Whitstable Town Regatta 2026

by Steve Gray 5 May 16:08 BST 2-4 May 2026

WYC were delighted to host the 232rd Whitstable Town regatta over the Early May Bank Holiday weekend with a total of 53 boats taking part including visitors from as far as Bristol and Shoreham. Two races were held each day of the three day weekend with light to medium breezes and largely sunny skies.

Saturday proved the windiest day, and both races were closely contested over triangle courses with general recalls and subsequent black flag starts. Phil Emery and Julie Nuttall in a Merlin Rocket took both races followed by Robert Govier and David Figgis's Tornado and Rick and Sarah Perkins in a Tasar in race one. Rick and Sarah finished 2nd in race 2 followed by Ben McVeigh in a Laser radial with the Tornado 4th.

Joe Barton's Topper during the 232nd Whitstable Town Regatta - photo © Steve Gray

Sunday was sunny with a light easterly breeze and RO Jon Silk set a windward/leeward course. After another general recall race three was a win for the ILCA4 of Ralph Hadley followed by Niall Martin's Laser then Rick and Sarah with Ben picking up 4th. Race 4 saw the Topper of Joe Barton finishing amongst much faster boats to take the win followed by slippery Nick Stephens in a Laser who came through on the run with the consistent Ben in 3rd.

Monday started overcast and colder but once the cloud burnt off a light NE sea breeze filtered across the trapezoidal course. Rick and Sarah dominated in the lighter conditions to take two wins with Joe 2nd in race 5 followed by the Tasars of Steve and Mei Baker and Zaanna Gooch and Liz North in 3rd and 4th. Nick Stephens took 2nd in the final race with Harry Morrison also in a Laser 3rd.

Rick and Sarah Perkins pursued by Phil Emery and Julie Nuttall during the 232nd Whitstable Town Regatta - photo © Steve Gray

The great conditions encouraged 54 boats to take part, the biggest turnout for the Town Regatta in over 10 years.

Congratulations to Rick and Sarah Perkins in their Tasar who took the regatta with a display of consistent sailing in tricky conditions. Joe Barton was 2nd in his Topper with strong finishes in the last 3 races whilst Nick Stephens in a Laser took 3rd with Ben McVeigh's Laser radial 4th.

232nd Whitstable Town Regatta - photo © EyeSkyUK

Thanks must go to the volunteer safety boat teams who patiently moved the marks at the request of the race team that was ably led by Charles Campion on Saturday, Jon Silk on Sunday and Dickie Ledger on Monday - it wouldn't happen without you!

