Mirror Southern Championship 2026 at Netley Sailing Club

Mirror Southern Championship at Netley © Anna Parker

The Mirror fleet returned to Netley, after a very successful Nations. The big home fleet helped boost the entry to 28 boats. Most were looking forward to slightly less than the 25knots every day at the Nationals!

Saturday dawned with a gentle breeze and sunshine, but anyone with a weather app knew this was a false dawn. The fleet started in around 10 knots that built throughout the day to a solid 15+ by race 3. By this point my crew/son no longer believed me that's its not always windy at Netley!

In race, James and Meris Date lead the fleet at mark one, with Ian and Ted Dobson finding a way past, which they held to the finish.

There were some massive shifts and big bands of pressure for race 2 and 3, which Nick and Seb Charles used to their advantage, working there way to the front in both. They were followed by Ian and Ted and James and Rhys Stuart in race 2.

These two boats then swapped position in race 2 to close out a great days sailing. Special mention also to Ian and Elizabeth Sharps who lead round the windward in race 3.

With most of the fleet camping or staying locally the fleet then retreated to the club of a BBQ, and then the adults propped up the bar while the kids played Manhunt, Giant Zenga and Table Football.

Mirror Southern Championship at Netley - photo © Anna Parker

Sunday started very much in the same manner as Saturday, only this time it really did not get above 8 -10 knots, at least while we were racing. The wind was however a PROs nightmare as it switched from NW to W and back again.

Race 4 was a real game of snakes and ladders. James and Merris lead for the 1st lap, but Nick and Seb, Matt and Pippa Burge and Ally and Nicole Pots sniggled their way past up the last beat.

The wind the almost completely died for the first half of race 5, resulting in a very slow beat against the tide. Tom and Sam Halhead and Joe and William Adams initial lead, but Ted and Ian and Dave and Alex Steed read the second beat best and they looked to be long gone, however some more shifts down the last run enabled Nick and Seb to snatch second on the line.

This left Ian and Ted needing to win the last race, which they comfortably lead from start to finish. Unfortunately for them, Nick and Seb managed to sneak there way up to second, which was just enough for the title.

A huge thank you to Netley for again putting on an amazing event. Next up is the Mirror Northerns in Sunderland followed by opens at Looe and Poole.

Overall Results: