Barton's Rising Star Ralph Hadley set for the year ahead
by Mark Jardine 2 Mar 16:30 GMT
Ralph Hadley is presented with his Topper Traveller Series Winner jacket by ITCA Chair Greg Croxton © Magnus Smith
Young sailor Ralph Hadley had a superb 2025 season with results in the Topper class on both the UK and International stage, so I caught up with him at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show to find out more about the events he's taken part in, his plans for 2026, and the support he receives from Barton.
When at home in Kent he sails from both Whitstable Yacht Club and Tankerton Bay Sailing Club, both located close to the Barton factory, and at the show Ralph was presented with a jacket by the Topper class for winning the London and South East Travellers' Series.
This year Ralph is already well into his training, despite the lousy start to 2026 weather-wise. Being a member of both the National Performance Squad and the Regional London and South East Performance Squad means he gets to regularly practice against the best in the country.
The big goal for 2026 is to improve on his World Championship result, where he just missed out on the podium in 2025 during a tricky event in Medemblik, the Netherlands.
"I want to get a better result than during the last Worlds, where I came fourth, but was lying in third for much of the week," said Ralph.
Sailing has more paths than ever to look to, and his ambitions are clear with a superb role-model to try and emulate, "I'd like to work my way through the ILCA rigs and maybe get into the British Sailing Team. Micky Beckett is who I look up to in my sailing, as he started in Toppers and has made his way to the top."
On the support he receives as the Barton Rising Star Ralph added, "I use the Barton kicker, mainsheet ratchet block, downhaul and outhaul, which really helps my sailing out, because their kit is durable and provides good performance."
We will be continuing to watch Ralph's results in the Topper class throughout 2026 and beyond.