Harry Heijst’s classic S&S 41 Winsome claimed overall honours in the 2026 RORC De Guingand Bowl Race after a closely fought offshore contest in the Solent and English Channel. The Royal Ocean Racing Club event delivered tactical racing, tight finishes and strong performances across the fleet.
The Cowes-based race tested crews with changing conditions, demanding sail handling and sharp decision-making around a series of offshore marks. After IRC time correction, Winsome secured overall victory ahead of Ben Owens and Luke Lawrence aboard the double-handed JPK 1010 Leonard. Mark Brown’s JPK 1010 Jetpack completed the podium.
“It all went so well, we did not make a mistake the whole race,” said Heijst.
“Approaching the marks, that was where the experience really counted. You have to be ahead of the boat, not behind it.”
He praised the crew’s sail handling and preparation, adding that Winsome continued to prove competitive despite her age.
A dramatic battle for monohull line honours went down to the wire. Nick and Jacquetta Edmonds’ J/45 Stickleback crossed the finish line first after 14 hours, 12 minutes and 14 seconds at sea.
RORC Vice Commodore Derek Shakespeare’s J/122 Bulldog finished just 73 seconds behind after a tense tacking duel to the finish. Multihull line honours went to Peter Coote’s Dazcat 1295 Slinky Malinki.
In IRC One, Trevor Middleton’s JPK 1180 Black Sheep, skippered by Jake Carter, secured class victory.
IRC Two went to Richard Powell’s First 40 Rogan Josh, which beat Bulldog by just 55 seconds on corrected time. Ronan Banhim’s First 40 Galahad of Cowes finished third.
The 19-boat IRC Three fleet produced some of the closest racing of the event. The Army Sailing Association’s Sun Fast 3600 Fujitsu British Soldier, skippered by Matt Sargent, took the class win.
Astrid de Vin and Roeland Franssens aboard the double-handed JPK 1030 Il Corvo were second, just 30 seconds behind on corrected time. Rob Craigie and RORC Commodore Deb Fish on Bellino finished a further 28 seconds adrift.
“It was a short and hard race,” said Sargent.
“The race was all about keeping the intensity levels up, working the micro tactics, taking the shifts and gusts, and never giving up.”
The IRC Two-Handed division attracted 15 entries. Owens and Lawrence’s Leonard took victory after an impressive performance that also earned second overall.
“We are really happy,” said Owens.
“To win IRC Double Handed and come second overall is pretty special, especially in such a competitive fleet.”
Owens, who is preparing for the 2026 Round Ireland Race, credited fast sail changes and effective teamwork for the result.
The race marked another competitive edition of the De Guingand Bowl, combining offshore strategy, close class racing and a reminder that experience remains a powerful asset in modern yacht racing.
