Burnham Week 2026 - Day 1
by Petru Balau 30 Aug 13:31 BST
23-30 August 2025
Rain and wind over tide made the start of Burnham Week 2026 a wet affair for most of the competitors, especially after the vigorous celebrations of the night before.
Despite the wet conditions, the river was buzzing with excitement, both for the races, but also for the final leg of Row Aurora's Hometown Row: New Foundland, Canada to Burnham-on-Crouch, UK.
On the Pile House Start, the RS Elites were first to take the start, the 7 boats fleet competing in two races, with Bill Blank's Blind Squirrel leading overnight, with 2 wins. Neil Fulcher's All the gear is on second, while Richard Bavin' Serious Moonlight sits in third.
The second fleet to start, also for two races, were the 707s, with all five boats being chartered from Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. Alex Hill' Swordfish is leading overnight, followed by Jake Braybrook's jolly bunch of Hookers afloat in second and the Flynn family and friends in third.
The largest Burnham Week fleet, the Squibs, with the 20 strong fleet being lead overnight by Chip Cole and David Smith Dark n Stormy, last year's winners Ray Apthorp and Ian Simons, sailing on Chequemate, in second and the blue Rojo, Nick Bacon and Richard Tucker in third.
The class 1 and 2 cruisers, along with the class 5, a 10 boats strong fleet, went next. Paul Trueman's Exile leads, followed by Nick Moulton's Dabtoe and Tabitha & Nicholas Plank's Slingshot in the class 1 and 2, while John Saunders' Jeannie leads the class 5, with Jess Haigh's Outburst! and Richard Taylor's Rondo.
Ian and Michèle Langston's Fifi won the Class 6 race, followed by Richard Moore's Ophelia and Digger Harden' Sorcerer.
The three Dragons were added to the traffic on the Roach and Ian Gray' Still Crazy leading overnight, followed by Beauty and the Beast - Peter Marchant and Rob Campbell's Dublin Bay.
Four Ospreys braved the conditions, including a newcomer to the class, the daughter and father couple, Lucie and Adam Prior, well known for their exploits in the Squib class a few editions earlier, where Adam decided to abandon ship during a spinnaker run, forcing Lucie to singlehanded handle the spinnaker drop and win a well deserved seamanship award for her exploits.
This time everyone stayed on board for the duration of the race, with some argument to be made about the usefulness of the trapeze wire in such occasions and despite a last place finish, the young helm finished the race smiling from ear to ear.
The race was won by Robert David Shaw's Bird of Prey IV, crewed by Ian Little, Roger and James Blake on Ghost Ship in second and Russell Wheeler's Thieves like Russ in third.
The National Championships, scheduled for early September, greatly reduced the Phantom fleet, with Bill Taylor being the only one to start and finish, thus leading overnight.
The RCOD fleet was next and the five boats were led around the course by Justin Waples' Cormorant, proving that avoiding to sink is a great way to win races, followed by the Page boys on Corpo Santo and Martin Makey's Corinna.
Four RBODs braved the rain, which subsided substantially at that point and it proved to be a Dallimore affair, with Will Dallimore on Mandarin taking the win, followed by James Dallimore on Whimbrel in second and Simon Hollington's Beryl in third.
The Pile House area was also witness of one of the largest flotilla of power and sailing yachts seen on the river, including the rowing boats from Burnham on Crouch Coastal Rowing Club, gathered to welcome back Row Aurora, after their record setting rowing trip, from La Gomera in Antigua, to their home port in Burnham-on-Crouch, with Dawn Smith BEM, along with Paul Lore, warmly welcomed by the crowds, both on the water and the Royal Burnham Yacht Club pontoon.
Up the river, Burnham Sailing Club hosted the dinghies racing, with the venerable Ant Law scoring two bullets to lead the fast handicap fleet overnight, followed by Seb and Stewart Mears in second and Emily Davis and Richard Pye in third, while the slow handicap day was won by Jess Wright and Molly Mears.
The ILCA/Laser unified fleet is led overnight by Noah Mathers, followed by James Hutton-Penman and Nicholas Hutton-Penman.
Back on shore, sailors were greeted by a brilliant musical set by Royal Corinthian Yacht Club's own Rianna Everett, followed by a Fusion night, hosted by RCYC and a dance till dawn party at RBYC.
Full results at www.burnhamweek.com/results-2026