RS500 Rooster National Tour set for thrilling finale at Grafham Water
The 2026 RS500 Rooster National Tour heads to Grafham Water Sailing Club for its eagerly anticipated finale, with the Inland Championships set to decide the season’s honours.
After four varied and competitive events at Rutland, Dabchicks, Gurnard and Torbay, just one point separates the leading two teams. Tim Wilkins and Heather Wilkins top the standings on two points following victories at Rutland and Gurnard, while Mike Saul and Oli Kent are close behind on three points after winning at Dabchicks and taking second at Rutland.
With both leading helms entered for Grafham, everything is set for an exciting final showdown. Tim Wilkins will be joined at the Inland Championships by Fresh Abendstern, while Mike Saul and Ollie Kent return in boat 1689 looking to turn their consistent season into the overall tour title.
Currently third in the tour are Emma McEwen and Luke McEwen of Royal Lymington Yacht Club. Their campaign gathered real momentum with second place at the Torbay National Championships, adding to their sixth at Gurnard and putting them on eight points ahead of the final event. They arrive at Grafham with a clear opportunity to consolidate a tour podium and apply pressure to the two teams ahead.
Nigel Davis and Aaron Davis are another team to watch. Currently fifth on 11 points, they opened their season with third at Rutland and are one of the highest-placed established partnerships attending Grafham. A strong Inland Championships result could move them firmly up the final leaderboard.
John Reynolds and Fran Howell will also be back in action after finishing second at Dabchicks. Local knowledge could come into play for the Grafham Water pairing, who will be joined by fellow home sailor Peter Curtis, racing at the finale with Martyn Denchfield.
Completing the current entry list are Robin Leather and Emily Leather from Gurnard Sailing Club, bringing the fleet to seven boats and adding another fresh combination to the final event of the season.
National champion answers the Endeavour call
One notable absentee will be Paul Cullen, who will miss the Inland Championships to represent the 2000 class at the prestigious Endeavour Trophy, sailing with Adam Whitehouse.
Paul Cullen has earned that opportunity after a remarkable double-championship season, winning both the 2000 and RS500 National Championships. At Torbay, Paul Cullen and Fresh Abendstern were crowned RS500 National Champions after a commanding performance that also added to their European Championship title earlier in the season.
Their Torbay victory places them sixth in the current Rooster National Tour standings, despite competing in only one counting event. While the Grafham fleet will miss the newly crowned champions, the RS500 class will be cheering on Paul Cullen as he takes his place among Britain’s leading national champions at the Endeavour Trophy.
Everything to play for
The Inland Championships promise to provide a fitting conclusion to a season that has produced different event winners, close racing and rapidly changing fortunes across a wide range of conditions.
Can Tim Wilkins complete a hat-trick of tour-event victories? Will Mike Saul and Oli Kent overturn the one-point deficit? Can Emma McEwen and Luke McEwen carry their Nationals form into the finale, or will one of the chasing teams make a late charge up the standings?
With the tour title, podium positions and Inland Championship honours all on the line, Grafham Water Sailing Club is ready to host a fantastic final chapter to the 2026 RS500 Rooster National Tour.
View the current tour standings here.
Report by Emma McEwen
