After such light winds yesterday it was great to see the wind build once more. It did mean the sailors had to get their wet weather gear out as there was a lot of rain too !
Good news was that everyone got to race in three exciting races today.
With 7 races now completed in the Seldén Half Ton Classic Cup 2026, 2Farr is in first position with The Pub and Harmony closely competiting for second place.
Once back ashore and dry the sailors were treated to a fabulous regatta dinner at Hankø Yacht Club.
High winds are predicted for tomorrow so its looking like a late start for the sailors.
For the full results on the Half Ton Classics Cup 2026 click here
Today the Half Ton Classics Cup 2026 started with very light airs, 1knts-3knts off the Island of Hankø, Norway. Following a fortunately uneventful start, the fleet pressed on through patchy conditions to the first mark north of the Sound.
Following the first mark rounding King One established an early lead, followed by 2Farr with Antheor in close pursuit. Tricky conditions concentrated the fleet heading toward the second mark with Classics and Moderns tacking upon one another in an effort to find breeze.
After a leg full of navigational challenges with rocks, islands and new breezes filling in, the fleet contended with a variety of wind directions.
After the second mark rounding, began a long downwind leg, crossing Oslofjord. 2Farr and King One established their lead, followed by Antheor and Quokka IX.
Rounding a local lighthouse, the fleet then headed east to Hankø Sound. Following this, the rich got richer and for many of the fleet it was a slow old race. After a light batch of rain and a modest wind increase (4-7knts) the fleet headed 7 miles upwind to a mark south of the Sound.
However, wherever in the fleet there was good match racing to maintain precious position. The finish was a spectacular sight between two rocky islands on the entrance to Hankø. Hankø Yacht Club met exhausted but enthusiastic sailors with a cold pint of Borg and welcoming hospitality.
Tomorrow we are back to windward-leewards, and the race is very much still on!
Main event of the Half Ton Class Europe, organised jointly with Royal Norwegian Yacht Club at Hankø, Norway.
Day 1 – Sparkling Seas and Stunning Scenery
In spite of the Practice Day cancellation many boats went out and enjoyed sparkling sailing with stunning scenery. For those that opted out, they enjoyed a long walk on Hankø island taking in the views.
The Introductory Dinner was held in the beautiful Hankø Yacht Club in the sunshine with over 200 sailors. Tomorrow things get serious !
To celebrate the conclusion of the Half Ton Classics Cup 2025, the Prize Giving and Dinner was held at the Imperial Hotel. Every Half Ton entrant attended the dinner to mark the end of a successful, fun-packed regatta. The Royal Torbay Yacht Club Race Committee was also invited, giving the Class an opportunity to personally thank them for their invaluable help and support throughout the event.
The Prize Giving started with the Half Tonners awarding a Ladies Trophy for the first time. This was won by Midnight X.
Midnight X wining the Ladies Trophy
Vintage Trophy for Half Ton Classics Cup 2025 was won by Insolent.
Insolent – Vintage Trophy
Harmony was awarded the the Half Ton Corinthian Trophy.
Harmony – Half Ton Corinthian Trophy
Oplite won the fabulous Half Ton Class True Spirit Trophy.
Oplite – Half Ton Class True Spirit Trophy
2 Farr gave an out standing performance throughout the week. They won the overall Half Ton Classics Cup Trophy for 2025.
2 Farr – Overall champions of the Half Ton Classics Cup 2025
We had several boats that had never attended a Half Ton Classics Cup before. They had thoroughly enjoyed the weeks racing, social event and getting to know the other sailors.
Oplite & Pichenette
It was great to see so many family members who joined in as either part of the crew or as support during the week. The youngest Half Tonner in the making was David Evans’ grandson from Halfajet. He had great fun distributing his stickers to all.
Halfajet
Next year the Hankø Half Ton Classics Cup 2026 from 1 – 7 August will be held at Hankø Yacht Club. It will be organised by Royal Norwegian Yacht Club in their beautiful new yacht club looking straight out to sea. Invitations will be sent out in September. A full presentation will be given at the annual meeting a Half Ton Class Europe in Antwerp on 22 November. To see further information click here.
“Thank you all so much for your happy spirit and competitive skills. To a great event next year, Martin I am passing the baton over to you for next year.” stated by Peter Rutter.
To view all the photos of the Half Ton Classics Cup 2025 Prize Giving & Dinner please click here.
Race 10 started with the AP being hoisted. The Race Officer Bob Penfold decided due to the weather conditions to run a round the cans course. The start line was fiercely competitive resulting in Farther Bruin being pushed out.
50 North Photography – Start Line 50 North Photography – Insolent
Shifting breeze up the first beat filled in about 7 knots. Per Elisa established a good lead which she held throughout the race. Per Elisa was first to round the mark and rounded the windward mark before the last boat rounded the leeward mark. Quokka was a close second followed by 2 Farr.
50 North Photography – Per Elisa
Race Committee was determined to run another race but due to the light conditions and the time limit fast approaching the Race Officer made the decision to cancel Race 11. Tonight is the Prize Giving and Half Ton Classics Cup 2025 Dinner, every boat is attending and looking forward to celebrating such a fantastic fun packed regatta.
Today it was the Half Ton Classics Cup 2025 offshore race. It was looking like the Half Tonners would have prefect conditions as the wind was between 12-17 knots and in a south-westerly direction.
The fleet’s start was competitive and tight, with all boats crossed the line cleanly. The course started in the bay with a lovely long reach from the windward mark to the first mark, with 2 Farr in front with Quokka right behind. 2 Farr gybed at the second mark to avoid the ebbing tide that was going south and gained a clear advantage increasing her lead in front.
