WASZP Start of Seasons 2026 at Datchet Water Sailing Club
by Nici Hoyle 13 Apr 19:36 BST
11-12 April 2026
Racing during the WASZP Start of Seasons 2026 at Datchet Water © David Dyson
Datchet Water Sailing Club threw open the 2026 WASZP UK season in emphatic fashion this weekend, hosting the Start of Seasons event.
With 30 sailors on the start line and gusty, shifty winds averaging 12-24 knots, it was far from a gentle warm-up; it was a baptism of fire.
The race committee read conditions brilliantly and sent the fleet out for five windward-leeward races on Saturday and five more on Sunday.
Saturday saw an intense battle at the front of the fleet. James Crossley took the win in Races 1, 3 and 4 to stamp his authority on the series early. Toby Smith remained consistent and controlled picking up a win of his own in Race 2. Samson Cross was a man breathing down their necks taking second place in Races 1 and 4.
Great pace was also shown by Alex Jones in the 7.5m rig, who bagged a podium position in Race 3 and went on to claim the 7.5m overall win. Thomas Dempsey also impressed, claiming a third in Race 2. Race 5 brought with it a squall, with gusts up to 34 knots ramping up the challenge. Samson Cross grabbed the win in Race 5 to round out an impressive Saturday at the sharp end.
Sunday's conditions eased only fractionally, with the pressure remaining relentless across all five races. Crossley continued to deliver, finishing in the top three in four out of the five races. Toby Smith claimed two bullets and remained locked in the fight for overall honours right to the finish.
When the scores were totalled, James Crossley took a well-deserved overall victory on 14 points, his speed and composure across both days earning him the win. Toby Smith was a close second overall on 16 points, delivering a brilliant performance across the full series that earned him the top Junior (U18). Smith also set a new WASZP speed record of 31.0 knots! Samson Cross added a race win in Race 8 to round out an excellent weekend and take third on 27 points.
James Deaton had a quietly impressive weekend to finish in fourth, and Max Rawlinson surged on Sunday with a win and two second-place finishes to secure fifth overall.
In the women's competition, Helena Mills Bowers put in an accomplished performance across the ten races, navigating the tricky conditions with determination. A fourth place finish in Race 9 was her standout result and she claimed top of the women's standings. Imogen Green, finished as Women's runner-up, and Stella Nygard rounded out the women's podium in third.
Daniel Goodman's consistent racing throughout earned him the SuperMaster (50+) win, while Peter Hoyle claimed first Master (30+), both delivering the kind of measured, experienced sailing that kept them in contention across the full series.
If this weekend set the tone for 2026, the WASZP UK fleet is in for a spectacular season. The depth of the fleet is striking, from seasoned campaigners in Main Fleet to our newer WASZP sailors in Green Fleet. Freddie Jones and Jim Bowes battled through genuinely challenging conditions on Saturday under Green Fleet coach Ross Harvey, gaining invaluable experience before joining Main Fleet and posting their first race results on Sunday.
The season is under way and it could not have started with a bigger bang. Next event is on 9-10 May at Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Isle of Wight.
Overall Results:
1st — James Crossley
2nd — Toby Smith
3rd — Samson Cross
Women
1st — Helena Mills Bowers
2nd — Imogen Green
3rd — Stella Nygard
Super Masters (50+): 1st - Daniel Goodman
Master (30+): 1st - Peter Hoyle
Core (21-29): 1st - James Crossley
Junior (U18): 1st - Toby Smith
Youth (U21): 1st - Henry Keegan
U16: 1st - Oscar Hoyle