The 2026 National Championships were held in Jensen Beach, Florida at the US Sailing Center Martin County from October 23-25.  The sailing center is an excellent location with a very active youth and community sailing program.  The center is contributing to building and retaining the future of sailing.

Weta sailors began arriving Wednesday evening October 21st. This year we had 13 single-handed racers and 4 double-handed racers. As is often the case in sailing, there was some weather forecast anxiety. Friday should be nice, Saturday, nice but perhaps a little strong, and Sunday was shaping up to be a blowout. To deal with the anxiety, sailors rigged their boats, did some boat fiddling, and went to settle into their various accommodations.  That night many went to a nice dinner with friends to catch up. The dinner conversations inevitably drifted to pontifications of weather.  A conversation in which every sailor has at least one opinion.

Thursday, the practice day, was forecasted to be sunny and pleasant with 10-15 kts out of the northeast.  In that range the Weta is in her element, she’ll plane upwind and downwind and capsize concerns are less in the forefront. Luckily the forecast didn’t disappoint, and Thursday was a perfect “Weta day”.

Friday morning arrived with beautiful weather and excellent Weta racing conditions; sunny, 80 degrees, winds from the NE/NNE at 12-15 knots with gusts slightly higher.  After a 9:30 competitors meeting the fleet headed out to the racing area for an 11:00 first signal. The Race Committee, headed by Carol Ewing, was able to finish 4 great, "hang-on for the downwind" races in what were perfect Weta racing conditions. Racing was tight through all four races and at the end of the day only four points separated first and fourth place. Friday’s racing was followed by pizza and “beverages” sponsored by the Weta Class Association. The pizza was good, the “beverages” were cold, and the conversations were fun, but most sailors were ready to rest and relax and headed to their rooms early.

Saturday’s weather didn't disappoint; partly cloudy, 81 degrees, wind out of the NE at 16, gusting to around 20 knots. The sailors started arriving around 8:00 to rig and prepare for a 10:00 first warning. Racers started to trickle out to the racing area at around 9:00 in 15-18 knots out of the NE. As we drew closer to the first signal, conditions started to become quite “sporty” and the wind climbed into the low to mid 20’s. The RC started race #5 on time in 20+ knots, but about ¾ of the way up the first windward leg, there was a huge “righty” which caused the race to be abandoned. Back to the starting area to do it again. Race #5 was restarted and the RC was able to complete four fun and exciting races in building conditions. Once again racing was tight, now with enough races completed for a throw out, 1 point separated 1^st and 2^nd.

Unfortunately, Sunday’s forecast didn’t moderate from earlier, rain/thunderstorms, winds from the NNE at 22-25 gusting to 30-40, so the decision was made to end this years championship after 8 great races. Sailors started to break down and pack up their boats and get them prepared for the trip home. Saturday night we joined the members and guests of the Sailing Center for their Oktoberfest party. After enjoying the food and libations, we had a raffle for all things Weta and presented this year’s awards.

Sunday arrived with weather as bad or worse that projected; cloudy, rainy, and squalls from the NE in the upper 20’s and gusts well into the 30’s. Thankful to not be on the water, sailors started making their way home or to their next scheduled adventure.

This year is the first year that the Class has had and presented the new National Championship perpetual trophy. The “Cliff Peshek” trophy will be presented to the single-handed division winner.

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

Single-handed Division

Pete Merrifield - 1^st Place (12 pts)

Chuck Carrol - 2^nd Place (13 pts)

Gareth Ferguson – 3^rd Place (17 pts)

Double-handed Division

Alan Taylor/Phil Styne – 1^st Place (7 pts)

Stefan Flink/Colin Flink – 2^nd Place (23 pts)

Full results can be viewed here: https://theclubspot.com/regatta/Yz9kEB5Ffu/results

Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s National Championship. These events don’t happen by themselves. Many hours go into preparing for and putting these events together. I would like to thank this year’s regatta chair, Devin Van Zandt, for leading this year’s Championships. Well done!