Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA - Overall

Sunday gave the sailors and spectators a scintillating conclusion to the Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Championship.

The fleet woke up to a 21 knot North Easterly, with gusts up to 25 knots, with an extraordinary warmth to the breeze as it rolled in from the land.

The Portland Harbour breakwater kept the sea flat, the water was sparkling, and the speed the sailors were reaching both upwind and down were breathtaking. This was the kind of day that Moth sailors yearn for, and put the calms of Thursday firmly in the rear view mirror.

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 4 - GBR 5250 Kyle Stoneham and GBR 4999 Henry Wetherell at the Race 11 windward gate - photo © Mark Jardine

At the top of the leaderboard things were finely poised, with Henry Wetherell just a single point ahead of Kyle Stoneham. They may be friends and training partners, but their rivalry is intense and they pushed each other to the absolute limit.

Stoneham had a steely look in his eye in the dinghy park, and blasted out of the blocks like a missile, winning the first two races of the day to take the overall lead, but damage to his outhaul system in the second race meant he had to fix its position for the third and fourth races. Just a couple of years ago nearly all Moth sailors had fixed outhauls, but it has become a critical control to put more depth in the sails downwind, unlocking even more speed.

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 4 - GBR 5250 Kyle Stoneham wins Race 9 - photo © Mark Jardine

Wetherell capitalised to win the final two races, re-taking the top spot and retaining the trophy by a single point.

Wetherell was buzzing after the epic conclusion to the event, "It was actually amazing. We don't have these temperatures very often, but we have the wind, so to have both at the same time was incredible. We had some great races and it was really tight - you couldn't really ask for more. It was probably the best event I've ever done."

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 4 - GBR 4999 Henry Wetherell finishes 2nd in Race 9 - photo © Mark Jardine

Rivalries like this are what pushes the class forwards and will no doubt help the Brits compete for titles on the world stage. Henry, Kyle and others are out on Portland Harbour training as often as they can. It's something that Henry relishes:

"It was great racing with Kyle today. He was super quick and racing really well. He did a good double gybe in front of me at one of the bottom marks, and I was like, 'ah, it's race over'. It's proper racing, and it's not just Kyle as well; Alex Hughes is up there, Alex Adams had a great day the other day, and both Paul Gliddon and Dan Ward won a race. There's a lot of different race winners, and Hattie's in there all the time too. The numbers aren't huge, but the racing's great, and I think it's only going to get better from here."

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 4 - GBR 4637 Paul Gliddon leads a group into the Race 12 leeward gate - photo © Mark Jardine

Kyle echoed Henry's comments about the intensity of the racing and how the rivalry is pushing them both forwards:

"It's what we do it for. It's why we're so obsessed with Moths all the time, and we don't get to do this often on a proper race course with points being scored. When we set to, neither of us will give up a centimetre to the other. So you just push yourself so hard because you know that the other person is going to be doing exactly the same."

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 4 - GBR 5059 Alex Hughes and GBR 4637 Paul Gliddon approach the Race 11 windward gate - photo © Mark Jardine

Many sailors who visit the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy don't get to see what else Portland has to offer. With Kyle celebrating a significant birthday on Saturday, he organised a social at Quiddles, a beautifully-situated cafe bar looking over the sea and all the way along Chesil Beach. The majority of the fleet came along and enjoyed the sunset, with it feeling very much like the Mediterranean and Kyle was pleased to be able to show off what makes the venue so special:

"Portland is a very dynamic place. Obviously, we launch somewhere that's fundamentally concrete, because it's the best way to access the harbour. Which, once you're out there, is fantastic. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't venture outside of the Academy, but there are some beautiful places. We've got the Southwest Coastal Path, we've got quarries, great restaurants, Chesil Beach. There's so much to do on Portland within about half a mile or so from the boat park, and we really wanted to show people that, so that others are more enthused about spending a week here."

Quiddles social evening during the Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Mark Jardine

During the Quiddles social I found out one of my photos helped Alex Hughes identify a problem with his Moth. He'd noticed that his wand was making a strange noise, but hadn't thought that much of it, until he zoomed in on a shot and saw that it was delaminating. A bit of epoxy work later and he was all set to compete on Sunday, finishing third overall in his debut Moth Nationals.

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

Hattie Rogers retained the women's title and is pushing the best in the class all the way: "The sailing in the Moth class has been, and always will be, wicked. Sunday was another prime example of a classic, brilliant Weymouth sailing day, as it has been for the last three days. It was a pretty epic regatta, nice to catch up with everyone, and to get around a racetrack where people are pretty hot."

