Nationals wrap: Dave Shaw leads the charge as championships decided

The sailing season has already delivered a packed calendar of national championships, with titles decided across the country and plenty of close racing along the way. Over the past two months, sailors have faced everything from shifty breezes to big fleets, with a mix of rising stars and seasoned campaigners stepping onto the podium.

This weekend, attention turns to the Flying 15 and 420 fleets as they contest their national championships at the Tup Radford Memorial Regatta, hosted by the Evans Bay Yacht and Motorboat Club. Meanwhile, the Noelex 25s begin their nationals at Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club, and the J14 class gets underway at Waiuku Yacht Club.

There’s still plenty of championship racing to come this summer, but first, here’s a recap of the classes that have already awarded their national titles — and the performances that set the benchmark.

Shaws' perfect foil

Dave Shaw continued his dominance of New Zealand multihull racing, claiming the 2026 Tornado national championships at Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club with his wife, Susan. The couple sailed a flawless regatta, winning all eight races to secure the title. Second place went to Winston Ordish-Brenner and Shanae Ahern (Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club), narrowly ahead of Opua Cruising Club’s Wayne Limbrick and Sally Tait by one point. The championship added another accolade to Dave Shaw’s record, who is also the defending and multiple-time A Class and Paper Tiger national champion. 

Full results here. 

Twenty-four boats competed at the 2026 Farr 3.7 National Championships. Photo / New Plymouth Yacht Club

Moriarty takes out Farr 3.7 title

Paul Moriarty of New Plymouth Yacht Club took the 2026 Farr 3.7 national championships on home waters, narrowly edging Derek Snow (Wakatere Boating Club) by a single point in a strong 24-boat fleet. Moriarty won three races and finished runner-up in four others, while Snow’s victory in the final race nearly overturned the lead. Joe Batchelor (also from New Plymouth Yacht Club) rounded out the podium. Youth and veteran sailors impressed as well: local Ethan Lecher was the top under-21 competitor in sixth, Werner Hennig claimed Grand Veteran honours in eighth, and Silvana Nieto (Rotorua Yacht Club) led the female sailors in 12th overall. 

Full results here.

Megan Thomson and her 2.0 Racing Team with the spoils. Photo / RNZYS

Women’s match racing: Thomson keeps the crown

2.0 Racing Team defended their title at the 2026 New Zealand women’s match racing championships at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Skipper Megan Thomson, alongside Charlotte Porter, Anna Merchant, Josi Andres, and Alex Maloney, took the team to gold ahead of Lily Xu’s crew (silver) and Harriet McLachlan’s Australian team (bronze). The win continues a streak of dominance for 2.0 Racing, which also won the last two national titles and has strong international results, including runner-up finishes at the 2024 and 2025 women’s world match racing championships. 

Manly Sailing Club hosted the Waszp nationals. Photo / Suellen Hurling, Live Sail Die

Camenzind beats Mason in Waszp thriller

The PredictWind Waszp national championships at Manly Sailing Club produced a thrilling series, with 12 high-speed races over three days, leaving just two points separating the top sailors. Jasper Camenzind claimed the national title, edging out William Mason, while Will Leech finished third. Youth and age-group divisions saw Mason take the under-19 crown, Brooke Mundy the women’s 8.2m title, Dahlia Fyfe top the 7.5 open and women’s division, and Peter Graham win the masters (over 40). 

Derek Scott finished third at the A Class nationals held at Maraetai Sailing Club. Photo / Supplied

Drummond, Shaw triumph with A Class performances

Mike Drummond (Wakatere Boating Club) and Dave Shaw (Nelson Yacht Club) claimed the 2026 A Class national championship titles at Maraetai Sailing Club. Drummond won the classic division on countback over clubmate Bruce Curson, while Bruce Mathers (Nelson Yacht Club) finished third. Shaw faced less resistance in the open division, winning all three completed races to secure the title ahead of David Haylock and Derek Scott. Shaw, the top Kiwi at the 2026 A Class world championships held late last year, added another national crown to his decorated multihull career. 

Full results here.

The Hartley 16 fleet after racing. Photo / Supplied

Hartley 16: Bizarre goes back to back

Russell Durrant and Clynton Leuty of Manukau Yacht and Motorboat Club successfully defended their Hartley 16 national championships crown aboard Bizarre. They held off New Plymouth’s Jason Holdt and Todd Birrell on Shaking Laundry, and Wayne Holdt and Duncan Dunning on Panache in a tightly contested fleet. 

Morris, Bright lead list of iQFOiL champions 

Nearly 50 riders contested the 2026 iQFOiL national championships at Milford Cruising Club. Australia’s Grae Morris claimed the men’s 8m title, while Aimee Bright topped the women’s 7.3m podium. Youth winners included Ben Rist (8m) and Elbe White (7.3m), while Honor Fyfe took junior female 6m honours. Open gold went to Patrick Haybittle, with Alin Misescu winning open silver. The championship highlighted New Zealand’s growing strength in Olympic windfoil disciplines and Milford’s status as a premier foiling venue.

