British Moth National Championship 2026 at Hollowell Sailing Club

As is traditional the British Moth fleet gathered in August for their National Championships, once again Hollowell Sailing Club in Northamptonshire was hosting the event but as a change to the norm it was being run over a weekend with racing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. With 16 entries from 8 clubs everything was looking set for a good event as long as the wind forecast was wrong!

Race 1

The fleet of 13 boats got away cleanly for the first race of the championship with Toby Cooper (Broxbourne) gaining what looked like an insurmountable lead but the wind had other ideas with big shifts and filling in from the back on downwind legs Toby C briefly lost the lead to Toby Smith (Medley) but did take line honours with Toby S in second. Rob Paynter (Medley) showed good form in third place and the best of the rest was Andrew Perrot (Oxford) in fourth. The rest of the fleet was a bit of a mixed bag due to the light shifty conditions but it was good to see Colin Hall (Hunts) back on form and in the top half of the fleet.

Race 2

After a late postponement due to a big wind shift and a change of course the fleet got away cleanly and the story was very similar to race 1 with the same sailors taking the first four places as in the previous race. Tim Davison (Medley) showed better form and took fifth place pushing Colin back into sixth. Further back in the fleet Gary Tompkins (Hunts) and Elaine Laverty (Leamington Spa) both came in the same position while Peter Angwin (Severn) and Graham Pope (Severn) both improved by one place.

After race 2 the fleet finished for the day and returned to shore to enjoy tea and cakes supplied by Elaine before gathering for their AGM and a super supper provided by the galley team.

British Moth National Championship at Hollowell - photo © HSC

Day 2 saw the final 3 sailors rigging up with excuses for lateness being daughter's birthday, urgent car repair and couldn't be bothered! It also saw Gary Hogan (Emberton Park) celebrating his birthday

Race 3

Toby C and Toby S continued their battle for the championship with the same result as the first day, Tim had a much better race and showed us all that even as an octogenarian (so rumour has it) you can still be competitive and came in in third place and Gary T showing good form in fourth. New arrivals Jeremy Gorbold (Burghfield), Steve Baker (Leamington Spa) and Gav Goodall (Telford) 11th, 13th and 14th. This was the only race of the series where there was a retirement as Colin felt the need to have his annual swim (it wouldn't be a Nationals if he didn't) and decided to retire as a result. This year was the first for a while where there has been a junior racing and it was good to see Sebastian Bourne-Wolfart (Medley) taking up the mantle and showing good speed at times.

Race 4

This was held after lunch and was the first race where the Moths were joined on the water by Hollowell's mixed handicap fleet, the Moths were started 10 minutes ahead to allow them clean air and this kept the two fleets apart on the water. The first four places were exactly the same as the morning race, Toby S kept worrying Toby C but just couldn't stay ahead, Rob was showing fairly consistent form and did extremely well to attain fifth place after 'mooring' himself to the first mark and having to take a penalty Andrew Perrot and Colin both had their worst races of the competition. Andrew Parsons (Medley) was showing an improvement with good speed at times but it wasn't showing in his results.

British Moth National Championship at Hollowell - photo © HSC

Race 5

This followed the same format as the previous race with Toby x 2 taking first and second again, Andrew Perrot had his best race of the competition coming in in third place. Gav and Andrew Parsons were playing place swapping and this race was Gav's turn for 14th and Andrew for 15th! Graham had his worst race of the competition and Peter was showing improving form across the competition.

Day 3 had two birthday boys, Toby C who had already won the championship and Peter. Toby C sat the last 2 races out meaning that there were 2 trophies up for grabs (there is a trophy for each race)

Race 6

Threw a spanner in the works for Toby S who on form should have won but Tim had other ideas! Colin also had thoughts of winning and achieved second place pushing Toby S into third, birthday boy Peter showed very good form and scored his best race of the series with a fourth place.

British Moth National Championship at Hollowell - photo © HSC

Race 7

This was sailed back to back with race 6. With a big wind shift on the start line leaving most of the fleet headed Steve made a 'great escape' and managed to hold first place until the final beat when fellow 'escapee' Rob chose the opposite side of the beat and got to the windward mark ahead and took the win, Steve managed to hold on to second place ahead of a very fast and determined Toby S in third, quite an achievement after being last off the start line. Graham was back to the form we all know he has and came in in fourth place.

After the race the fleet returned ashore for a quick lunch before the prize-giving. Prizes were presented, thanks were given and we all agreed to meet up again next summer to do it all again.

I will add a big thank you to the Hollowell Sailing Club for hosting us once again, to Pete Jackson and his team for running the races so efficiently and to Nicola and the galley team for keeping us all fed and watered.

British Moth National Championship at Hollowell - photo © HSC

As well as the overall results of Toby C first, Toby S second and Tim third there are various other awards as follows:

Junior Trophy - Sebastian
Vintage Boat - Jeremy
Ladies Trophy - Elaine
Endeavour Trophy (lowest place sailor who completed every race) - Andrew Parsons
Bit in the Middle - Peter
Tom Cooper (Personal Handicap) - Gary Tompkins

British Moth National Championship at Hollowell - photo © HSC

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