Tân Gwyllt wins Inlands in Ullswater

The SB20s returned to Ullswater on 6–7 September for the 2025 Inland Championships held as part of the Ullswater Regatta. Although the fleet was a modest five boats, the event delivered everything the class is known for - close racing, challenging conditions and plenty of drama!

Ullswater Yacht Club once again provided a warm welcome with launching made simple from the western shore. Just two minutes from the jetty the start area was tight, hemmed in by the shoreline and a shallow reef. With the committee boat close to the shore and an identified reef, there wasn’t a lot of room for a timed run or an early tack to port which added an extra challenge to the starts. That made every start a tactical puzzle with gusts tumbling unpredictably off the surrounding hills.

Saturday saw three races in shifty breezes. In the opener, Dave Wilkinson and crew on Mutts Nuts read the gusts best and sailed clear to victory chased by Tân Gwyllt, helmed by Phil Tilley with Rachel and Chris Eames as crew. Andy Williams and Bruce Kemp on Great White Lies then found their stride, mastering the shifts to claim back-to-back race wins and end the day on top of the leaderboard. Newcomers Sean and Lorna Nee, racing their recently purchased Boomerang, showed improving form throughout the day.

Sunday dawned with the threat of a storm later in the afternoon and the breeze was already building. Local sailors Tom Neilson and team suffered cruel luck before racing began when a heavy gust destroyed their spinnaker forcing them to retire. On the racecourse the shifting winds, swinging as much as 60 degrees, kept the Race Officer busy, but when the first race finally started, Tân Gwyllt seized the opportunity. Tilley and his crew threaded the shifts perfectly to take the win, while Great White Lies and Boomerang followed close behind.

The second race of the day brought gusts topping 25 knots turning the contest into a test of survival.

“It became a game of surviving the gusts and hoping to be on the right tack as each one hit,” - said Phil Tilley. “It really sharpened our boat handling, and there was never a dull moment.”

Despite the chaos, Tân Gwyllt again prevailed and after 5 races there was still a tie for first and second place. Having set this pattern for the day, Phil Tilley's team won the next two races to claim victory overall.

With seven races completed Tân Gwyllt emerged as Inland Champions, finishing ahead of Andy Williams's Great White Lies in second and Sean Nee's Boomerang in third. At the prize-giving, Bruce Kemp from Great White Lies thanked the race team for delivering a full weekend of competitive racing despite the challenging wind conditions.

Reflecting on this championship, Phil Tilley highlighted one moment in particular:

“A real highlight was screaming downwind at 12 knots, within half a boat length of the committee boat, as we tried to force separation from Great White Lies. That’s what SB20 sailing is all about.”

The SB20 Inland Championships once again proved that Ullswater offers some of the most exciting and scenic racing in the UK. With its warm hospitality and testing conditions it remains a highlight on the SB20 calendar. The class looks forward to welcoming more teams to join the action next year and experience why Ullswater is such a special place to sail.

Full results are available here