K1 National Championship 2026 at Royal Torbay Yacht Club

Thirty-two K1 sailors descended on Torbay Royal Yacht Club from 18th-20th September for the 2026 K1 National Championships, generously sponsored by Ovington Boats and Craftinsure.

Friday

Competitors were greeted on Friday by bright sunshine and a moderate south-westerly breeze. Before anyone could even think about racing, their first challenge was simply getting safely out of the harbour—navigating busy ferry traffic and the rocky harbour walls that caught out more than a few sailors. One competitor earned the nickname "Rocky" for the weekend after an especially close encounter.

As the fleet exited the harbour, conditions quickly became more demanding. Winds of 18-20 mph combined with a lumpy sea created a testing race area, particularly for sailors more accustomed to inland waters.

Race 1 got under way on schedule and immediately saw a familiar name at the front. Simon Hawkes rounded the windward mark first, closely followed by Ben Hawkes and Paul Birbeck. The leading trio maintained their positions throughout the race, with Simon controlling the fleet from the front to take the opening victory ahead of Ben in second and Birbeck in third.

Away from the battle at the front, another contest was developing. The championship's popular Buddy Pairing competition, which combines the results of two sailors, was already producing some close racing. Andrew Wilson and Dominick Hume emerged as the early leaders in the standings, while David Gorringe's seventh-place finish earned recognition as one of the most improved performances compared with previous events.

Race 2 began with another clean start, and this time Paul Birbeck led at the first mark. However, a series of costly errors—including an unexpected swim—ended his challenge. Simon Hawkes capitalised to secure a second win of the day ahead of Ben Hawkes, while Richard Sims sailed consistently to claim third place.

Race 3 followed a very similar pattern. Simon Hawkes once again demonstrated excellent boat speed and race management, leading from the front to complete a clean sweep of Friday's racing. Ben Hawkes secured another second place, with Paul Birbeck recovering well to finish third.

K1 National Championships at Torbay - photo © Bob Penfold

Saturday

Saturday presented a stark contrast. Although sailors launched and made their way to the race area, significantly stronger winds persuaded the race management team to abandon racing for the day. The decision mirrored that taken at neighbouring Brixham Yacht Club, which was hosting another championship event under similarly challenging conditions.

K1 National Championships at Torbay - photo © Bob Penfold

Sunday

Sunday brought a complete transformation. Temperatures reached around 20°C, with sunshine replacing the previous day's gloom. However, the light 4-5 mph breeze proved highly variable, creating tactical rather than physical challenges. The race committee set a course with the windward mark positioned close to shore, where substantial wind shifts regularly altered fortunes throughout the fleet.

Race 4 produced the first major upset of the championship. Ian Duke rounded the windward mark in the lead, followed closely by Andrew Wilson. On the final lap, the leading boats split at the gate, with Duke choosing the starboard-hand mark while Wilson opted for port. The decision proved decisive: Wilson found the better side of the course and benefited from a favourable wind shift. Stuart Jones and Simon Hawkes also gained on the same side of the course, leaving Wilson to take the win ahead of Jones in second and Hawkes in third. Duke, despite leading early, slipped back to fourth.

Wilson's victory also strengthened the positions of both his buddy pairing with Dominick Hume and Jonathan Miles in the Buddy Competition standings.

Race 5 continued the theme of changing fortunes. Andrew Wilson again led at the windward mark, but maintaining a lead in the shifty conditions proved exceptionally difficult. A significant wind shift on the second beat allowed Stuart Jones to move through into first place. Jones held his advantage to take the race win, followed by Simon Hawkes and Ben Hawkes.

During the final scheduled race on Sunday, the wind gradually dropped to nearly nothing, leading to the race being cancelled and bringing the 2026 K1 Nationals to a close.

K1 National Championships at Torbay - photo © Bob Penfold

Summary and Thanks

The championship provided competitors with a fascinating weekend of racing, featuring everything from heavy-weather sailing and challenging sea states to light, tactical conditions that rewarded sharp decision-making. While Simon Hawkes dominated the opening stages of the event, Sunday's variable winds ensured that no lead was ever secure, producing competitive racing and plenty of stories both on and off the water.

A huge thank you goes to Torbay Royal Yacht Club for hosting such a memorable event, and to our generous title sponsors Ovington Boats and Craftinsure, whose continued support makes the K1 National Championships possible.

K1 National Championships at Torbay - photo © Bob Penfold

BYPP results:

1. Jonathan Miles
2. Martin Kimber
3. Dominick Hume
4. David Gorringe
5. John Richardson

Buddy Competition results:

1. Andrew Wilson & Dominick Hume
2. Jeremy Shinton & Jonathan Miles
3. Ian Duke & Michael Kimber

K1 National Championships at Torbay - photo © Rosemary Duke

Overall Results: