HISC x TheSUPco.com Round Hayling Challenge

Kuba Staite after setting a record-breaking lap in the Round Hayling Challenge © HISC

The Round Hayling Challenge returned last weekend, with 140 different craft setting off from Hayling Island Sailing Club to complete either a 14-mile circumnavigation of Hayling Island or an out-and-back to Hayling Bridge.

The event welcomes a wide range of the watersports community, with paddleboards, wings, windsurf rigs and various rowing boats all taking on the challenge.

A New Course Record

Conditions on Saturday clearly favoured the wind-powered craft, with wingers and windsurfers setting some fantastic times. Kuba Staite (Wingfoil) was first around the Island, setting a new course record of 43 minutes 36 seconds - a phenomenal effort that saw him retain his title from last year and shave around 9 minutes off his 2025 time.

A special shoutout goes to the second-place finisher, Charlie Baker (Windfoil), who broke the existing course record with a time of 46 minutes 1 second, but fell just short of Kuba's lap.

Another mention must go to the youngest finisher - 12-year-old Zac Carveth (Wingfoil), who was also the youngest finisher last year, completing the full circumnavigation in 1 hour 24 minutes.

Conditions didn't favour the SUP fleet this year, with just one finisher completing the full circumnavigation from a fleet of 40 paddleboards. Paul Drake finished in 3 hours 31 minutes - a great effort in tough conditions.

Ladies Make History

This year's edition also made history, marking the first time female wingfoilers have completed the full course - and there were three of them. Congratulations to Rowena Hammal, Holly Bassett and Rachel Dobrijevic.

Looking Ahead to Next Year

The success of the event wasn't just about what happened on the water. Competitors commented on the fantastic atmosphere, with a vibrant launch area, live music in the clubhouse afterwards, and a real sense of community throughout the day.

A huge thank you goes to the numerous volunteers who gave up their Saturday to make the event run smoothly, from those involved in the planning to those out on the water providing essential safety cover.

Thanks also go to this year's sponsors: title sponsor The SUP Co, along with Salcombe Gin, Duotone and Starboard. This year also saw Geotracks on-site, providing live tracking for every competitor - giving organisers an added safety tool and allowing family and friends to follow progress in real time.

Planning is already under way for next year's event, which will take place on Saturday 4th September 2027. We're pleased to offer a limited-time discount of 50% off all entries made before Saturday 19th September 2026 - enter here.

The full gallery from this year's event can be found here, and results here.