International Moth Pop-Up Racing round 1 at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy

Aerial view of WPNSA © VisitEngland / Weymouth and Portland Borough Council / John Snelling

Eight International Moths gathered at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy over the weekend of 7-8 March for a short-format "pop-up" racing session that delivered two very different days of conditions and plenty of close racing.

The format kept things simple and intense. Racing took place on a compact two-lap course with a single windward mark and the start/finish line doubling as a leeward gate. With races lasting only six to eight minutes, the emphasis quickly shifted from outright boat speed to positioning, decision making and avoiding mistakes. With so little time to recover, any small error tended to carry through the remainder of the race.

Saturday saw a light north-easterly breeze that proved both patchy and highly shifty across the race area. Finding pressure was key, and several races were decided simply by which sailors managed to stay connected to the breeze across the course. The challenge of linking gusts and getting through the inevitable soft patches without dropping off the foils became a defining feature of the day. Manoeuvres in particular were critical; dropping a tack meant watching your rivals disappear up the course.

Sunday brought a stronger easterly, with more breeze but just as much variability. Gusts rolled down the course, creating rapid changes in pressure and angle that rewarded those who stayed aware of the wider picture. With the racecourse deliberately tight, staying within the boundaries and positioning the boat relative to nearby competitors proved more important than simply sailing the fastest possible angles.

Across both days the racing remained tight, with frequent lead changes and plenty of overlap situations around the windward mark and through the leeward gate. The short-course format amplified every decision, making starts, mark roundings and lane choice particularly decisive.

The weekend also benefited from the support of Henry and Tony Wetherell, who volunteered their time to run the racing and provide on-water coaching. Their help in managing the course and offering feedback between races made the informal event run smoothly and was much appreciated by everyone taking part.

Attention now turns to the next major gathering of the fleet at Rutland on 28-29 March. With just under 3 weeks before racing resumes, sailors have a useful window to put some training sessions, refine setups and complete the inevitable post winter boat work before the first GP of the year.

See an Instagram reel from the event