Lakes Mortgages RS2000 National Championship 2026 at Brightlingsea Sailing Club
by Sam Pascoe 24 Aug 20:02 BST
16-21 August 2026
Lakes Mortgages RS2000 Nationals at Brightlingsea © Nina Ricks
Day 1 didn't start how I had planned... Seven days prior to the nationals Tristan fractured his ankle. Opening scene of the boat park, Tristan on his yellow crutches, foot in fracture boot, being lifted into the boat and wheeled down Brightlingsea slip at low tide by his pit crew (Mum).
This certainly rattled Spanner (Paul Cullen)! He was determined not to be beaten by a 7-year-old with a broken foot. Benjamin was teamed with new crew Andy Peters. Having only sailed with him a couple of times it was quite a transition for him not to be sailing with me.
Having two boats on the water you think you would be able to learn lots and tune on the way to the race course, unfortunately, Benjamin has a lot to learn about lining up properly. He lined up on top of us, and despite asking, two minutes later he calls us slow coaches when he has to wait for us.
Race 1 started with Spanner port tacking the fleet. However, half way up the first beat the 100kg teams of Tristan and myself and Adrian and Jessica were battling for the lead. We rounded leeward mark first, choosing to go round the right-hand gate in a fairly chaotic manor. I realised after this we had only done a right-hand gate once before as during all our club racing, we use a left gate. As the breeze built, we went on to take the win.
Race 2 we were rolled off the start line and with building wind our lightweight advantage disappeared. Spanner and Rob Burridge took the battle this race. We had a good second beat showing lightweights with clear wind can make it uphill in breeze.
Day 2
Race 3 take two, Tristan and I battled with Spanner the whole way round. With us taking at win. Full marks to Georgia for stepping up Spanner in his light wind gain.
Race 4 Unfortunately we were Black Flagged. Tristan says it's entirely my fault...
We finished the day with Katie, Sophie and myself hosting a crews' Q&A with top tips from the 3 of us which was well attended by all the fleet.
Day 3
Breeze on. Andy discovered Benjamin's attention span is dramatically increased with a bit of breeze. So much so there were sweets left in his buoyancy aid at the end of the day.
Race 5 was another battle between us and Spanner, with us taking the win.
Race 6 was the first time Benjamin has beaten Tristan and I this year and I was super proud of him!
We finished the day with a standard 2k party, live music and dancing for young and old... The kids didn't leave the dance floor once on it.
Lay-day took us families with 'mini's' off to the zoo for the day embracing 2ks ethos of family and fun!
Finished off with an incredible evening hosted by Jay and Alice for the youth and minis. Fish and chips sponsored by Noble Marine and a fun games night that we will be taking away to try out at castle cove.
Day 5
It was impressive to watch Simon and Katie dominate these two races; their leads were huge!
Benjamin pushed Spanner hard in both races crossing him at points in the final beat.
Tristan and I struggled for weight up wind and learning to play the waves downhill as we are used to flat waters in Portland Harbour.
The evening was topped off with the 2k AGM. The class were supportive of new reefing points in the main I have suggested and trialled. These will continue to be trialled. This should make the boats still competitive whilst reefing. Endorsing fast family fun.
Day 6 - the final
Benjamin managed a great first race and locked in his 5th overall.
Tristan and I did not... Simon and Katie took the first race win leaving 3rd and 4th place all to play for between us and the Burridge's. We messed up the first beat. We banged the opposite corner to everyone else and managed to get forward, finishing with a race win and 3rd overall.
Tristan and Benjamin's 2k round up: this week has been about making friends, sailing fast, beating Spanner and brotherly rivalry at its finest!
Well done Spanner and Georgia on a ballistic win.
I'm so glad to see so many kids and families out taking part and being competitive. There are not many fleets with an age range of 3 years to 79 years young. We also had a total of 3 under 10s in the top 10!
Brightlingsea sea sailing club put on an incredible week of perfect races and great food! Thank you very much for hosting!
