Optimist Red Ribbon Regatta 2026 at Hayling Island Sailing Club

Hayling Island Sailing Club (HISC) has long-established a proud tradition of developing youth sailing talent. At the heart of this success is the Red Ribbon Training Programme — a four-day course delivered between April and June designed to gently introduce young sailors to the thrilling world of dinghy racing.

Led by expert Optimist Race Coach Melvyn Cooper, the programme prioritises building children's self-confidence and sailing ability, offering a positive, encouraging route into competitive sailing.

As a key part of the HISC Youth Pathway, the course concludes with the eagerly awaited Red Ribbon Regatta — an event that not only celebrates the progress made but also inspires participants to continue into future competitions like Youth Race Week.

Gusty conditions under bright blue skies - Red Ribbon Regatta at Hayling Island - photo © Melvyn Cooper

Racing and Learning

With blue skies overhead, this year's Red Ribbon Regatta (Sunday 28 June 2026) began with a warm welcome from event organiser Melvyn Cooper. The young sailors were given a briefing covering key racing skills, including starting procedures and flags and essential race rules.

A mid-morning high-water tide on West Mud awaited the sailors to greet them for a six-race series. Race Officer Amanda Simpson and the AROs delivered smooth, uninterrupted racing throughout the morning, while the Red Ribbon safety team broadened their on-water role to support and encourage the less experienced sailors.

Optimist sailor Charlotte O'Keeffe delivered a consistent performance, securing first place overall with a series of four first-place finishes. Making confident starts on each occasion saw her pointing high with speed, consistently making good decisions up the first beat to hit the lay line to round the windward mark.

Amina Melhem finished two points behind sailing an impressive series to finish second overall. Eleanor Merron third and William O'Keeffe fourth both producing an excellent race series.

Gybe mark action - Red Ribbon Regatta at Hayling Island - photo © Melvyn Cooper

A Day to Remember

A resounding success, the regatta was blessed with ideal sailing conditions and clear blue skies. For many participants, this was their first experience in official organised racing, and their display of boat handling skills exceeded all expectations.

Optimist Parent Carina Rickards said "Such a great day! Melvyn, you and your team gave them all confidence and taught them some great sailing skills over the last couple of months which will really help them going forward."

Tariq Melhem said "Thank you Melvyn for a great day on the water, and also for pulling together a successful Red Ribbon Training programme for the kids. It's been great to watch the sailors progress from their first lesson with you"

John O'Keeffe another Optimist Parent shared "A massive thank you to Melvyn and all the coaches who have helped make Red Ribbon such a success. Charlotte and William have absolutely loved it. They've learnt so much, gained loads of confidence, and made some wonderful friends."

Not just about learning to race, the Red Ribbon Training Programme is about building confidence, forging friendships, and fostering a lifelong love for sailing.

"We look forward to welcoming more young sailors to future sessions and watching them thrive on the water,"

Melvyn Cooper added. "Red Ribbon has produced fabulous memories of sailing achievements, race successes, and new friendships. It's about having fun and keeping our young sailors wanting more at HISC. I think we succeeded with the brief."

Overall winner, Charlotte O'Keeffe - Red Ribbon Regatta at Hayling Island - photo © Melvyn Cooper

Overall Results: