Zenith National Championships 2026 at Poole Yacht Club - Day 1

Today was not for the faint-hearted - 30-knot gusts greeted 40 boats from the exciting new breed of boats from the Hartley Boats stable: 27 Zeniths, six Zens and seven Zenith IIs.

You might question the sanity of anyone wanting to hit the race course with winds at this level, but the Zenith tribe are made of pretty stern stuff and, with the added advantage of a weighted centreboard to help keep the boats the right way up, confidence was high.

Race 1 went off cleanly, albeit with a bit of confusion at the start for the Zeniths because people thought the Zenith II start was their 5-minute warning - it wasn't - so some were early at the pin end. Flags, not hoots, gentlemen!

Day 1 - Zenith National Championships at Poole - photo © Phil Jackson / www.digitalsailing.co.uk

Nick Craig did his thing again in the Zenith, arriving at the top mark first with Andy Couch hot on his heels. Peter Frith had a bit of a shock when he realised he had arrived 3rd at the windward mark - all that practice was paying off. The reaches were wild - the Zenith II must have been close to 18 knots, as were the Zeniths and probably the smaller Zens.

These boats may have a weighted board, but they are no less exciting and they will capsize, as a number of people were able to demonstrate at the gybe mark. But the board pops the boat back up, and a quick remount allows for a speedy recovery most of the time. The swimmers won't be named, to spare their blushes.

Day 1 - Zenith National Championships at Poole - photo © Phil Jackson / www.digitalsailing.co.uk

Race 2 arrived, and the more sensible amongst us headed for the bar as the wind built. Once again, Mr Craig hit the front with Andy on his tail, but they got away, leaving some good duels happening in the rest of the fleet.

Race 3 was equally windy, and one or two others called it a day. Again, Nick led throughout, but this time with Mark Hartley in 2nd, having found his sea legs again. He has been so busy building these fabulous boats that this was only the 4th race he's done this year. Mark will definitely come out firing tomorrow.

Day 1 - Zenith National Championships at Poole - photo © Phil Jackson / www.digitalsailing.co.uk

In the Zen and the Zenith II there were also some top sailors showing their skills at the front, with Adam Prior taking two bullets in the 1st and 2nd races in the Zen. The Zenith II fleet was similar, with Sam McKay and James Vyse winning all three races.

Normally, I add some comment about the sailors, but they have all given me a wide berth to avoid being written about. I also don't know everyone, so I need to be politer than normal.

One person who does warrant a mention is Justin Jones of Robline - sartorially, he trumped everyone, with a large amount of his beautifully tanned torso on display. I was wearing a lot and I was still cold - not Justin; hard as nails!!

One other person on the water was Basher Marshall of Osprey fame - he was in a RIB!! The good thing is, if he bumped into you in the RIB, he would do much less damage!

See you tomorrow everyone.

Day 1 - Zenith National Championships at Poole - photo © Phil Jackson / www.digitalsailing.co.uk

Zen - after day 1:

Zenith - after day 1:

Zenith II - after day 1: