Minima Regatta 2026

by John Forbes 10 Sep 17:07 BST 5-6 September 2026

After a messy westerly on Saturday spinning round the trees of Hampton Home Park - or in places just not getting through - Minima's 2026 Regatta was galvanised by a glorious southerly on the second day.

Gusting an estimated 20 knots nearly straight up the Kingston reach the breeze offered that rare treat for Thames sailors: the chance to hike out without risking a backflip into the river when you run into a hole.

With a touch of west in it, the east bank was slightly favoured, which amused the townsfolk feet away from fast-tacking dinghies, but annoyed the ducks and geese they were feeding.

Compound the honest breeze with a really good turnout - 26 boats scooting about, including a couple of A Raters among seven very welcome visitors from Minima's upriver neighbours at Thames SC, and the result was pure fun and excitement. Amazingly, despite great differences in speed, and some spectacular crowd scenes, there were no significant collisions.

The pre-starts were particularly entertaining. The handicap fleet ranged from Toppers and Fusions to the Raters and their 40-foot masts. The start line - under 100 metres - was rapidly occupied by the smaller boats batting back and forth so the Raters had to venture into the equally crowded area back from the line where a flock of Ents and Solos were also disporting themselves at speed.

An occasional river cruise came steaming though and the little electric Go Boats pottered around. One rater helm said his policy was to keep clear of everyone, but he had his work cut out, as did the rest of us.

Despite their thundering speed, in the Portsmouth Yardstick fleet the Raters were actually in the closest contests of the day, although you wouldn't believe it on the water. Paul Browning's winning Osprey was within two minutes of losing races to Frances Southall's Topper on handicap, although in the end Tom Hill from Twickenham's National 12 put her into third.

Credit goes to Chris Martin from Thames SC in his Merlin, the only helm who got five bullets. In the Enterprises Ed Mayley, back on his old home stretch from his researches on the Tyne, actually pulled his club boat up on the ramp to check it over after losing the first race to fellow returnee Robin Broomfield, up from Southampton Water. Normal service was resumed and Ed won the next three, albeit in very close contests. Minima ex, Steve Collins with wife Kathy gybed out a borrowed Ent in the first race on Sunday, possibly the only capsize of the day.

In the Solos Minima Richard Shillito's four firsts belied some good fun close racing with Calin Gligorea of Twickenham, Andy Banks managing to get himself in the mix in the fluky conditions of Saturday's second race.

In the Laser arena Ed Cubitt and Minima Commodore Keith Payne played cat and mouse in the handicap fleet, until the arrival of Ed Mayley in the last race had Sailing Secretary and Race Officer Paul Bloomfield put them in a class of their own, with Ed Cubitt at its top.

The New Sailors race was won by Twickenham's Justina Mascherczyk in a Solo, with Minima's Ayushi Mehta's Topper confounded by the dying wind later on Saturday.

Overall Results: (Minima unless stated)

Enterprise
1 Ed Mayley, James Budden
2 Robin Broomfield, Anchalee Broomfield
3 Robert Brignell, Justina Mascherczyk (Twickenham YC)

Laser
1 Ed Cubitt
2 Keith Payne

Merlin Rocket
1 Chris Martin, Elizabeth Martin (Thames SC)
2 Ben May, Ian Pratt (Thames)

Solo
1 Richard Shillito
2 Calin Gligorea (Twickenham YC)

Portsmouth Yardstick
1 Paul Browning, Justin Dunn, Lily Browning
2 Tom Hill, Vics Tranter, Rebecca Pink
3 Frances Southall

New Sailors
1 Justina Mascherczyk
2 Ayushi Mehta