Allen Brothers 29er GP event 5 at Warsash Sailing Club
by Jane Saunders 6 Mar 11:39 GMT
28 February - 1 March 2026
29er GP event 5 at Warsash © Elizabeth Foulkes
Last weekend saw an enthusiastic fleet of 42 boats assemble at Warsash Sailing Club for the fifth (and penultimate) of this winter's UK Grand Prix series, and the last racing for the fleet ahead of Easter's RYA Youth Nationals.
Considering it was February, the weather was superb on Saturday (the sun always shines in Warsash!), sunny (if chilly) with a stiff but shifty breeze, and a tidal range which varied significantly across the course, meaning there was something to challenge everyone on the racecourse, wherever in the country you'd come from!
Four sharp races were held off Lee on Solent on Saturday by PRO Stuart and his team, with all the sailors coming ashore tired but happy. Race 1 was a triumph of experience over youthful enthusiasm, with newly crowned 29er Ladies Youth World Champion Amelie swapping the trapeze harness for the stick and getting a bullet with Sam Jones. This was reversed in races 2 and 3 where the young guns Will and Will (top juniors of the weekend) took both wins. Race 4 was won by Dirk and Will, no strangers to the top of the fleet.
In the evening the sailors and parents enjoyed an Aussie BBQ to celebrate the fact that even in February, it is summer somewhere...
Sunday sadly was a different story, with "liquid sunshine" and a wind gusting over 30kts, Stuart and the 29er sailing team took the wise decision to cancel racing for the day and everyone headed home after prize-giving.
Event winners (and first mixed) were Amelie and Sam (WPNSA/ Hill Head SC) with a very consistent series taking the win, followed by Ben and Tom (Port Dinorwic SC) and then Dirk and Will (Royal Lymington YC). First juniors were Will and Will (Frensham Pond SC/ Royal Lymington YC) and first ladies were Freya and Joanna (Royal Lymington YC). The buddy prize was won by Will and Will, Merryn and Will (Warsash SC) and Ella and Sophie (Hayling Island SC).
A massive thanks to PRO Stuart Childerley and his committee boat team, and to the Wealthy family for loaning us 'Le Toad', the best equipped committee boat anyone had seen for some time (the on the water helpers now have a taste for posh coffee!), and thank you to all the safety fleet, especially Robert, Andy and Chris from the club, and Richard and Liz Foulkes who kindly gave up their weekends despite not having sailors on the water.
Thanks to the wider Warsash Sailing Club team who worked tirelessly all weekend to make us welcome, with a special shout out to Becka and Naomi in the office, and Vicky and Peter from the sailing team, who all worked tirelessly in the weeks leading up to the event and on the weekend to ensure it all ran smoothly.
Look forward to seeing you all at Royal Lymington YC on 23rd and 24th May for our final GP of the year. Thanks to series sponsor Allen Brothers.
In exciting news, the 2028 29er Worlds will be held at Hayling Island Sailing Club. For more information, results and hot to get involved in the fleet, please see our class website - www.29er.org.uk - we look forward to welcoming you!