KYC Regatta Reports

2025-06-29 KYC Represented at the International 505 UK National Championship, 26-29 June 2025

KYC Represented at the International 505 UK National Championship, 26-29 June 2025

The 26 teams racing for the 2025 International 505 UK National Championship trophy at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) included three French teams, two US teams, an Australian driver, and a Canadian team.  Devlin Lovshin (Ottawa/Kingston/Kingston YC) teamed up with Alexander “Ali” Meller (Kingston/Kingston YC) to race the event.  

Figure 1 Hamlin/Zinn narrowly lead at first weather mark, Quirk/Needham second, Meller/Lovshin third

Figure 2 Meller/Lovshin rounded the first weather mark 3rd in both the Thursday races

A number of non-UK-based competitors have 505s stored by Northampton-based Pinnell & Bax (P&B) in the UK, to race in UK and European events. Meller/Lovshin raced the event in Meller’s 505 CAN 9200, which is stored by P&B. 

The WPNSA was built for the 2012 Olympic sailing events and is an incredible facility, being very well used by UK sailing team members and others. There were groups of 470s, 49er and 49erFX, ILCAs, Waszps and Moths out sailing each day, typically in the very large outer harbour. The facility also supported sail training, war canoeing and stand up paddle boarding for large groups of local school kids each day. There was also a match racing event in RS21s being held over the weekend. Accommodation, chandleries, grocery store, and several pubs/restaurants are all within easy walking distance.

The sailing in Weymouth Bay, outside the outer harbour, was spectacular with breezes in the 18-28 knot range for two practice days and three days of racing; the last day of the scheduled four-day event was lost due to breeze under 5 knots.

The fleet included multiple 505 world and national champions, as well as sailors who had won championships in other classes. This was Meller/Lovshin’s second event racing together.  They had excellent pace upwind in the strongest breeze but were not as practiced – yet – as the top teams.

Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy: https://www.wpnsa.org.uk

505 UK Nationals Results: https://www.sailwave.com/results/WPNSA/2025_505_Nationals.htm

Canadian 505 Class: https://505.ca

International 505 Class: https://www.int505.org

 

Ali Meller