Nate Soper, Leo Brown, Hugo Smith and Charlotte Handley took out the top four spots. Photo / Royal Akarana Yacht Club

Home club sweeps Starling Match Racing

Royal Akarana Yacht Club sailors dominated the 2026 Starling match racing nationals, locking out the top four positions. Hugo Smith claimed gold after a three-race final against Charlotte Handley. Leo Brown secured bronze, defeating Nate Soper 2–0 in the petit final. 

Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club hosted the Hansa nationals. Photo / Sailability Tauranga

Inclusive sailing shines at Hansa nationals

The Hansa national championships at Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club delivered competitive racing across singles and doubles divisions. Paulien Chamberlain (Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club) claimed the Hansa 303 singles title, while Angus Bates and Richard Bates topped the doubles. Sailability Tauranga’s support ensured safe, competitive, and enjoyable racing for all participants, highlighting the class's accessibility. 

Full results here.

The 2026 Noelex 22 national championships had a strong turnout. Photo / Supplied

May on top at Noelex 22 event

Andrew May, sailing with Ross May and Brian Lamb, dominated the 2026 Noelex 22 national championships at Naval Point Club Lyttelton, winning five of eight races. Tristin Ornsby (second) and Olliver Gilmour (third) completed the podium in a 14-boat fleet that battled shifting winds and tactical challenges. 

OK Dinghy: McDowell masters Wakatere

The 2026 OK Dinghy national championships at Wakatere Boating Club saw Steve McDowell claim the title after nine races over Waitangi weekend. Dave Ridley and Ben Morrison completed the podium. Category winners included Noah Hengst (junior), John Cutler (master), and Rod Davis (grand master). Dan Bush received the Clive Roberts Trophy for outstanding service to the class. 

Paper Tiger tamed: Shaw's nine-race rampage

Dave Shaw kicked off his 2026 national championship trifecta with a perfect Paper Tiger campaign at Clarks Beach Yacht Club. Winning all nine races, Shaw finished nine points ahead of Napier Sailing Club’s Scott Pedersen and Scott Hodges (New Plymouth Yacht Club). Jane Thomassen (Evans Bay Yacht and Powerboat Club) was the top female in 19th overall. 

Full results here.

Cam Brown and Tessa Clinton at the Sunburst national championships. Photo / Live Sail Die

Eighth Sunburst triumph for Cam Brown

Cam Brown and Tessa Clinton (Wakatere Boating Club) claimed the 2026 Sunburst national championships, winning four of six races aboard Vagrant. The victory marked Brown’s eighth Sunburst national title, just shy of his father Andrew’s record. Second went to Andy and Pippa Walker, with Robbs Hielkema and his eight-year-old son Luka completing the podium, highlighting the class’s strong family traditions. A new cruising division also encouraged younger sailors to gain experience in a low-pressure setting. 

Greta Pilkington finished just behind the USA's Erika Reineke. Photo / Insight Media

Wild weather cuts short ILCA action

The ILCA national championships at Bay of Islands Yacht Club were cut short by wild weather, but three days of tight racing crowned multiple champions. ILCA 6 open went to Erika Reineke (USA), narrowly ahead of Greta Pilkington and Australia's Frances Beebe. George Lane led the open men's fleet, with Chloe Turner the top youth female. In the ILCA 7 division, Mickey Beckett (Britain) won by one point over Duko Bos (Netherlands) and Finn Lynch (Ireland), with Zach Stibbe claiming under-21 honours and Nik Burfoot topping the masters. Nathan Soper won ILCA 4, while Phil Wild dominated ILCA 6 masters. 

Nelson Yacht Club hosted the Europe Dinghy national championships. Photo / Supplied

Europe Dinghy: Brebner’s dramatic win

The 2026 Europe Dinghy national championships at Nelson Yacht Club tested sailors with variable winds and 2-metre swells. Derek Brebner won the title after a dramatic final race, with Tim Fraser-Harris second and David Brown third. Antje Muller, despite early dominance, suffered gear failure and missed the final races. David Davies took the masters title, and Muller received the Kendall Trophy as the top female. The event also determined selection for the 2026 Europe Dinghy World Championship in Gdansk, Poland.

Batten backs up P Class success

Blake Batten successfully defended his Tauranga Cup P Class crown at the Kohimarama Yacht Club, securing multiple race wins across nine races to claim the title. Lauchy Wills finished second, and Luca Blundell took third after a strong final day. Greta Hutton won the Naomi James Challenge Trophy as the top female.