Craftinsure K6 National Championship 2026 at Weymouth Sailing Club

Craftinsure K6 Nationals 2026 at Weymouth © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Thirteen K6 entered this year's National Championship with entrants travelling from across England to compete over three days in Weymouth Bay, superbly hosted by Weymouth Sailing Club. The forecast looked good with winds strengthening over the weekend.

Day 1 - Light wind, flat water. Three races scheduled.

You know what it's like when you really look forward to something, you're so keen, you can't wait, you just want it to start? Well, Race 1, general recall, not a good start! Second attempt and a degree of hesitation by the fleet as the clock ticked down, no one wanted to be over this time!

Craftinsure K6 Nationals 2026 at Weymouth - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

After a clean start and three laps of tricky shifty wind defending Champions Lawrence and Luka Crispin (K6 201) showed their intent as clear winners, second was current Inland Champions, Grant Blake and Andy Jarvis (K6 198) with George and Bertie Barker (K6 197) in third. Race 2, a clean start(!) Lawrence and Luka were again clear winners with Grant and Andy chasing them home. Third was Andrew Preece and Jamie Ferguson (K6 150).

Race 3 - Changes at the front with Dave Hall, Hermione Cooke and John Harlow (K6 118) leading followed by John Tabor, Joe Cantwell and Tom Kosteletos (K6 122) closely followed by Mark Fearnley and Bret Mathews (K6 162). However on the third upwind, to prove just how shifty the wind had become, the Race Officer, Paul Browning, had repositioned the top mark by some 30+ degrees.

Craftinsure K6 Nationals 2026 at Weymouth - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

The leaders after two laps, Dave Hall, Hermione Cooke and John Harlow (K6 118), and John Tabor, Joe Cantwell and Tom Kosteletos (K6 122) found themselves having to tack towards the new position which, at the line, changed the order. In first place was Mark and Bret clear of Grant and Andy with Team Hall and Team Tabor coming home in third and forth.

Day 2 - What a difference a day makes!

Competitors were faced with strong wind and a building sea state, 18 knots, gusting over 20. Three races again sharing the Bay with the Musto iQFoil World Championships; thankfully the Bay was large enough for both events!

Race 4 - clean starts continued thankfully. First home was Grant and Andy, followed by George and Bertie and Lawrence and Luka in third. The challenging conditions took their toll with Mark and Bret retiring with a fault in their tack line, Team Hall retiring following a spinnaker issue and Mike Deane and Eddie Waring (K6 119).

Craftinsure K6 Nationals 2026 at Weymouth - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Race 5 - With the strength of the wind and sea state it was becoming clear that those heavier crews and those sailing three up were moving up the results. Upwind was becoming a real slog against the waves, downwind was the relief with boats riding the waves. Home first were Lawrence and Luka with Team Hall second, Grant and Andy third and Team Tabor in fourth.

Race 6 - Top mark saw George and Bertie leading followed by Team Tabor clear of the chasing fleet. Bearing away John Tabor fell out of the boat in the path of the oncoming fleet. Thankfully the volunteer crewed safety boat soon had him on board and reunited with his boat. However as the fleet had passed and due to receiving outside assistance they retired from the race.

By the finish, Lawrence and Luka took the win followed by Grant and Andy, George and Bertie with Team Hall in fourth.

After three races in challenging conditions the fleet made their way back to harbour to prepare for the Championship dinner at the nearby Ship Inn.

Craftinsure K6 Nationals 2026 at Weymouth - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Day 3 - Three races.

The wind had moderated slightly but was due to build towards 1400 hours. Up at the front after one discard Lawrence and Luka lead Grant and Andy by 3 points on 7 points with George and Bertie on 20, Team Hall on 28. The second discard would become effective after the seventh race.

Race 7 - Clean start by all. Lawrence and Luka taking the win, second were Grant and Andy, third were Team Tabor with George and Bertie in fourth. In winning the race Lawrence and Luka gained the point needed to retain their title before the second discard came into play.

Race 8 - Great conditions which spread the fleet upwind. Lawrence and Luka took the win, Grant and Andy in second, Team Tabor home in third and Team Hall in fourth.

Craftinsure K6 Nationals 2026 at Weymouth - photo © Tim Olin / www.olinphoto.co.uk

Race 9 - Building breeze and sea state. A crowded start towards the Committee Boat, Team Tabor bumped the Committee Boat and duly tacked off to complete a penalty turn but failed to complete the turn by returning to their original tack, were protested by the Race Officer and penalised one place. The fleet meanwhile continued powering towards the top mark with Lawrence and Luka first, Grant and Andy second and Andrew Preece and Jamie Ferguson in third maintaining the order to the finish.

Overall Lawrence and Luka were worthy winners retaining their status as the UK K6 Champions. Grant and Andy in second had been constantly chasing the Crispins hard and, in third, George and Bertie had tied with Team Hall on points only securing third place on discards.

The fleet had survived and enjoyed some challenging conditions over the weekend. Notables in the fleet were Mark and Bret and Mike Deane and Eddie Waring (K6 119) who had travelled from Windermere to complete and Joe Goyder and Steve Clayton (K6 154) who successfully experienced their first K6 Nationals coming in a creditable 8th.

Everyone agreed it was an excellent event, excellent conditions, excellent Club organisation and a really friendly Club. Thanks must go to Craftinsure for its support of the Class and to Paul Browning and his race team for efficient race management but also to the Club's many volunteers who manned the rescue boats and helped boat recovery at the end of each day.

Overall Results: