Sandhopper National Championship 2026 at Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club

Sandhopper National Championship at Maylandsea Bay © MBSC

12 crews from 3 sailing clubs assembled at Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club on the River Blackwater for the 2026 Sandhopper Nationals, with the prospect of close racing in this lively and increasingly popular keelboat.

The forecast promised decent winds on both days, with slightly stronger and more consistent breeze on Saturday but the prospect of squalls rolling in on Sunday.

Two races were scheduled for each day with one discard if all 4 races were held.

Visiting boats from Thorpe Bay YC trailered round and joined 8 from Maylandsea SC and neighbouring Harlow (Blackwater) SC to make a fleet of twelve keen crews looking forward to the challenges of the Blackwater's tides, mud banks, saltings and wind shifts, and that was just to get out to the start line.

Midday starts on both days allowed participants the opportunity to enjoy the sustenance from the galley's menu before getting out to the moorings as soon as the tide allowed. Efficient race management would be key to ensuring good length courses could be completed each day. The Association was therefore fortunate to have secured the services of Phil Aspinall, Race Officer, assisted by Barbara Wright, to run the races.

Saturday's south westerly breeze arrived as forecast and enabled the RO to set a decent first beat in Lawling Creek before sending the fleet on a long run out to the main estuary where a close reach with the tide was followed by a couple of short Windward/Leeward legs. Close positioning at the favoured committee boat end saw 'Wild Gull' and 'Wight Sand' OCS, the latter turning back immediately, the former not so, and at the windward mark 'Sandspirit' led with a swiftly recovering 'Wight Sand' in second as the fleet ran out down river to Steeple, hugging the south shore. 'Whisper' was well up with the leaders, 'Wild Gull' taking up the rear. 'Wight Sand' closed in on 'Sandspirit' as they approached Steeple, 'Wight Sand' gybing early before hardening up for the close reach to Doctor, thereby sailing over 'Sandspirit', both trying to hold the kites on a very close reach. The following fleet had the benefit of watching all this, dropping spinnakers, with 'Whisper' rounding in front of 'Wild Gull' and 'Aeolus', going well in the hands of mother and daughter team of Clara and Pippa Mintern from Thorpe Bay. 'Blue Jacket' was also making up ground through the fleet. 'Wight Sand' pulled away to take the first race, with 'Sandspirit' second and 'Wild Gull' third.

Race 2 featured Windward/Leeward legs in the creek, starting at the top of the tide and setting challenging choices for which way to go, trying to maintain clear air and stay out of the ebbing tide on the beats. This time, 'Wild Gull' got away cleanly, subsequently staying on the north shore on the beats, and in front. Behind, an intense battle developed between 'Wight Sand', 'Blue Jacket' and 'Sandspirit', with 'Blue Jacket' holding them off which forced 'Wight Sand' to choose the south shore in an attempt to break through. Meanwhile local boats 'Undine' and 'Jimpy' were making good progress as was 'Aeolus'. In the end, 'Wight Sand' came back across to meet 'Blue Jacket' just in the last few hundred metres before the line and took second place behind 'Wild Gull', with 'Sand Spirit' very much in contact in fourth.

Race 2 finish - Sandhopper National Championship at Maylandsea Bay - photo © MBSC

Saturday evening's dinner, games, banter and more games was punctuated by the formal business of pairing the teams for the overall teams prizes,

A lighter westerly breeze welcomed the fleet on Sunday, with more wind forecast. Race 3 start, well down Lawling Creek towards Steeple, was a messy affair, with 'Blue Jacket' OCS and 'Wild Gull' doing turns after an infringement with 'Wight Sand'. 'Whisper' led up the beat with 'Sand Spirit', 'Cracker' showing good speed and 'Wight Sand' giving chase. 'Blue Jacket' was recovering well, but it was 'Wight Sand', sailing very fast downwind, that took the win from 'Sandspirit', with 'Blue Jacket' an excellent third, given the two attempts to clear the start line!

Race 4 start - Sandhopper National Championship at Maylandsea Bay - photo © MBSC

'Wight Sand' had therefore secured the title with one race to go, but the runners-up spot was a three way battle. Race 4 featured Windward/Leeward legs before another beat up to a short 'sausage' before the committee boat finish by the clubhouse. 'Sandspirit' and 'Wild Gull' led the fleet away, before 'Wild Gull' pulled ahead of the pursuing pack with 'Blue Jacket' and 'Wight Sand' to the fore. The tide was now ebbing, and once more 'Wild Gull' chose the north shore for the rest of the beat but the pursuing bunch stayed south, and that paid off for them, with 'Wight Sand' leading 'Blue Jacket' up towards the club house. The breeze died away for the final short 'sausage' and in the strengthening tide the fleet spread out. 'Jimpy' was having its best race of the weekend, closing in on third placed 'Wild Gull' at the finish, and 'Aeolus' had another strong showing. Unfortunately, the extremely high tide lured a couple of visitors onto the saltings as they tried to avoid the ebb flow on the beats, resulting in retirements.

So with three wins, our new Sandhopper National Champions 2026 are Paul Gray and Julia Batchelor sailing S28 'Wight Sand'. Many congratulations to them - we believe they are the first Sandhopper National Champions from MBSC in the history of the class.

Despite 'Wight Sand's dominance, it was an incredibly close fleet; just one point separated 2nd to 4th, and 5th,6th,7th were on equal points.

Emerging as the top team in the pairings were 'Sandspirit' and 'Cracker'.

It was great to see sailors of all ages taking part, and more than half the fleet had mixed crews, with a special mention to Pippa and Clara sailing in a borrowed boat and on unfamiliar waters yet featuring strongly in the top half of the fleet.

Paul Gray and Julia Batchelor, overall winners - Sandhopper National Championship at Maylandsea Bay - photo © MBSC

Commodore Paula Hobbs presented trophies and prizes and 'thank you' gifts at a very sociable gathering in the club house bar as the participants chatted enthusiastically about the challenges of the Blackwater and the lessons learnt, looking forward to coming back in a couple of years time.

The Association would also like to thank Hyde Sails for their support.

The Association thanks Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club for a superb weekend and looks forward to welcoming the fleet to Thorpe Bay Yacht Club for the 2027 National Championship.

Overall Results:

All sailors - Sandhopper National Championship at Maylandsea Bay - photo © MBSC