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Boat Type	PY	Helm	Crew	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Pts
1	2629	TASAR	1022	Rick Perkins	Sarah Perkins	‑3	2	3	‑5	1	1	7
2	36348 5.3	TOPPER	1369	Joe Barton		6.5	(DSQ)	‑22	1	2	4	13.5
3	204548	LASER	1103	Nick Stephens		‑9	7	‑15.5	2	6	2	17
4	194859	LASER RADI	1156	Ben McVeigh		‑11	3	4	3	‑15	10.5	20.5
5	213962	LASER	1103	Mark Holweger		6.5	‑8	5	6	‑7	7	24.5
6	227957	ILCA 4	1218	Ralph Hadley		(DNC)	(DNC)	1	11	9	5	26
7	145902	LASER	1103	Harry Morrison		‑13	9	6	9	‑10.5	3	27
8	3816	MERLIN‑ROC	980	Phil Emery	Julie Nuttall	1	1	21	15	(DNC)	(DNC)	38
9	212200	LASER	1103	Charles Campion		RDG	RDG	9	10	(DNC)	(DNC)	38
10	2643	TASAR	1022	Stephen Baker	Mei Baker	19	10	(DNC)	(DNC)	3	8	40
11	3736	MERLIN‑ROC	980	Jon Bloice	Philippa Bloice	4	‑20	12	19	5	(DSQ)	40
12	2633	TASAR	1022	Zanna Gooch	Liz North	‑27	13	15.5	‑20	4	12	44.5
13	216730	LASER	1103	Paul Kelly		(DNC)	(DNC)	11	8	13	14	46
14	188353	LASER	1103	Matt Crockatt		‑22	11	10	16	‑17	9	46
15	93	LASER RADI	1156	Jack Taylor		‑17	14	8	‑21	16	10.5	48.5
16	402	TORNADO	639	Robert Govier	David Figgis	2	4	‑36	‑34	25	26	57
17	2909	TASAR	1022	Matt Low	Susannah Baron	‑20	12	19	‑22	18	13	62
18	208514	LASER RADI	1156	Georgios Rafeletos		‑29	‑22	13	18	22	15	68
19	5775	RS FEVA XL	1248	Max Morrison		‑28	16	‑32	26	10.5	18.5	71
20	5471	SOLO	1139	Huw Reynolds		25	15	14	25	(DNC)	(DNC)	79
21	47099 5.3	TOPPER	1369	Louise Harnett		(DNC)	(DNC)	25.5	24	12	21	82.5
22	5802	SOLO	1139	Stephen Nation		18	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	8	6	85
23	7429	Dart 18	795	Richard Ledger	Abby Zambinski	21	21	‑35	‑36	RDG	RDG	98.4
24	198535	LASER	1103	Peter Gowing		15	(RET)	17.5	14	(DNC)	DNC	99.5
25	306	FLYING DUT	879	Andrew Provan	Robert Govier & Georgios Rafeletos	‑35	27	28	‑30	23	22	100
26	146661	LASER	1103	David Thornelow		‑33	25	25.5	‑29	28	23	101.5
27	49362	TOPPER	1369	Brooke Browning		10	(DSQ)	29	12	(DNC)	DNC	104
28	7735	Dart 18	795	Tony Dod	James Dod	30	24	‑34	‑35	26	25	105
29	362	TOPPER	1369	William Grafham		(DNC)	(DNC)	31	31	24	24	110
30	123897	LASER RADI	1156	Adam Freeman		(DNC)	(DNC)	33	32	27	18.5	110.5
31	35223	TOPPER 5.3	1369	Dexter Middleton		(DNC)	(DNC)	DNF	17	21	20	111
32	196558	LASER	1103	Niall Martin		(DNC)	(DNC)	2	4	DNC	DNC	112
33	74	MUSTO SKIF	830	Alastair Gould		31	23	‑37	‑37	31	28	113
34	47765	TOPPER	1369	James Martin		16	18	27	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	114
35	49358	TOPPER	1369	Ralph Hadley		8	5	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	119
36	6070	TOPAZ UNO	1251	Anthony Middleton		(DNC)	(DNC)	DNF	33	19	16	121
37	7844	Dart 18	795	Andy Hockey		36	28	‑38	‑38	29	29	122
38	218000	LASER	1103	Simon Hadley		12	6	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	124
39	174917	LASER	1103	Andy Jackson		(DNC)	(DNC)	7	13	DNC	DNC	126
40	217757	LASER	1103	David Sansom		23	(RET)	30	28	(DNC)	DNC	134
41	49422	TOPPER	1369	Harry Durrant		(DNC)	(DNC)	24	7	DNC	DNC	137
42	58041	LASER	1103	Andy King		(DNC)	(DNC)	23	DNC	14	DNC	143
43	152668	LASER	1103	Ian Dorsett		(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	20	17	143
44	174574	LASER RADI	1156	John Phelan		(DNC)	(DNC)	17.5	23	DNC	DNC	146.5
45	154760	LASER RADI	1156	Ruth Oliver		24	17	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	147
46	184334	LASER	1103	Kelvin Tolson		(DNC)	(DNC)	20	27	DNC	DNC	153
47	4 (47099) 4.2	TOPPER 4.2	1450	Louise Harnett		26	26	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	158
48	638	TASAR	1022	Ali Nicolson	Jo Phillips	34	19	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	159
49	6718	DART 18	795	Peter King		(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	30	27	163
50	48150	TOPPER	1369	Alfie Tollit		5	(DSQ)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	164
51	15725	TOPPER	1369	Isaac Chapman		14	(DSQ)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	173
52	818	RS 200	1053	Simon Stanbridge		32	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	191