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 4 - GBR 5168 Hattie Rogers finishes Race 12 - photo © Mark Jardine

There are battles throughout the fleet, with sailors of all ages taking part. Many perceive that Moth sailing, and foiling boats in general, are for the younger generation, but there are many 'elder statesmen' competing, and both Adam Golding and Philip Rees are proving that age is no barrier.

"I absolutely loved it. The sun shining, plenty of wind, and just screaming around. It was great fun," said Adam. "I think everybody's got faster. You try and improve, but everybody else is getting better and faster. So you're just playing catch-up all the time. I just love the challenge of it and I'm always learning."

Adam Golding on Day 1 of the Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals - photo © Mark Jardine / IMCAUK

When asked about what people should do if they've been sitting on the fence, wondering if they can sail a Moth, Adam added, "Go and get yourself an Exocet for five grand and join in the fun, because it's really cheap and you can have a great time!"

Philip Rees bought his Moth as a retirement present to himself and was similarly enthused about the racing, "It was absolutely fantastic. I just loved it today. Brilliant."

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 4 - GBR 4817 Philip Rees at the Race 11 windward gate - photo © Mark Jardine

Philip had an enforced day off on Saturday: "I broke one of the push rods that control the flap, and I couldn't get any spares, so I missed a whole day's racing, but Sunday's fresh conditions made up for it. The racing now in the middle of the fleet - and even at the back of the fleet, because I drop there sometimes - is great. The boats are very close, we're close tacking, close gybing and it's all fantastic."

On whether others his age should join the fleet Philip added, "I'm 65. Just do it. It's brilliant."

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 2 - GBR 3169 downwind during Race 1 - photo © Mark Jardine

James Norris is sailing the famous upside-down Bladerider conversion which Brad Gibson completed back in 2021 and is having a great time learning the secrets of the Moth, while also recovering from a challenging time physically.

"It was great and I'm really pleased that we went out," said James. "I was nervous beforehand because the forecast was up, but the motivation was everyone putting their sails up, and it was epic. First-class sailing conditions! The speeds were great. 18 knots upwind was really good for me, and a lot of capsizes in the first race, but then my nerves settled down and I was blasting, having a really good time."

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 2 - GBR 3169 upwind during Race 4 - photo © Mark Jardine

James has a stoma bag and is proving that, with a bit of management of his fluid and salt intake, it's no barrier to Moth sailing:

"In the last nine months I've had two major bowel surgeries, and had my abs cut in half - the big muscles we need for hiking - and the Moth sailing's been a big motivation to get recovered, working on exercises and core strength. In the heat managing my hydration and keeping the salt in my body is another thing, and I'm well strapped up when I'm sailing, but you can do so much now, and nothing needs to stop you getting on the water and having fun. When you've been through really hard times and life's been really sad, it's good to have the great days on the water. It just brings so much joy.

"When you've gone through the hard times of recovering, and spending time in hospital, any day is a good day, and Sunday was a great day."

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 4 - GBR 4837 Doug Pybus at the Race 11 windward gate - photo © Mark Jardine

James, like Adam and Philip, was unequivocal about entering the foiling world: "Yeah, I'd say just do it. It's so much fun. We've got the demo boat in the fleet if you want to give it a go. Sailing is completely different on hydrofoils. It's fast, it's wild, it's challenging, and it's really rewarding once you've got that first flight under your belt, and then you're like, wow!"

Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Nationals at the WPNSA Day 4 - GBR 4522 Josie Gliddon approaches the Race 10 leeward gate - photo © Mark Jardine

This has been an exceptional event for the class, for the WPNSA, and most of all for the sailors. Going into the Nationals there were murmurings about the lower turnout being a bad sign for the class, but everyone is going away buzzing, re-energised, and ready to get their friends involved.

The ILCA and 29er squad sailors at the Academy had been watching the videos, reading the reports and seeing the photos, so were naturally asking questions about how to get involved and give it a go. Some of the new innovations fascinated them, and it wasn't just the youth who were inquisitive, with parents also wondering if foiling could be for them.

Much is said about whether foiling is the future of sailing, and the debate will rage on for years, but one thing is for certain: the Moth class has never been more accessible. Boats like Exocets are available at bargain prices, are built to last, and as Paul and Josie Gliddon are proving, can be upgraded to compete with the very latest designs - you can make the modifications as your own foiling journey progresses.

The class is ready to help you start flying. You'll never look back.

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.

Overall Results:
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