Folkboat National Championship 2026 at Royal Lymington Yacht Club

On-board footage from the Nordic Folkboat National Championship at Lymington © FBA

The 2026 Nordic Folkboat National Championship delivered a superb weekend of close one-design racing in Christchurch Bay, with five races completed over two days under typically changeable early-summer conditions.

Hosted by the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, the event drew a strong fleet of 19 boats from across the Solent clubs with a mix of experienced Folkboat racers and many new competitors who have joined our increasingly competitive fleet over the past few years.

Racing began on Saturday 13 June in light to moderate south-westerly winds, with sunshine and slightly choppy water early in the day. As the breeze filled in towards the middle of the afternoon, subtle shifts and increasingly upset sea state across Christchurch Bay made for more testing conditions.

At the front of the fleet, IF ONLY (GBR 673), sailed by Ray Mitchell and crew (RLymYC), was unstoppable on the Saturday, winning all 3 races on the Saturday.

Behind, the battle for the podium was already taking shape. GYBE 'N' helmed by Cy Grisley (Keyhaven YC), CRACKERJACK helmed by Stuart Watson (RLymYC), VALHALLA helmed by Kim Morley (Royal Airforce YC) and CIDRON TOO helmed by James Walters (Royal Southern YC) traded places throughout the day in a tight battle for the podium places.

On-board footage from the Nordic Folkboat National Championship at Lymington - photo © FBA

Sunday 14 June brought a slightly cooler and more unsettled westerly airflow, with less pressure on the water and greater variability across the course. Conditions placed a premium on clean starts and conservative decision-making, particularly as tired crews faced a demanding fourth and fifth race to conclude the championship.

Once again, IF ONLY proved untouchable at the front, securing 2 more race wins to complete a remarkable run of 5 victories from 5 starts, taking the crown from Gybe N, the winner for the past 3 years.

Behind, the podium battle remained close. GYBE 'N' posted a steady series, discarding a fifth place and finishing second overall, while CRACKERJACK matched that nett score, but was edged into third on countback after a deeper discard followed by VALHALLA and CIDRON TOO.

Further down the fleet, BELLATRIX, MISTRAL and EALA BHEAG all delivered flashes of strong form, but there was some great racing throughout the fleet.

With five cleanly run races, some great courses set by the race team from Royal Lymington YC and some varied conditions, the 2026 Nordic Folkboat Nationals proved a fitting test of our competitive one design class. Christchurch Bay once again showed its ability to reward good seamanship and tactical discipline, and the Royal Lymington Yacht Club delivered an efficiently run championship enjoyed by competitors across the fleet.

The Nationals is the first of the UK Folkboat Associations Four Summer Regatta Series, next up the Taittinger Regatta at the Royal Solent, and then onto Cowes Week and the Battle of Britain Regatta.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Folkboat nationals then enter your Gear Guide information