International 14 2026 Prince of Wales Cup Week Day 4

After a full day ashore as the Clyde proved too wild to race, the fleet returned knowing the Prince of Wales Championship would almost certainly be decided in big breeze. The forecast promised a building south-westerly and Race Officer Rob Brown laid a six-lap stadium course just off Largs Sailing Club, ensuring everyone would have a front-row seat.

At the start the majority of the fleet opted for the starboard end, but it was local boys Josh Kerr / Ali Kent who nailed the pin end closely followed by Tim Saxton / George Yeoman and Andy Fitzgerald / Harry Kennedy. Andy Shaw / Rob Struckett and the Partingtons led off the ship and the fleet drag races to the less tidal, wind favoured left hand side.

International 14 2026 Prince of Wales Cup Week Day 4 - photo © Patrick Condy

At the first cross Tim / George led Andy / Rob and the teams were neck and neck round the top mark closely followed by Andy / Harry and the Partingtons. Tim / George opted for the early gybe, but overstood the leeward mark and Andy / Rob took the initiative and rounded inside them. The two boats went hammer and tongs up the next beat, but ultimately Andy / Rob rounded the next windward first, and immediately hoisted the kite for a full bore tight reach whilst the rest of the fleet held off. They disappeared in a ball of spray and extended into a big lead, but was it big enough to maintain through the carnage that followed.

Whilst Andy / Rob extended, the race stretched. The Partingtons saw there kite sheets come untide mid-reach, and Andy / Harry took a quick reset with a capsize in a tack which led to a quite distanced leading pack, with tight battles chasing the leaders.

International 14 2026 Prince of Wales Cup Week Day 4 - photo © Patrick Condy

Close behind, Jono Shelley / Graham Preistley were locked in a battle with Katie Nurton / Alex Knight, with the Cornish team of Liam Stacpoole / Wayne Barnicote flying upwind showing that time in their homemade boat made them far more dangerous than the weight they were lacking! After a close altercation at the top mark Jono / Graham were able to extend away chasing down the leading pack, with their Largs stablemates of Josh / Ali in hot pursuit. But the Clyde was about to throw a new curveball, “Death Valley” had been replaced by “Coffin Corner” where the tide had turned and the chop had grown just around the point of the gybe mark.

Over the next couple of laps “Coffin Corner” started to claim its victims. The wind built to a solid 20 knots and the 14s needed all their confidence and skill, as well as a bit of luck with the swell, to nail their gybes. The first of the key contenders to fall at this hurdle were Tim / George on the penultimate lap, trying to play it safe a slower gybe undid their race with a long swim and saw the Partingtons and Andy / Harry fly by to take up the charge. Fatigue was setting in, but the breeze and chop were building.

International 14 2026 Prince of Wales Cup Week Day 4 - photo © Patrick Condy

One more lap to go, Andy / Rob were launched. They took a sensible approach and rode high of a graveyard of boats who didn’t survive the bare away from a previous lap, and sent it down the final triangle. They nailed the gybe and stormed across the line to a well deserved back-to-back POW wins.

Behind them, there was yet one more sting in the “Coffin Corner” tail. By this point the Partingtons had put themselves in a strong position, comfortable enough to two-sail the top reach, but this meant an uncomfortable 2 sail gybe which proved one step too far as they couldn’t make it stick, allowing Andy / Harry to cruise up to them. Learning from their competitors they chose to hoist pre gybe, but with the chop building and the harbour wall approaching they committed. Into the gybe, kite through, battens popped, boat accelerated and sadly left the crew behind, and yet ANOTHER 2nd place contender fell in the drink. This gave Tim / George one more bite at the apple, two sailing the top reach they set late to make the gybe more comfortable, managed to make it stick and were able to cruise the bottom reach to take a hard fought 2nd place. The Partingtons were able to get upright to come in third.

International 14 2026 Prince of Wales Cup Week Day 4 - photo © Patrick Condy

This Prince of Wales Cup will go down as one of the classics. The backdrop, the challenge and the drama showcased everything that makes the International 14 so special. High-octane racing, huge commitment and no shortage of heartbreak. Congratulations to Andy Shaw & Rob Struckett – worthy winners, back-to-back Prince of Wales champions and 2026 National Champions.

We have two more races to go to finishing off the week, with the second planned to be a round Cumbrae Island race and the forecast looks glamour. Stay tuned for the conclusion of the championship week.

Prince of Wales Cup Race Results: