RS Feva Nationals 2026 Pwllheli
Published 16:16 on 14 Jun 2026
Oxford Sailing Club, Cokethorpe School & Magdalen College School
Plas Heli Welsh National Sailing Academy, Pwllheli, North Wales | 2326 May 2026
What a week on the water! Twelve young sailors from our club and schools made the journey to the spectacular Plas Heli Welsh National Sailing Academy in Pwllheli, North Wales, to compete in the 2026 Rooster RS Feva National Championships — one of the biggest junior dinghy events in the country.
For families and supporters, the adventure began well before the first gun, with the memorable drive through the Tanat Valley and over the mountain pass into the Llŷn Peninsula — a route as dramatic as the racing itself.
With 101 boats on the start line across Gold and Silver fleets, racing in Tremadog Bay over four days, this was a tremendous test of skill, nerve, and teamwork. All of our competitors sailed in the Silver Fleet, and every one of them should be extremely proud of what they achieved.
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### The Format
Racing began on Saturday 23 May with a qualifying series of four races, split into Yellow and Blue flights. Results from these determined which sailors moved into the Gold Fleet (the top boats overall) and which competed in the Silver Fleet for the final three races on days three and four. Seven races in total counted towards final standings, with one discard.
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### Cokethorpe School
Cokethorpe had two boats flying the flag in Pwllheli, and both crews delivered performances to savour.
*Reuben Uglow & Felix McGill (8187)* were without doubt the standout performers from our group. After a steady qualifying series, they found their rhythm in the finals and sailed the best racing of the regatta from any of our boats. A 10th, a 10th, and a 6th in the final three races saw them climb to *6th place in the Silver Fleet* — an outstanding result in a 50-boat fleet. Their consistency and boat speed in the finals showed real class, and this result marks them out as sailors to watch going into the second half of the season.
*Sashin Spivey & Henry Turner (7672)* also competed hard throughout. After a tough start to the qualifying series, they responded well in the finals, posting results of 22nd, 19th, and 24th across the three final races to finish *32nd in the Silver Fleet*. Solid, improving racing from two sailors gaining valuable experience at this level.
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### Magdalen College School
MCS sent three boats to Pwllheli, making them the largest contingent from our group — and their results reflected the strength in depth the school has been building in recent seasons.
*Yohan Khanna & Ted Lake (Sail No. 5)* produced the most exciting finals performance of any of our sailors. Having qualified steadily for the Silver Fleet, they absolutely came alive in the final series, finishing 6th, 9th, and an impressive *4th* in their last race. This surge through the fleet earned them *9th place in the Silver Fleet* — a brilliant result that will have turned heads in the boat park. Their final-race 4th was a real statement of what they're capable of.
*Yash Mohindra & Clement Gowri-Shankar (5561)* had a mixed but encouraging regatta. A stronger middle section of the finals — including a 15th in their second final race — showed the speed is there, and they finished *35th in the Silver Fleet*. Experience gained at a nationals of this size will stand them in good stead.
*Manu Gosling & Samuel Joseph (Sail No. 55)* rounded out the MCS trio. Racing in such a large fleet is always a steep learning curve, and the boys kept fighting throughout all seven races to finish *41st in the Silver Fleet*. Every race completed at this level is progress.
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### Oxford Sailing Club
*Monty Cooper & Ernest Stocker (3001)* were Oxford SC's representatives at the nationals, and they gave a good account of themselves across a demanding four days. Consistent finishes throughout the qualifying series and finals saw them home in *39th place in the Silver Fleet*, completing all seven races — which is an achievement in itself in a fleet this size and competitive. Their results will give them plenty to build on ahead of future events.
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### When the Wind Didn't Play Ball
Of course, a sailing trip wouldn't be complete without the weather having its say. Sunday and Monday brought frustratingly light winds, leaving the fleet ashore and the race committee working hard to find a breeze — with George keeping spirits high on the support boat courtesy of some extensive use of the radio and a fine soundtrack to accompany the wait! But our sailors being sailors, they made the most of it. The beach became the social hub of the event, with time spent relaxing, messing about, and getting to know sailors from clubs and schools across the country. There were also some memorable paddleboard adventures out on the water — perhaps not quite the racing conditions they'd hoped for, but fun nonetheless.
The Cokethorpe group took matters into their own hands on Monday, jumping aboard the RIB for a trip down the coast to the rather lovely Abersoch — taking in the sights both on and off the shore. A fine way to spend a windless afternoon on the Llŷn Peninsula.
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### Thank You
A huge thank you to the families and supporters who made the trip to Pwllheli — the Tanat Valley mountain pass and the beaches of North West Wales will no doubt be a shared memory for all who made the journey! A very special thank you to *George Barker*, who gave up his time every single day of the nationals to support our sailors out on the water from his RIB, along with the parents and volunteers who joined him on the water throughout the week. Having a familiar face and a safety net out on Tremadog Bay made a real difference to the sailors' confidence and performance, and it is hugely appreciated by everyone involved.
Thanks also to the coaches and club volunteers who have helped develop these sailors throughout the season, and to the RS Feva Class Association and the team at Plas Heli for running a superb event. We look forward to seeing what the rest of the season — and beyond — holds for all of our sailors.
Finally, we hear there are plans for the *RS Feva World Championships at Lake Garda in 2027* — watch this space!
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### A Message to the Pirates
Seeing our sailors compete at a national level is hugely exciting — but it all starts at home. We have *four great RS Feva boats at Oxford Sailing Club* and we'd love to see more Pirates getting out on them. The Feva is without doubt the most social of all the teenage dinghy classes — fast, fun, and double-handed, which makes it perfect for sailing with a friend. It's also used in the *Eric Twiname Championships*, so many of you will already have had a taste of what it can do.
At the end of this year there is a *class association training regatta at Farmoor* — a brilliant opportunity to experience racing in a bigger fleet in a supportive, coached environment, without having to travel far from home. It's exactly the kind of event where you'll learn more in a weekend than in months of club racing.
If you're a Pirate and you haven't yet had a go in a Feva, now is the time. Talk to us — the boats are there, the class is welcoming, and the opportunities are real.
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Report compiled using official results from the UK RS Feva Class Association / Sailwave.
Last updated 16:17 on 14 June 2026