Nathan Batchelor and Sam Pascoe led from start to finish with a clean sweep 7 pts from 8 races of the 2026 Hornet National Championships at Shoreham SC.
This left a tight battle for the other podium places, with Terry Curtis and Gavin Poullion taking second with a final race third place edging out locals Will McGrath and John White by one point.
The first day was quickly blown off with reports of 50 knot gusts and finally got started on a suitably windy Sunday with four races. With Batchelor and Pascoe setting the pace, Curtis and Poullion battled with McGrath and White for second and third. With Michael McNamara and Harry Chatterton and Richard Garry and Sam Woolner splitting fourth and fifth places.
The second day of racing became more full on than the first – getting back into the harbour after racing was best described as fresh to frightening! Plenty of acrobatics were evident as crews were wiped off the gunnel with increasing sea state as the tide turned.
For the final day, while Curtis and Poullion battled with McGrath and White for the podium places, McNamara and Chatterton took back-to-back second places to confirm fourth overall, and Jac Bailey and Morgan Rogers posted best place 3rd and 4th finishes.
The 75th anniversary National Championships are to be held at Stone Sailing Club 9 – 12 July 2027.
2026 Hornet National Championships (15 entries)
