Countdown to 505 World Championship

The 2026 505 World Championship has attracted over 90 entrants from 11 countries, with many past world champions from 505s and many other classes to compete July 5-11 in Hayling Island, UK.

The front of the fleet is set to be ultra-competitive with top Australian team Peter Nicholas and Luke Payne looking to regain the title they last won two years ago in Sweden. Up against them will be the best German team Jan-Philipp Hofmann and Felix Björn Brockerhoff who have come so close to winning their first World Championship and have been the form team across Europe for the past few years.

Multiple World Champions Mike Holt and Carl Smit, along with the legendary Howie Hamlin and Andy Zinn, will be leading the 9-team challenge from the USA.

Although there has not been a British World Champion for nearly 20 years, the host nation will not only be the strongest in numbers but also have some real contenders peaking nicely in time for the main prize.

Home favorites include current European Champions Roger Gilbert and Ian Mitchell and UK Champions Mike Sims and Carl Gibbon. And just to prove that the 505 has not only enduring appeal but enduring sailors, four times World Champion Peter Colclough is returning more than thirty years after his last World Championship.

There is also a strong contingent of mixed and women’s teams who are increasingly showing great speed – likely to be led by the Pacific Coast Champions, he USA’s AJ Conrads crewed by Jon Bell who were 4th a few short weeks ago at the Euro Cup event on Lake Garda.

The Youth prize will be closely fought between teams who are relatively new to 505s but excellent sailors, either having come through 29ers or 420s or taking a break from 49ers/FXs. Sam Goult and Alex Brown are likely to be the ones to watch.

The Classics Fleet (boats older than 25 years) is well represented with 15 entries. Locals Steve Culpitt and Mark Nicholson will need to be at their very best but could definitely make an impression on the international entry in this category.

The Pre–Worlds Regatta and UK National Championship is on July 3-4.

Event details – Entry list – Tracking

Source: Chris Thorne