International 14 2026 Prince of Wales Cup Week Day 1

Largs Sailing Club in Ayrshire, Scotland are hosting the 2026 Prince of Wales Cup for the International 14s. 30 boats have made the journey to the Scottish coast and have been rewarded by stunning views and a slightly more bearable summer heatwave, including a number of beautiful classics some dating back to the 1920s. There were also new additions to the Scottish fleet with Jono Shelley showcasing his brand new B6, and plenty of new faces and teams as the fleet's regeneration continues.

The Modern regatta kicked off with a Northerly 12-15 knots, rebutting the forecast. The race officer, Rob Brown, set the race course to the North of Cumbrae Island and stage was set for the first 2 races of the regatta.

International 14 2026 Prince of Wales Cup Week Day 1 - photo © Dan Challis

Race 1

A pin favoured line led to a lot of last minute traffic toward the pin and early tacks by the majority of the fleet. The Partingtons nailed a dip start at the pin and fired out to the left, followed by new pairing Tim Saxton / George Yeoman and another new pairing Katie Nurton / Alex Knight, out the other side World Champs Andy Shaw / Rob Struckett and a temporary new pairing of Andy FitzGerald / Harry Kennedy chasing what looked like more breeze on the right.

By the time the two fleets converged the Partingtons and Tim / George had broken away with the left coming in far stronger. The Partingtons showed good pace, especially through the transitions but Tim / George found better lay lines to keep things tight, but ultimately did not have enough to challenge as the Partingtons went on for a post to post win in race 1.

International 14 2026 Prince of Wales Cup Week Day 1 - photo © Dan Challis

Andy / Harry were holding off a fast charging Andy / Rob over the last lap and it came down to the final gybe of the race, where Andy / Rob bided their time rolled in to a gybe inside Andy / Harry and took 3rd on the water.

The drama wasn't over though as Tim / George had misread the SIs and missed the spreader on the final lap leading to them retiring after the race.

International 14 2026 Prince of Wales Cup Week Day 1 - photo © Dan Challis

Race 2

The pin again was the area of interest as the favoured left hand side, coupled with the bias, was tempting the fleet in early. A tangle between Katie / Alex and Tim / George allowed Andy / Harry to nail a pin start and lead out to the left, although it was Andy / Rob who found top gear and sailed themselves into a huge lead after the first beat.

Behind them, Andy / Harry were holding off a gaggle of challengers with the Partingtons, Katie / Alex, George / Tim and Adam Ovington / Stu Keegan, in their new (to them) orange B6, split apart during the run and all came back together at the leeward tightly grouped.

Andy / Rob continued to extend comfortably throughout the first lap and then applied a loose cover to the split fleet, but were never seriously challenged again and would go on to take the 2nd race comfortably.

International 14 2026 Prince of Wales Cup Week Day 1 - photo © Dan Challis

Behind them, the breeze was now dying, and the Partingtons and Tim / George chose the left hand gate and headed right, Andy / Harry led the others to the left, which again proved to be favoured and allowed Andy / Harry to consolidate a comfortable 2nd place which they held to the finish.

The Partingtons managed to dig back to the left, still in touch, and reclaimed 3rd place. They were followed by Katie / Alex and Adam / Stu, but Tim / George made one final roll of the dice, gybing out one more time into some of the older stronger breeze and managed to jump Adam / Stu at the death.

This leaves Andy / Rob as overnight leaders by 1 point from the Partingtons, with Andy / Harry one point further back.

With just a single point separating first and second, and another point back to third, the regatta remains wide open. A changeable forecast promises plenty more opportunities before Saturday's one-race Prince of Wales Cup National Championship.

Overall Results: