International A Class UK National Championship 2026 at Fleetwood Model Yacht Club

by Mark Rose 10 Aug 12:45 BST 1-2 August 2026

Olly Murray (A Class Captain) had been wheeling and dealing yachts by buying or loaning, to ensure a good solid entry for the Radio A Nationals and to his credit this produced an excellent entry of 28 boats.

However, many recruits were battered, bruised, fatigued and tired from racing or supporting the Vane A week which finished on the Friday, along with the aftermath of a fair few beers drunk during the week.

This immediately limited a number of hot shots from competing at the top end. The wind on Saturday morning was perfect. Blowing straight down the lake like it had been for the Vane A fleet at a good 10 knots gusting 13, Fleetwood and racing at its best to start the event.

The problem for many was that a number of the borrowed yachts (and those that hadn't been borrowed) hadn't seen that sort of weather (possibly ever) and therefore issues quickly arose as racing started. Two of the big hitters Chris Harris and Darin Ballington were both hit with early problems due to leaks and radio/electric issues.

Early promise from other skippers such as Mark Rose, Derek Priestley, David Lindsay and Ben Harker quickly faded as winches began misbehaving in the heavy conditions leading to withdrawals or temporary suspension from sailing. Although starting in three heats, this was reduced to two after three races and boats either withdrew or didn't even start.

Saturday was dominated by Graham Bantock and his Sword, cutting through the wind and waves to take five wins out of the seven races completed. Robbie McIntosh (using Rob Walsh's Lightning) also had a great showing on the Saturday steaming to windward and placed second after seven races, with a minor electrical problem at the end of the day. Saturday unfortunately saw a number of competitors withdraw as Vane A fatigue hit.

Sunday was a very different story with much lighter winds. Class Captain Olly sailing well to take two wins on his way to a podium finish in third. Graham once again sailed consistently to consolidate his position at the front and he was grateful for the lighter winds as nine days of A boat sailing in a blow was impacting even the best!

Peter Wiles enjoyed the conditions on Sunday and came through the fleet to take second overall. Meanwhile Robbie's title hopes faded, although he still recorded a respectable fourth overall on his first outing out (missing out on a podium place by a single point).

Other strong showing included Simon Fairman taking sixth with a borrowed Sweet and so picking up a prize for the highest placed Classic boat. Great sailing conditions for most of the event and thanks go to "Team Baldwin", Bob Jolly and Peter Iles for running this event and the other Fleetwood club members who signed off on a very successful nine days of A boat racing.

Photos and videos are in the Fleetwood Facebook group. Should any competitors have any feedback after the event, then Olly as Class Captain is happy to hear your suggestions.

Overall Results:

Pos	Design	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	Pts
1	Sword	95	Graham Bantock	Chelmsford	1	1	1	1	‑2	1	1	‑2	2	1	2	11
2	Sweet 10	83	Peter Wiles	Poole	1	‑4	4	‑5	4	4	4	3	4	2	1	27
3	Sweet 9 1/2	82	Olly Murray	Fleetwood	4	6	‑6	6	‑15	7	8	1	1	3	3	39
4	Lightning	25	Rob Mcintosh	Birkenhead	2	2	2	2	3	3	‑5	‑22	11	4	11	40
5	Sweet 9	79	Phillip Wiles	Poole	3	‑8	5	‑8	1	5	7	5	7	5	6	44
6	Sweet 6	89	Simon Fairman	Manor Park	4	7	6	8	9	8	6	8	10	‑15	‑15	66
7	Sword	73	Vernon Appleton	Coalhouse Fort	2	5	3	11	6	15	15	‑29	‑29	13	5	75
8	Sweet 9	77	Roy Stevens	Scarborough	6	‑18	‑14	13	7	10	10	6	6	6	12	76
9	HardTack	67	Derek Priestley	Fleetwood	6	3	13	‑25	24	‑29	9	4	8	8	4	79
10	Spear	119	John Woodman	Sedgemoor	5	14	10	10	8	‑15	‑17	10	9	10	10	86
11	Sword	98	Darin Ballington	Lincoln	11	23	7	3	5	2	2	14	‑29	‑29	29	96
12	Spear	23	Chris Harris	Windrush	2	14	19	7	6	6	3	14	‑29	‑29	29	100
13	Spear	14	Bob Conner	Woodspring	11	10	8	12	‑24	15	‑22	22	5	9	8	100
14	Sweet 9	1	John Sharman	Fleetwood	7	15	11	‑25	16	9	15	9	13	11	‑17	106
15	HardTack	19	David Lindsay	Datchet	3	9	13	4	15	16	5	14	‑29	‑29	29	108
16	The Minstrel	12	David Stewart	Ashton Quays	1	11	21	14	10	11	‑22	‑22	17	18	13	116
17	Sweet 9b	72	Martin Harris	West Wilts	6	‑20	‑22	18	11	17	15	7	12	19	14	119
18	Spear	34	Colin Harper	London MYC	5	19	23	16	‑24	‑24	22	22	3	7	9	126
19	Gunboat	5	Paul Middleton	Fleetwood	11	16	16	15	‑24	19	‑22	14	15	13	7	126
20	Sweet 9	6	Steve Bowles	Dartmoor	7	‑23	15	‑19	15	18	16	15	16	14	18	134
21	Sweet 4	70	Tony Wilson	Fleetwood	8	‑29	21	20	24	24	29	29	18	17	16	177
22	Pearl	167	Mark Rose	Fleetwood	3	12	18	17	15	‑29	‑29	29	29	29	29	181
23	Sweet 9	69	Robert Wheeler	Fleetwood	9	‑29	17	25	‑29	29	29	29	14	16	19	187
24	Sweet 5	41	Ben Harker	Huntingdon	4	23	‑29	‑29	29	15	15	29	29	29	29	202
25	Pearl	36	Ralph Weller	Dartmoor	5	17	‑29	‑29	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	225
26	Spear	37	Mike Kemp	Two Islands	8	‑29	‑29	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	240
27	Sweet 4	173	Harry Balderson	Fleetwood	11	‑29	‑29	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	243
27	Sword mod	93	Nigel Brown	Gosport	11	‑29	‑29	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	243