J/70 UK Nationals 2026: Strongest Fleet in Years Delivers a Nail-Biter

By Max Clapp

Thirty teams converged on the Solent for the 2026 UK J/70 National Championships, creating one of the strongest domestic fleets in recent memory. The fleet split was 18 Corinthian and 12 open, including six Mixed-Plus teams (each with at least two female sailors) and two youth entries. The entry list featured an extraordinary depth of talent, including current British Sailing Team sailors Martin Wrigley, Hannah Bristow, James Taylor and Rhos Hawes, Olympians James Peters, Chris Grube and Niki Birrell, former J/70 World Champion Ruairidh Scott, 2023 RS200 National Champion Arran Holman, and numerous other world-class sailors. The Corinthian division was equally impressive, featuring standout competitors such as Olympic gold medallist Lijia Xu, former Laser campaigner Dan Whiteley, Nacra sailor Benno Marstaller, and a Powder Monkey team full of confidence after finishing 14th at the Corinthian World Championship in Marseille in May. But none of those sailors would leave the Solent with the Open National title.

Last week’s heatwave was still lingering on Friday, but the wind arrived too, and we had an exceptional start to the regatta. With 12–18 knots, sunshine and three races, it made for a perfect opening day. Simon Perry’s Jiraffe, featuring Wrigley and Grube, were fastest out of the blocks with two second places and a win. Jelvis, Lady Khumbu, Jeepster, Sadonyx and Spencer also emerged as early front-runners. Alastair Hall’s Calypso were quick too, winning the first race before picking up letters in the third following an incident with DSP. The class then enjoyed a fantastic BBQ and drinks reception hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club.

Saturday proved trickier. Light winds meant a three-hour delay, and when the breeze finally arrived it only stayed long enough for one race. Jacintha Hamilton-Love’s Lady Khumbu, featuring Scott, Bristow and Taylor, led from the left side of the first beat and returned to that side of the course on the downwind by holding on starboard for longer than the chasing pack, ultimately extending their lead to hundreds of metres. Going into the final day, it was clear that Jelvis, Jiraffe and Lady Khumbu would be in a dogfight for the Open National title, while Calypso, Jeepster and DSP would battle for the Corinthian crown.

The Solent shook off the dramatic heat but kept the sunshine and delivered plenty of breeze on Sunday. Twenty knots made for the perfect showdown to finish the regatta. The wind did cause complications, though, when ten boats arrived at the leeward gate at the same time in the first race, resulting in astonishing levels of mayhem, multiple broaches, and one J/70 wrapping its keel around the mark. This ultimately closed the gate and created a kind of thread-the-needle exercise for the remaining boats trying to round in 20 knots of breeze. In the end, the race had to be abandoned, much to the disappointment of Jiraffe, who were leading at the time.

The following three races were dominated by Martin Dent’s Jelvis (at the top of their game after a top-10 finish at last year’s Open Worlds) and Calypso, who scored 2nd, 1st, 1st and 1st, 2nd, 3rd respectively. That left Jiraffe needing to win the final race and for Jelvis to finish fourth or worse to take the title, while Jeepster needed Calypso to finish 18th or worse to secure the Corinthian championship. After a dramatic final race, Jelvis secured the Open National title by four points from Jiraffe, with Lady Khumbu finishing third. Calypso held off our team on Jeepster to win the Corinthian National title and finish fourth overall, while DSP rounded out the Corinthian podium. Morgan Reynolds’ team on Lightfoot won the David Haw Trophy for the Youth title, beating Ryde School by 15 points.

Thank you to all the volunteers, Ian Bullock and his race management team, and the Royal Southern Yacht Club for delivering an exceptional National Championship.

The J/70 UK Class would also like to thank its sponsors Rooster, Ocean Rope and XV Interiors.

If you aren’t signed up already, come and join the best fleet in the country for Cowes Week in a few weeks’ time!