Eight boats and over 50 gunner sailors enjoyed some fine sailing at the 76th RAYC Offshore Regatta held in Yarmouth over the weekend of 5-7 September 2025.
Crews began arriving in Yarmouth on Friday, 5th September, ready for three long races around the buoys in the Western Solent on Saturday, 6th. The weather on the day of the racing was ideal for sailing, with bright, sunny skies and a strengthening south-easterly wind of 12-18 knots, with gusts reaching up to 25 knots for the final race.
Click on this link to download the RAYC 2025 Offshore Regatta Report and Results, and keep scrolling down this page to enjoy a fun video and photos from the weekend.
Regatta Video
Click on the link below to watch a short video from the regatta, with action on the water, pictures of our Atlantic Rowers and the regatta prize winners.
Regatta Racing
In the Bantry Club Class, Kusima, a Sigma 33 skippered by Ben Archer, secured victory in all three races. She was followed by Dogmatix, skippered by Antony Neylan; White Knight 7, an all-ranks crew from 16 Regiment skippered by John Johnston; and Ilex, skippered by Tim Wordsworth.
In the Bhopal Club Class, the overall winner of all three races was Buster, a Sigma 292 skippered by Kevin Raine. She was closely followed by St Barbara V, skippered by Nat Webber, who secured line honours in the first and third races. Bombardier III, skippered by Richard Nugee, and Skylark, skippered by Stewart Henderson, finished third and fourth, respectively.
Some of the Crews
Our Atlantic Rowers
On their return to port, and before the prize-giving, the crews gathered to meet a team of five rowers from 12 Regiment Royal Artillery, who are about to compete in the upcoming Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Described as the “World’s Toughest Row”, it is a transatlantic rowing race spanning 3,000 miles from the Canary Islands to Antigua.
The all-JNCO crew, skippered by Bombardier Katie Devine, will set off in December and, weather permitting, aim to complete the race by mid-February. The crew was warmly greeted by all the regatta sailors and was presented with a Gunner Sailing Ensign by the Club Admiral, General Richard Nugee.
With fair winds and a safe passage, our brave rowers are booked to tell us about their adventures at the Annual General Meeting, RSA Larkhill on Friday 13th March 2026.
Regatta Prize Winners
Admiral’s Cup (Awarded for Best Unit) – 16 Regiment RA, Skippered by Ssgt Max Wilkinson
Bantry Class (1st Place): Kusima, Ben Archer
Bhopal Cup (1st Place): Buster, Kevin Raine
The Solent Plate (Youngest Skipper): SSgt Max Wilkinson 16 Regiment
Morgan Trophy (Bhopal Class Runner-Up): St Barbara V, Nat Webber
Nawabzada Cup (Bantry Class Runner-Up): Dogmatix, Tony Neylan
Click on this link to download the RAYC 2025 Offshore Regatta Report and Results.
Dates for Regatta 2026
Please mark your diaries for next year’s offshore regatta, which is scheduled for the weekend of 11–13 September 2026. We hope that even more boats and crews will be able to enter.