Sponsored by Craftinsure
14 K6s entered the 2026 class Inland Championships with six races run over two days at Oxford. The forecast was for moderate wind on day one, lighter on day two.
Racing was expertly managed by Race Officer, Miles Roebuck and his team who set a gated windward leeward course. Due to the lighter forecast for Sunday, Miles planned to run a fourth race, if time permitted.
1pm, race one, clean start by the fleet. Richard Harvey, Kate Franklin and Mick Steer (Carsington SC) took the win in their recently acquired K6 216, followed home by Oxford’s Grant Blake and Andy Jarvis in K6 198 with Adrian Thomas and Joe Cantwell, also Oxford SC, third in K6 105. Race two saw the same top three fighting it out for the win with Grant and Andy taking first ahead of Team Harvey with Adrian and Joe again home in third.
Despite the good wind, conditions were challenging as the wind shifted up the course; the right side of the course became the favoured route upwind with some decent gusts helping the fleet downwind, if you could hook into them!
Race three and the pattern of the regatta was beginning to emerge. First home was Adrian and Joe, followed by Grant and Andy but this time former National Champion George Barker and son Bertie K6 209 in third. Team Harvey not far back in fourth.
4pm and efficient race management meant that there was sufficient time for that additional fourth race. The top three boats again vied for the win. Team Harvey regaining top spot with the win, Adrian and Joe in second and Andrew Preece and Jamie Ferguson K6 150 in third. Grant and Andy came home in fourth.
With the fourth race the discard was activated, so overnight positions were First Team Harvey on a nett 4 points, second Grant and Andy on nett 5 points and Adrain and Joe on nett 6 points. These three teams were ‘clear’ of George and Bertie in forth on nett 12 points.
The Sunday forecast proved correct as the wind initially was very patchy over the reservoir but soon filled in enough for a course to be set. So two races and three boats in close contention for the win.
Race five and despite the forecast the wind, which had veered north westerly was building and proving slightly stronger than expected. Good start on the wind altered course and close racing across the fleet. Top three, first home were Adrian and Joe, followed by Grant and Andy with Team Harvey in third. So with the final race to decide the Championship positions were in joint first place Grant and Andy and Adrian and Joe both on nett 7 points, third Team Harvey on 11.
Final race, race six, and again a good clean start by everyone. First home was Grant and Andy, second across the line was Mike Truman and James Bennett K6 172, third was Adrian and Joe with Team Harvey coming in fifth behind Dan Robins and Martin Gibson K6 159.
Congratulations to Grant Blake and Andy Jarvis, Class Inland Champions 2026 and, for first Oxford SC boat home, also awarded the John Hall Trophy. In second was Adrian Thomas and Joe Cantwell with Richard Harvey, Kate Franklin and Mick Steer in third. A really closely contested championship.
Prizes were presented by Colin West Oxford SC Commodore; thanks go to Mile Roebuck and his team for efficient and safe race management and to Craftinsure for its event sponsorship.
Notables were first time championship competitors Mark Brooker, Mark Saunders and Gary Swanson K6 109 from Grafham SC and Jo Goyder and Chris Sinclair K6 154 from Oxford SC.
All photographs Tim Olin
Final Results