Finally, a thank you to all our sponsors, West Country Boat Repairs, Noble Marine, Orange Ocelot, RS Sailing and Lakes Mortgages.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Boat Name | Helm | Crew Name | Fleet | Prize Catagory | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 2321 | Good vibrations | Paul Cullen | Georgia Booth | Gold | | Bough Beech SC | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 13 |
| 2nd | 2203 | | Simon Horsfield | Katie Horsfield | Gold | | TISC/ RNSA | ‑6 | ‑7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | RDG | 1 | 1 | 2 | 17.8 |
| 3rd | 2330 | Nala | Tristan Pascoe | Sam Pascoe | Gold | Y
| Castle Cove SC | 1 | 6 | 1 | (BFD) | 1 | 5 | 3 | 7 | ‑8 | 1 | 25 |
| 4th | 2458 | Wet 'n' Wicked | Robert Burridge | Gemma Burridge | Gold | T | Thorney Island SC | ‑9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | ‑5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 25 |
| 5th | 2190 | Catboy | Benjamin Pascoe | Andy Peters | Gold | Y | Castle Cove SC | 8 | ‑9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | ‑13 | 38 |
| 6th | 22663 | Maverick | Jay Whitehead | Alice Whitehead | Gold | | Exe SC / RNSA | ‑13 | 3 | 5 | 9 | (BFD) | 8 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 54 |
| 7th | 2318 | | Oliver Thompson | Elliott Thompson | Gold | | West Riding Sailing Club | 4 | 14 | 9 | ‑19 | (BFD) | 11 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 61 |
| 8th | 22713 | The Good The Petite and The Ugly | Peter Vincent | Sophie Bentley | Gold | | Lalndegfedd SC and Lee On Solent | ‑12 | 5 | ‑15 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 69 |
| 9th | 22714 | Two Little Ducks | Paul Fisk | Caroline Fisk | Gold | T
N | Emsworth SC | 10 | (OCS) | 32 | 4 | (DSQ) | 10 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 86 |
| 10th | 2212 | | Adrian Stell | Jessica Stell | Gold | FJ | Hayling Island SC | 3 | ‑19 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 16 | 19 | ‑26 | 9 | 18 | 87 |
| 11th | 21102 | Casino | Kieran Lewis | Chris Brown | Gold | | RNSA | 7 | 8 | 11 | 17 | ‑19 | (BFD) | 13 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 87 |
| 12th | 22746 | Army 1 | Matt Sargent | Susy Addington | Gold | T | ASA/ TISC | ‑22 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 13 | ‑21 | 9 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 89 |
| 13th | 2063 | Pickled Onion | Alistair Banks | Sam Lewis | Gold | T
N | West Riding Sailing Club | 5 | 10 | 6 | ‑20 | (BFD) | 6 | 14 | 20 | 17 | 12 | 90 |
| 14th | 22667 | | Jack Barrett | Abigail Skeith | Gold | | RNSA | 18 | 15 | ‑27 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 4 | 9 | ‑27 | 15 | 91 |
| 15th | 22676 | Stan | Matt Hartley | Isaac Lucas | Gold | | ASA | 14 | 13 | ‑16 | ‑26 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 92 |
| 16th | 22712 | | Adrian Miles | Sally Miles | Silver | T
N | Stone SC | ‑23 | (DSQ) | 14 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 21 | 103 |
| 17th | 22674 | Resilience | Kev O'Brien | Laura O'Brien | Gold | | Snettisham SC / RAFSA | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | ‑20 | 11 | 18 | 20 | ‑22 | 108 |
| 18th | 2854 | Jumpin' Jack Splash | Tim Hulley | Linda Hulley | Silver | T | Weir Wood Sports and Leisure | 16 | 17 | ‑20 | 10 | ‑24 | 18 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 16 | 123 |
| 19th | 2214 | | Ed Dodwell | Sophia/Ruben Dodwell | Silver | Y | RAFSA | 19 | 16 | 19 | 22 | (BFD) | 7 | 18 | 19 | 16 | ‑26 | 136 |
| 20th | 22564 | | Helen Phillips | Andrew Phillips | Silver | T | Cardiff Bay Yacht Club | ‑31 | 12 | ‑29 | 21 | 11 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 13 | 17 | 137 |
| 21st | 2204 | Dr Lavender | Iain Yardley | Sarah Yardley | Silver | | RYA | 21 | 18 | ‑38 | 15 | 14 | ‑27 | 17 | 21 | 15 | 19 | 140 |
| 22nd | 21675 | Reservoir Dog | Jenny Irish | Ali Cormack | Silver | | Ogston SC | ‑27 | 22 | 13 | 24 | 15 | ‑26 | 23 | 24 | 14 | 7 | 142 |
| 23rd | 21863 | Omniverse Galaxy | Andrew Smith | Oscar Smith | Silver | FJ | Stokesbay SC | 15 | 24 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 24 | (DNF) | ‑27 | 23 | 11 | 154 |
| 24th | 22745 | Army 2 | John Atkinson | Nic Marshman | Silver | | ASA | 26 | 25 | ‑44 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 21 | ‑33 | 163 |
