Two centuries of Solent magic - SB20 fleet enjoyed pure gold at Cowes Week 2026
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If two hundred years of tradition proves anything, it’s that nobody does a regatta quite like Cowes Week. The 200th edition of North Sails Cowes Week delivered a legendary showcase of British summer sailing - complete with HRH The Princess Royal firing the starting cannons, visiting Admiral’s Cup carbon rockets, classic keelboats and over 640 boats tearing up the Solent.
After a gentle, glass-like delay on Day 1, the weather gods delivered classic Solent conditions: building sea breezes, glorious sunshine and a proper mid-week 'Big Wednesday' low-pressure system to keep everyone on their toes. For the SB20 fleet, fresh off a 30-plus boat Open UK Nationals, North Sails Cowes Week was a masterclass in tight competition, fleet resurgence and unmatched camaraderie.
Three races a day, zero regrets
With over twenty SB20s on the starting line, it was the largest fleet for nearly a decade! The Grand Slam and subsequent Mini Slam formats were, again, a roaring success. The Grand Slam delivering three races a day over four action-packed days, the fleet enjoyed the ultimate Solent buffet: iconic Royal Yacht Squadron line starts, tactical 'round-the-cans' treasure hunts and razor-sharp windward-leeward sprints.
Recapping four epic days of Grand Slam drama
Day 1 set the tempo with high drama right off the start. After early start-line hiccups were ironed out, Race 1 delivered a frantic finish when the lead SB20s ran straight into the back of the J/70 fleet. With two minutes to go, any one of five boats could have taken victory in the pile-up, but Nils Razmilovic broke free to snatch the win before completely walking away with the next two races.
Day 2 belonged to Charlie Whelan, Craig Burlton and Richard McAdam on Reservoir Bod. After being heart-wrenchingly pipped at the line by Jono Shelley in Race 1 - having led the entire way around - Reservoir Bod rebounded with a rock-solid 2-2-3 series to claim overall honours for the day.
Day 3: Mid-week brought the heavy breeze and with it, a relentless duel at the top. Day 3 saw Nils Razmilovic and Mark Gillett finish dead-locked on points after three gruelling races, with Glasgow Kiss just edging out PBII ORO Racing Team on countback.
Day 4: Jono Shelley on Saturn Sails saved his best for last on Day 4. Banking back-to-back bullets to secure 3rd overall, Jono pulled off a proper "horizon job" in the opening race, opening up an unassailable lead on the rest of the fleet.
The introduction of Vakaros Race Sense kept the action slick - and thankfully spared the fleet from the endless general recall delays of previous years. That said, the Race Committee wasn't entirely without plot twists. In one race, an inadvertent swap of the pin and Committee Vessel had every unit on board screaming OCS downwind, leaving half the fleet sailing to France to clear themselves before realising they were actually fine!
Glasgow Kiss takes the double title
Fighting for the Grand Slam and then dominating the Mini Slam titles was Glasgow Kiss.
Sailing under the Singapore flag with all the subtlety of its namesake, Glasgow Kiss arrived at Cowes Week hot off a second-place finish at the 2026 Open UK Nationals. For Class newcomers wondering how a Singapore entry with a globe-trotting crew keeps dominating the Solent, the secret lies in skipper Nils Razmilovic’s deep local mileage.
Having spent years in the Etchells fleet against his brother, probably not many SB20 sailors know the Solent as well as Nils. Paired with over a decade sailing the SB20s across the globe Glasgow Kiss competes as a Corinthian entry, Nils proves that years of practice and tactical instinct can easily punch above the weight of any full-time pro.
Anchoring the team is Nils’s long-standing crew David Salembier. David’s partnership with Nils was forged in the heat of racing in Singapore, building a decade-plus double act that regularly delivers tactical "headbutts" to the opposition. Injecting serious speed is bowman Marcus Tressler, a former British Sailing 470 crew, whose background provides the high-tempo boat handling needed when Cowes delivers its classic conditions.
Skipper Nils Razmilovic was all smiles back at the dock:
"We’re just enjoying the sailing! It’s been a super week out on the water. Having friends and family around - it’s just been absolutely fabulous! You really couldn’t ask for a better week of Solent racing."
Claws out at the top
Victory was far from a walk in the park, as Mark Gillett and the PBII ORO Racing Team (sailing with Richard Anderton and Paul Hine) kept Glasgow Kiss under pressure right down to the wire.
"Competing at the top of this class is ridiculously tight," - noted Mark. - "Nils kept his razor-sharp form from the UK Nationals to win overall by just a few points. On PBII-Twenty we took on the Grand Slam's final day challenge aiming to beat Nils in every race - which we nearly did - but he snuck ahead in Race 11 to secure the win. We're now building up to the SB20 Worlds in Hyères this October, which is a venue we love. Huge congratulations to Nils and team!"
