505 Class Pre-World Regatta and UK National Championships – Day 1

First day of the 505 Class 2026 Pre-World Regatta and UK National Championships at Hayling Island SC.

When the wind finally kicked-in around midday it was a classic 10 to 15 knots from the SW, providing the 70 crews with three excellent races in Hayling Bay.

Howie Hamlin and Andy Zinn of the USA wasted no time in announcing their presence, taking the first two race wins and a second for a two point lead.

In second are Malcolm Higgins and Nicholas Johnston of Australia, who won the final race and picked-up a third in the first, and were able to discard their 12th in the middle race for a 4 pts total.

Keeping it tight, Mike Holt and Carl Smit of the USA are third, tied on 7 pts with Britain’s Roger Gilbert and Ian Mitchell, then fifth are Paul Brotherton and James Fawcett with 8 pts.

This is a two day UK National Championship/Warm-up event, so everything will be concluded Saturday.

The 90+ competitors will then start the 505 World Championship on Monday 6 thro 11 July.

505 UK National Championship 2026
Leaders after 3 races, 1 discard  (74 entries)