National Championships 2026

    

Grafham Water Sailing Club is hosting the 2026 Wayfarer National Championships from Friday 26th June to Sunday 28th June.

Planned Schedule

Friday -     Practice Race 13:00 hrs   First race not before 14:00 hrs; race two to follow

Saturday   Three races back-to back with first start at 11:00

Sunday -   Three races back-to-back with first start at 10:30

There will be two discards once at least seven races are held, so that, provided a full schedule is completed, competitors can still get a result if they only compete on Saturday & Sunday (though they wouldnt have a discard). 

Competitors are welcome to arrive, and sail if they wish, on Thursday 25th June, provided they register at the GWSC office before going afloat.

The notice of race is here: gwsc-wayfarer national championship-NoR-2026-v5.pdf 

Courses

Will be either windward leeward (with spreader mark and pobably two leeward marks) or sausage/ triangle.

Accommodation

Camping is available on-site at £10/night for tents, £15/night for camper vans. These need to be booked in advance directly with Grafham Water. The booking link is here (but will only be open for booking during June)

Breakfasts will be available on Saturday and Sunday.

Who can enter?

Entry must be by a member of the UK Wayfarer Association. (Overseas entrants are also welcome - please contact me at race@wayfarer.org.uk to arrange)

Competing Wayfarers must comply with the class rules and have a measurement certificate, though Mk IV boats not designated as racing boats may race without a measurement certificate.  (Please note that Wayfarer Weekenders do not comply with class rules, so are not eligible)

All levels of experience are welcomed; we'll be arranging a 'buddy' system so that those with less experience of racing are paired with someone with more experience who can answer any questions or help with set-up or tuning issues.  Competitors will be arranged into Gold, Silver and Bronze experience levels - and there will be prizes at each level.  

Cost

Standard entry fee £80 for three days and £55 for two days.

Discounted entry fee of only £60 for three days and £40 for two days is available if you enter by 31st May 2026

Entry will be through the UKWA Website here. To enter as an UKWA member you need to be logged into this website. Entries are now open. 

For early entrants, we are offering event polo shirts at only £5 each - a discount of 60%. These will be available for collection at registration at Grafham Water on the Friday or Saturday morning. You order them along with your event entry, and need to select your size. Details of the polo shirts, and sizing information is here.

Options for non-sailing family/friends

You can walk/cycle around the reservoir (8 miles)

Huntingdon (7 miles) has multi screen cinema, Oliver Cromwell museum and Hotel  Chocolat outlet store.

Peterborough (30 mins drive away) has good museum, Cathedral etc

Cambridge is 40 minutes drive away

Meals

We plan evening meals on Friday and Saturday at the club. These are generally around £15 for one course and £17.50 for main + dessert, and should be booked each morning with the catering team.

Breakfasts will be available on Saturday and Sunday the galley will be open for coffee / meals all day.

Any Questions ?

If you've got any questions at all about this event, or your ability to compete at it, please get in touch with me, Andrew Wilson (UKWA Racing Secretary) at race@wayfarer.org.uk. Please get in touch in particular if:

 - You'll need a crew or  - You'd like to crew or  - You'll need a boat trailer

 

Last updated 08:16 on 17 April 2026