prefer to cruise rather than race can enjoy the atmosphere and spectacle of many red sails on the water.
The class is also back at the Dinghy Show with a brand-new Winder and a beautiful wooden boat. If you are interested in knowing more, come and find us on the Winder stand as we help celebrate 50 years of Winder boats on stand D30. If you currently sail a Mirror, come along at 14:00 on Saturday, when Ben McGrane from Hyde sails (multiple times National Champion), will be giving a tuning talk, followed by Q&A at 14:30.