Securing 3rd overall was returning SB20 legend Jono Shelley and his crew on Saturn Sails, who banked two emphatic bullets on the final day. Shelley teamed up with Musto Skiff mates Jamie Hilton and Ben Schooking after UK Class Chairman Charlie Whelan lent them his new Devoti built boat.
"It did not disappoint one bit," - said Jono. - "The conditions were superb and the mix of course racing was fantastic. We stepped into a highly competitive Class with National and World champions on almost every boat, so we had our hands full early on! But as the week went on, we got the rig and boat handling sorted. The Glasgow Kiss crew were a cut above and PBII delivered fantastic speed. We’re definitely hooked again and looking forward to racing our old rivals at the 2027 SB20 Worlds in Torquay!"
Rounding out the top four were Charlie Whelan, Richard McAdam joined by the 2009 SB20 World Champion Craig Burlton on ReservoirBod, while the UK Class Secretary Phil Tilley on Tân Gwyllt and first female crew Rosie Povall made a comeback from a below par Nationals event to finish consistently in the top 5 and hence fifth overall.
Teams Reservoir Bod, Tân Gwyllt and Boomerang - Copyright George Vaan
The family team on Boomerang of Sean and Lorna Nee who enjoy SB20 sailing with their three daughters - finished the Grand Slam 6th overall, then handed the helm to elder daughter Bee to secure 2nd in the Mini Slam.
"Last year we only took part during 2 days and were very much out if our depth and new to the boat, - said Sean. - "Fast forward to this year and with some very helpful tips and guidance from other class members, we are much more confident and occasionally get to battle it out with the front runners."
The 200th North Sails Cowes Week showed a growing international appeal and vibrant youth pipeline within the SB20 Class. Bringing fantastic energy to the fleet were multiple Youth entries, including Radley College, Shark Bait from Sussex YC and Cokethorpe School teams. They were joined by the visiting RSZV CAMPAGNE mixed team from Rotterdam aboard Den Boer CCI, who threw themselves into both the high-octane racing and the legendary socials.
More on the international fleet, the SB20 UK welcomed two Australian entries - Porco Rosso and Ares (helmed by Eirini Marios). Sailing in different crew configurations from the UK Nationals, the Aussies kept the pressure on the frontrunners. Team Ares set the tone early by winning the opening race of the Grand Slam and consistently posting top-10 finishes throughout the week.
Female participation was exceptionally strong across the fleet, featuring at least four competitive female helms and numerous talented women crewing across nearly every boat.
The Sussex "invasion" & fleet spirit
If there was an award for sheer fleet enthusiasm, it belongs to the Sussex Yacht Club contingent, who sailed their seven boat fleet from Shorham to race in the Solent. From 28-race marathons to an epic 43-mile, 15-hour motor-sail delivery trips back to Shoreham, the SYC crew embodied the true spirit of the Class. A personal thanks to Will Holden for bringing their fleet and making it epic for everyone!
Some photos from racing - Copyright Sussex Yacht Club
As new skipper Tim Wheele (Sacre Bleu) summarised:
"Cowes Week is like normal racing on steroids!"
Melanie Clarke (Fluttergrub) praised the Class's legendary helpfulness:
"We raced in all conditions and improved every day, purely down to the amazing support from the SB20 class members. Everyone is so generous with their tips."
That sentiment was echoed by youth sailor Bethan on Shark Bait:
"I’ve never found a community like ours where everyone looks out for each other and shares knowledge so freely. Special thanks to Mark Gillett, Phil Tilley and Charlie Whelan for all their encouragement."
Remembering Katie Ashworth
Amidst the post-regatta celebrations, the SB20 Class was hit with heartbreaking news: the passing of Katie Ashworth (née Jackson). Katie served as the SB20 Class Secretary during the foundational years of the 2000s, playing a pivotal role in shaping the warm, vibrant, and organised community we enjoy today. She passed away following a battle with cancer, leaving behind her loving husband and two children. The UK Class Chairman Charlie Whelan paid tribute on behalf of the fleet:
"Katie was the beating heart of the SB20 Class during its formative years. Her tireless dedication, infectious enthusiasm, and kindness laid the very groundwork for what our fleet is today. We owe so much of our class spirit to her early work. The entire SB20 family sends its deepest condolences and love to her husband and children during this devastating time. She will be dearly missed, but her legacy lives on in every fleet start we make."
North Sails Cowes Week - Overall results
North Sails Cowes Week Video & SB20 Photo Gallery
Official Video Highlights: Cowes Week 2026 Video Recap
Official Photo Gallery: Link to the official photo gallery for each photo credits and high resolution images. Copyright Paul Wyeth and Martin Allen.
Photogallery from the Radley College team - please copyright George Vaan:
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