| 25th | 2375 | State of Mind | Andy Martland | Julia Martland | Silver | T | Scaling Dam | 28 | 21 | 28 | ‑32 | (BFD) | 12 | 24 | 17 | 30 | 29 | 189 |
| 26th | 22665 | Baked Potato | Cameron Gee | Emily Borner | Silver | Y
N | Cargreen Yacht Club /RAFSA | ‑41 | 27 | ‑39 | 23 | 18 | 31 | 27 | 16 | 26 | 32 | 200 |
| 27th | 22694 | Bunwoo | Alistair Rose | Phoebe Rose | Silver | FJ | Killington Sailing Association | 20 | 26 | ‑40 | ‑34 | 25 | 25 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 23 | 209 |
| 28th | 22619 | Rooster | Mike McEwing | Alex Wilby | Silver | T | RAFSA | ‑32 | 28 | 17 | 25 | 26 | 30 | 31 | ‑34 | 32 | 24 | 213 |
| 29th | 22658 | Army 3 | Darren Kirkham | Jo Nethercott | Silver | | Netley SC / ASA | 24 | ‑40 | 31 | 30 | 20 | 22 | 33 | 30 | ‑40 | 25 | 215 |
| 30th | 22734 | Boss | Trevor Bradley | Merrin Froggett | Bronze | T | Thornton Steward SC | 29 | 34 | 33 | ‑35 | (BFD) | 23 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 217 |
| 31st | 21119 | | Elizabeth Arkle | Marcus Arkle | Silver | FJ
N | Sunderland Yacht Club | 25 | 30 | 21 | 29 | 29 | 29 | (DNF) | ‑37 | 28 | 27 | 218 |
| 32nd | 2640 | Stressless | Jim Ledger | Kate Ledger | Silver | T | Tankerton Bay Sailing Club. Kent. | ‑38 | 23 | 23 | ‑36 | 30 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 24 | 28 | 220 |
| 33rd | 2049 | Monster | Matt Cook | Helen Cook | Silver | T
N | West Riding Sailing Club | 17 | 20 | 18 | 16 | (BFD) | (BFD) | 16 | DNF | DNC | DNC | 240 |
| 34th | 2057 | | Martin Roots | Grant Wilton | Bronze | T | Cardiff Bay Yacht Club | 30 | ‑35 | 30 | ‑38 | 32 | 35 | 26 | 33 | 35 | 35 | 256 |
| 35th | 2428 | Bingo | Jamie Wright | Asa Wright | Bronze | FJ
N | Shoreham SC | ‑39 | 33 | ‑47 | 27 | 21 | 28 | 36 | 39 | 37 | 37 | 258 |
| 36th | 2108 | Laurel and Hardy | Tony Herlihy | Jo Norrington | Bronze | T | Herne Bay sailing club | ‑43 | 31 | 43 | 37 | 23 | 34 | 25 | (DNC) | 38 | 30 | 261 |
| 37th | 2587 | DragonFly | Guy Boswell | Julie Boswell | Bronze | T | Llandegfedd Sailing Club | 40 | 36 | ‑42 | ‑45 | 27 | 37 | 38 | 36 | 22 | 31 | 267 |
| 38th | 22558 | Hurricane | Joseph Jackson | Peter Pearce | Bronze | | RAFSA | ‑42 | 37 | 25 | ‑40 | 40 | 36 | 34 | 28 | 33 | 38 | 271 |
| 39th | 2173 | Frantic | Isobel Arkle | Olivia Arkle | Bronze | Y
N | Sunderland Yacht Club | 36 | ‑39 | 36 | ‑42 | 34 | 39 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 34 | 273 |
| 40th | 22563 | 2scallywagS | John Smith | Sally Taviner | Bronze | GM
T | Wilsonian SC | 33 | 29 | 26 | (DNS) | 28 | 40 | (DNC) | DNC | 36 | 36 | 279 |
| 41st | 2180 | | Martin Sowerby | Angela Booth | Bronze | T
| Hayling Island SC | 37 | 32 | 35 | 31 | 22 | (DNF) | (DNC) | DNC | 34 | DNC | 293 |
| 42nd | 22730 | | Dirk Meyer | Leif Meyer | Bronze | | Hunts SC | ‑46 | ‑43 | 41 | 41 | 36 | 41 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 39 | 312 |
| 43rd | 21467 | | James Wright | Ronan Banim | Bronze | T | Walton & Frinton Yacht Club | 49 | 41 | 46 | 44 | 35 | 32 | 35 | 35 | (DNF) | (DNC) | 317 |
| 44th | 22726 | Gunner No1! | Ben Baker | Tom Walsh | Bronze | | ASA | ‑44 | ‑45 | 37 | 43 | 33 | 43 | 39 | 43 | 41 | 42 | 321 |
| 45th | 21276 | Bandit | Antonia Wright | Emmie Wright
Iona | Bronze | FJ | Shoreham | 35 | (DNF) | 34 | 28 | 31 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | DNF | DNC | 332 |
| 46th | 22546 | Juliette | Roz Stell | Julette Stell | Bronze | FJ | Hayling Island SC | 34 | 44 | 24 | 33 | (DNF) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNF | DNC | 339 |
| 47th | 22641 | | Kalem Cutts | Kirsty Davis | Bronze | N | RNSA | 45 | ‑46 | 45 | ‑46 | 37 | 45 | 42 | 40 | 44 | 41 | 339 |
| 48th | 2305 | Still Smiling Too | Nik Antoniades | Rosie Brown | Bronze | GM
T | Wilsonian SC | ‑47 | 42 | ‑49 | 47 | 39 | 42 | 40 | 41 | 45 | 43 | 339 |
| 49th | 22147 | Fade to Grey | David Russell | John Ball | Bronze | FJ
N | Marconi Sailing Club | 48 | 38 | 50 | 48 | 38 | 38 | (DNC) | (DNC) | 42 | 40 | 342 |
| 50th | 2719 | Zip‑a‑dee‑doo‑dah | Julie Tomkinson | Melanie Clapham | Bronze | | South Windermere Sailing Club | (DNC) | (DNC) | 48 | 39 | BFD | 44 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 352 |
