Shows, Spectating and Season Highlights
by Mark Jardine 3 Mar 20:00 GMT
2026 RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show © RYA / Paul Stead Photography
It feels like my feet didn't hit the ground at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show. The event, held on the penultimate weekend of February in Farnborough, traditionally fires the starting signal for the UK season, and was as busy as I ever remember it.
For those who have never been, or not gone for a while, then I highly recommend it. If your enthusiasm for the sport is waning, or you're looking for your next boat, then there's simply no better event to go to. The range of dinghies and small keelboats on show is staggering in its diversity, and the passion shown by those manning each of the class association stands is something to behold.
One day I'd love to visit the show as a regular punter. It would be great to have the time to get stuck into discussions and take a look at things in greater detail than I do as a journalist. I have a tight schedule to see as much as I can, including judging for the Concours d'Elegance, and so hanging around for chats sadly isn't an option.
I always feel that a weekend isn't enough time to see everything that interests me, and I don't feel that would change if it wasn't my job, but I'm also very aware that many of the stands are manned by volunteers, so asking them to give up any more of their time would be unrealistic. The formula works for the Dinghy Show, so the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' proverb definitely applies. It's always been a weekend-long show, and it should remain that way.
Talking of the Concours d'Elegance, choosing the boat of the show is definitely one of my highlights. I started the award back in 2009, and have been a judge ever since with a variety of people from the RYA and British Sailing Team joining me over the years to cast their eyes over the dinghies on display. The range of winners, from classics to carbon, is a reflection of that diversity that we have in UK dinghy sailing.
This year's winner was, without doubt, the most 'bling' dinghy that I've ever seen. Real gold and 312 diamonds - yes, diamonds - made Richard Le Mare's Hadron H2 'Midas' truly unique. The combination of wide-weave carbon, gold-anodised blocks from Allen, black and gold ropes, and the diamonds hand-set to make the H2 logo at the aft of the centreboard case was a head-turner that fellow judge, 470 sailor Hannah Bristow, and I simply couldn't ignore. Words like extravagant, opulent and over-the-top could be used, but in reality this boat was a tribute to Richard's dad - a jeweller - and what a tribute it was.
The Dinghy Show is also a great place to see new gadgets, and looking at some of the systems on boats like the new 'Amuse-Bouche' Merlin Rocket, as well as Harken's latest ILCA / Laser kicker was a lot of fun. Do take a look at our Youtube channel as we recorded a lot of shorts on things that caught our eye, as well as a tour of some of the classes celebrating significant anniversaries.
Overseas visitors to the show often can't quite believe what they see, and I'm not aware of anything quite like it elsewhere in the world. Long may it continue!
A damp Sydney SailGP
The racing was still tight, but the Sydney Sail Grand Prix was very un-Sydney-like. A rainy couple of days beforehand and then light winds made the twilight racing a lot less frenetic than we've seen in the other antipodean events so far this season.
Joel Marginson and the team at SailGP Technologies will have breathed a sigh of relief that they don't have another batch of boats to rebuild, as they've already more than got their hands full sorting the French and New Zealand team's F50s, and there's now a short break until the next event in Rio on 11th & 12th April.
I talked about the problems SailGP is facing in 'Growing Pains', and there is no doubt that SailGP will continue to look at safety measures following the crash in Auckland. It's not something they can brush under the carpet, otherwise a tragedy will only be a matter of time. The circuit continues to break new boundaries for the sport, so careful management and proactive measures are essential to continue the upward trajectory. The sponsors continue to flock in, and while they love to be associated with the thrill of it all, they will be reluctant to continue if there are fatalities. It feels crass to talk about the commercial success of SailGP when people's lives are at stake, but often it is these pressures which will mean that meaningful change is made before it's too late.
Next up: The JJs
In only a couple of days' time the JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff World Championship kicks off on Sydney Harbour - the highlight of the season for the class. The 18s aren't as crazy as they were back in the days of 'Chesty Bond' and 'Tia Maria' in the mid-eighties, but they're still a sight to behold.
The live coverage of the racing by SailMedia is superb and well worth a watch, whether you manage to see it live or on catch-up. Unlike SailGP, the courses take in every corner of the harbour, and watching the fleet navigate the various hazards, and the famous Manly ferries, makes it spectacular viewing. I'm an early-riser, and will be setting my alarm for 3am in the UK to watch the action live when I can. There are no worries with territorial restrictions (which is the reason I don't watch the SailGP coverage live) anyone with an internet connection can watch it.
On Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com we'll be embedding the livestream on the homepage each day, and will publish the daily reports from the legendary Frank Quealey, who has done so much over the years to promote the class and document its history.
Star class in Miami
In Biscayne Bay it's Bacardi Cup time, and the Star class continues to flourish outside of the Olympics. 77 of them are competing in the 99th running of the event, and the Peter Pan of sailing, Paul Cayard, won the first race.
The battle for the trophy between reigning World Champions Paul Cayard and Frithjof Kleen, six-time consecutive Bacardi Cup champion Mateusz Kusznierewicz crewed by Bruno Prada and the legendary Robert Scheidt with Austin Sperry is going to be epic.
While all of this spectating is great, both on screen and at shows, nothing beats getting out on the water yourself, and many in the UK are dusting off their wetsuits for their season openers. This Sunday will feel like a brutal awakening for me after enjoying the warm waters of Thailand a month ago, but I'm looking forward to it immensely nonetheless. It's too easy to get distracted or make excuses not to do things in this day and age, but we always feel much better when we do make the effort.
Mark Jardine
Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com Managing Editor