50 North Photography – 2 Farr
For the Half Tonner Collector, this is the first time they have competed in the Half Ton Classics Cup. They have really enjoyed being part of the regatta, but they found that this type of coastal race to be very difficult with only five people on board their boat.
Harmony stated that the race was, “Wet, exciting, but it was a long race especially with Rob keep falling into the cockpit!”.
50 North Photography – Harmony
The coastal course took the Half Tonners to Emsstrom wreck before heading towards Dartmouth to Skerries Bank then back to the bay, a distance of 32 nautical miles.
Per Elisa commented, “The race was wet and wild! For the length of the race, it was great to see how many boats were so close together at the end. It was a lot of fun gybing between the kelp farm beds.”
First boat to finish was 2 Farr taking just over 5 hours to complete the course, happily all the boats finished the coastal course within the time limit.
HeadHunter provided a positive update on the regatta stating, “The regatta is well organised, and the Club is working hard with all aspects to keep the sailors happy on and off the water. Tremendous bay to sail in and have just had a taste of the lumpy waters outside the bay. The boat is going well, couple of times we would prefer that the mast pointing more up right, and were looking forward to more hospitality tonight.”
The day started with plenty of bright sun, but with only about three knots of wind. The Race Committee went out to hunt down the wind and AP was hoisted at 0930. Luckily by 1045 there was enough sea breeze to invite the Class to come out into the bay to start Day 3 races. The Race Committee planned to achieve four races, three windward – leewards and the fourth race around the cans.
The Half Tonners had a clean start for Race 5, and their first leg it was an even 50/50 split to the first mark. Surprisingly, 2 Farr did a hard left to port and it was Général Tapioca who were first to the spreader closely followed by Superhero. By the second lap 2 Farr was first to the gate and won the race.
50 North Photography – 2 Farr
Before the start of Race 6 the conditions changed to champagne sailing with 10 knots of wind, glorious sunshine and sparkling seas. Checkmate XV and Hullabaloo XV were both OCS and returned to restart before joining the rest of the fleet. There was an even split across the fleet, 2 Farr took the advantage by tacking at the perfect moment giving them the lead to the first mark. The fleet raced down to the gate on split gybes and again on the tack back to the spreader. 2 Farr took the lead early on, resulted in them winning the race overall.
2 Farr & Per Elisa
The sea breezes started to drop just before the start of Race 7. It was an intense start resulting in the fleet starting prematurely and being given a general recall, everyone got off cleanly on the second start. Harmony was first to round the mark, Général Tapioca was close behind coming up from a port to starboard tack and interfered with 2 Farr who were on a starboard tack, therefore, needed to take a penalty turn to exonerated themselves. First to the change mark was Harmony and they were able to maintain their position to finish first with HeadHunter a close second.
Harmony
The last race of the day was around the cans taking the Half Tonners across the bay. The wind dropped to 7 knots and shifted over 30 degrees. This didn’t stop the fleet starting in tight formation enjoying good downward legs. Harmony won Race 8.
Overall today’s racing has seen the Half Tonners race in close formation across the four races. Looking at the results it is possible to see that there are only seconds between each Half Tonner. Freelance stated about todays racing, “Good weather, good competition, tight racing, but every mistake you make loses you a place. Good fun though and the Race Committee was excellent.”
50 North Photography – Freelance
Racing continues tomorrow. To see the results of Race Day 3 click here.
Tania from 50 North Photography is the official Half Ton Classics Cup 2025 photographer and to view her images please click here.
To make up for yesterday the Race Officer Bob Penfold, ran four races today with three windward – leeward races and one race around the cans at the end.
The first race experienced sea breezes over 15 knots with a 30-degree wind shifts up to the first beat making for interesting racing. The class was in tight formation crossing the start line with Collector having to return after being called OCS.
50 North Photography – Checkmate XV & Quokka 9
Second race started with a general recall, but the Class made up for it on the second start with all boats crossing the line in style. The fleet was clearly enjoying the sail back to the committee boat with their spinnakers, it was great to see the Half Tonners being so skilled at gybing with their spinnaker poles. Per Elisa was first to round the change mark on lap 2 and 2 Farr came from second place to win the race.
50 North Photography – Start of Race 3
By race three, the conditions became perfect for racing with the sun coming out and the breeze building once again. Superhero was UFD at the start, but the rest of the fleet was able to get off cleanly. The fleet was split evenly across both sides of the bay heading to the first mark, with 2 Farr rounding first. Whilst Quokka was on the run in second place around the mark, unfortunately one of their crew slipped off the boat loosing them at least three places. They decided it was only right to pick him back up! Conditions changed on the reach back to the finish line causing several Half Tonners to broach in the gusting winds but thankfully no one else ended up in the bay.
50 North Photography – Halfajet & Quokka
Race committee set around the cans for the last race, and all boats had a good clean start. The Half Tonners sailed closely together for the first couple of marks. But due to the weather conditions, it became a procession race with few opportunities to change position.
The Half Ton Classics Cup 2025 entries came from across Europe to be here this week at Torbay, hosted by the Royal Torbay Yacht Club. We have boats from Belgium, France, Ireland, Norway and Great Britain and to see the full list click here.
The Race Committee announced to the fleet first thing this morning that the racing will be delayed due to the high winds across the bay gusting up to mid to high 30s. The Race Committee was hoping to start the Half Ton Classics Cup 2025 later in the day by giving everyone one race in the afternoon, but regrettably the gusts continued peaking up to 38 knots causing the racing to be cancelled on Day 1.
This didn’t stop the Half Tonners celebrating the start of the Classics Cup Series, the Pontoon Party hosted by Peter Rutter (Quokka) was brought forward to 1700 just when the rain stopped giving everyone the chance to come together and share stories about their journeys over to Torbay.
Seldén Half Ton Classics Cup 2026 