Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA - Day 3

If Friday was fantastic, then Saturday was stunning, as Portland Harbour put the calms of Thursday into distant memory with a cracking 12 knot breeze, gusting up to 14 in the afternoon.

Four more races were held on a similar axis to Friday as the South Easterlies persisted with four different winners.

With a start time brought forward by 30 minutes, Dan Ward was fast out of the blocks in race 5, pipping Alex Adams to take the win, with Kyle Stoneham third. Paul Gliddon took the win in race 6, Alex Hughes won race 7 and overall leader Henry Wetherell won the final race after a mixed day on the water.

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 3 - Race 5 start - photo © Mark Jardine

Racing was far tighter today, with any of the top ten capable of winning races and it's noticeable that many have now implemented some of the latest rigging changes, as well as learning new techniques which make the Moth fly. The crosses were tight and the action intense.

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 3 - GBR 5059 upwind during Race 7 - photo © Mark Jardine

Alex Hughes is competing at his first Moth UK Nationals, putting in an impressive performance to lie third overall, as well as winning race 7.

"I didn't realise I was on on the podium. I had a bit of bit of a shocker in the first race today, so I think I've used up both my discards, but at least I know what I've got on the board. I've just got to be consistent tomorrow and and hopefully see it through.", Alex said.

Alex has only been sailing a Moth for a year, but after chatting with fellow Portland locals Henry Wetherell and Kyle Stoneham, I found he's been training hard to learn the ropes, "I got the boat about this time last year, but I've only really properly been sailing it a lot this since the new year. I'm really enjoying it, and it's great training group."

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 3 - GBR 4999 and GBR 5059 at the Race 6 windward gate - photo © Mark Jardine

Alex is proving that it is possible to join the Moth fleet and, with a fair bit of time on the water, getting to the top fast, but he points out that whatever standard you are, or whichever design of boat you sail, there's competition:

"I think you've got to be quite clear with yourself as to what you want out of going sailing. I was quite clear that I wanted to understand the development process and test kit, and as I'm quite into that, that's what I wanted to get out of it. There are niches of racing all across the class: the home build guys, the Mach 2 sailors, the Exploder guys. All the way across the course on every level, you've got to pick what you want to get out of it."

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 3 - Race 7 start - photo © Mark Jardine

Alex has come through 470s, 49ers, and the AC40 in the Youth America's Cup, and found the Moth to be his natural next step:

I turned up here and it took me two weeks basically to work out how to rig and launch it without damaging anything, which I get is a bit of a hurdle for people. But there's helpful guys around everywhere and it's just a really good fun class to be a part of.

Another sailor who is balancing up campaigns is Hattie Rogers, who has noticed how the quality of the fleet has improved, "It's cool to see some new faces in the fleet. I think also coming off the Europeans and Foiling Week, everyone's pretty hot and race ready. There's a lot of depth, so it's awesome."

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 3 - GBR 5168 finishing Race 7 - photo © Mark Jardine

On the conditions Hattie added, "I didn't think we could get much better than yesterday, but today we had a click more breeze and another four races, so eight races from two days. The race team are doing an amazing job getting the races in."

As we know, the Moth class never stands still, so I asked Hattie about what she's added lately, apart from the steel foils:

"In the last two years I've done the New Zealand worlds, and I did Garda last year, and then this year hopefully I'll get to Perth, and there's a a lot that's changed. I've added an outhaul last year, that was probably my biggest mod, and I've actually changed the prodder system on my boat completely, so it's running with a lot less friction, which is good. You're constantly in development mode and trying to find the 1% gains here and there."

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 3 - GBR 5250 at the Race 5 leeward gate - photo © Mark Jardine

It may seem counter-intuitive, but sailors are now beginning to use heavier prodders (which is the unit incorportating the side stays and forestay arm half way up the mast). With the windward heel that Moths sail with, the prodder ends up giving extra righting moment, while also now being adjustable on the forestay, giving another method of mast bend control other than the cunningham and kicker.

Hattie hasn't yet fitted a heavy prodder, but it's on the list, "It's definitely a big gain, and I should have put one on for nationals, but I ran out of time. I've got some nice new little systems here and there but, with me being lighter, I think I need all the righting moment I can get, so that obviously helps. Having the weight up there, the boat turtles a bit easier, so I guess there's pros and cons, but as long as you keep the rig in the sky, it's alright."

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 3 - IRL 4848 at the Race 5 leeward gate - photo © Mark Jardine

Ronan Wallace is a regular visitor from Ireland for the UK Nationals and is impressed with the fleet: "I think the British fleet is in rude health. Everyone seems to be have stepped up since the last year when I was racing at this event."

Ronan has had a remarkably consistent scorecard, with all his counting results all between 7th and 9th. He's pacing the front runners upwind but struggling a touch off the wind.

"I'm trying to figure that out.", he said. "I think I'm missing something downwind. I don't know what I haven't figured out yet. Today I was really trying to deepen my sail as much as I could and it seemed to make a bit of a difference. Hopefully I can figure it out and break into the top six. That would be really nice and that's my goal for tomorrow."

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 3 - IRL 4848 and GBR 4992 downwind during Race 8 - photo © Mark Jardine

The wind is set to build again on Sunday, starting off from the North East and swinging to the East. It should be a classic conclusion to what is being a superb event.

The International Moth UK National Championship 2026 is grateful for the support of Wetsuit Outlet, Optimum Time, Noble Marine Insurance, Shock Sailing, Allen, the Dorset Sea Salt Co. and South Coast Embroidery as well as the dedicated and friendly team of staff and volunteers at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy for making this event possible.

Results after Day 3: