D-Zero Inland Championship 2026 at Grafham Water Sailing Club

D-Zero Inland Championship at Grafham © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Grafham Water served up a weekend of full blooded, high energy racing that tested boat handling, nerve and stamina in equal measure. With a punchy breeze sweeping across the lake, the D-Zero sailors were treated to conditions that rewarded commitment and punished hesitation.

Saturday: Breeze On, Game On

With the wind already whistling through the rigging, some DZ's launched early and headed for the start. A short postponement gave time for late arrival Ben to rig, launch, and blast his way to the line with seconds to spare—though unsurprisingly he was last away when the gun finally went.

The first beat immediately showed how lively the conditions were. Will suffered an early tangle between kicker and mainsheet, but Ben settled quickly, found his rhythm, and carved through the fleet with trademark precision to take the opening win.

Race two brought an enormous start line shared with a large championship fleet rolling off five minutes later. The D-Zeros were sent on the outer loop trapezoid, a course heavy on upwind and downwind work. With four beats, four runs and only two reaches, there was little opportunity to unleash the full reaching potential of the boat—but plenty of scope for tactical racing. Once again, Ben mastered the shifts and powered to another convincing bullet.

Race three followed a similar pattern, though not without drama: Will capsized on the run, proving just how unforgiving the breeze remained. Ben completed a clean sweep for the day.

D-Zero Inland Championship at Grafham - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Sunday: A Change in the Forecast

Sunday promised slightly softer conditions, encouraging Joe to join the fray. Even so, the breeze still carried enough punch to make life difficult, and Joe was unable to complete the race despite switching to the black sail. Ben, however, continued his dominant form and added another win to his tally.

Race Five: High Drama at the Pin End - The fifth race delivered the most tactical excitement of the weekend. Ben, Will and Alistair were all over the line at the pin end, leaving Gordon to seize the moment with a superb start. He rounded the windward mark first, only to miss the spreader and be forced into a costly loop back, surrendering three hard earned places.

Undeterred, Gordon attacked the second beat, heading right and hauling himself back into contention. He rounded the windward mark just behind Ben, but a tight approach resulted in a snag that allowed others to slip past. On the downwind leg he reeled Will in, claimed water at the bottom mark, and looked set for a strong finish—until a spectacular crash and splash ended his race prematurely. Ben, steady and composed, secured yet another win.

D-Zero Inland Championship at Grafham - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Race Six: A Gentle Finish - With five victories in the bag, Ben headed ashore, leaving the remaining trio to contest the final race. The wind eased slightly, offering a more relaxed end to a physically demanding weekend before the fleet returned to shore.

A Weekend to Remember

Grafham delivered exactly what the D-Zero is built for: big breeze excitement, tactical racing, and plenty of stories for the boat park. The camaraderie ashore was as strong as ever, with Joe offering help and encouragement throughout the event. With a clean sweep, Ben Flowers was awarded D-Zero National Champion

D-Zero Inland Championship at Grafham - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Overall Results: