International Success for UYC Sailors
Published 11:03 on 29 Jul 2026
It has been an outstanding few weeks for Ullswater Yacht Club sailors, with members achieving remarkable success on the international stage at the RS Games and RS400 European Championships in Travemünde, Germany.
Leading the celebrations is Aggie Priestley, who produced an exceptional performance at the Tera World Championships to become Female Tera World Champion and claim the bronze medal overall. Competing against sailors from ten nations, Aggie exceeded her own expectations with a composed and determined championship, finishing third overall in the Sport fleet to secure her place on the overall podium and take the title of World's Top Female Tera Sailor. It is a truly magnificent achievement and one that reflects the dedication and talent of one of UYC's rising stars.
The RS Games saw UYC's youth sailors enjoy nine days of top-class international racing in the challenging conditions of Germany's Baltic Sea. With steep chop and powerful squalls replacing the familiar waters of Ullswater, the sailors adapted brilliantly throughout the week.
The event began with the colourful opening ceremony, where competitors proudly paraded behind their national flags through Travemünde. Ten nations were represented in the Tera World Championships, with 63 sailors competing in the Sport fleet and 64 in the Pro fleet.
In the Tera Pro fleet, Grace Fleming, Bea Denny and Laia Priestley all represented UYC with distinction. Grace produced a consistent series with several finishes in the top half of the fleet. Bea competed in her first World Championship in the highly competitive Pro fleet and showed impressive composure, adaptability and growing confidence throughout the regatta. Laia, competing in only her second Pro event, recorded two top-ten race finishes and narrowly missed out on the female podium by just four points.
In the Sport fleet, Harry Fleming, Felix Denny and Aggie Priestley all delivered excellent performances. Harry sailed consistently to finish 17th overall, narrowly missing a top-ten placing in the final race, while Felix produced several outstanding top-five race finishes on his way to 15th overall. Aggie's World Championship success capped an outstanding week for the UYC team.
These performances are a testament to the hard work, commitment and determination shown by all of the club's young sailors.
The success continued into the Feva World Championships, where new UYC member Hayden Gridley competed alongside Lily Hopkins from Scotland.
The Feva fleet was the largest class at the RS Games, attracting 137 boats and 274 sailors from 18 nations. Following two days of qualifying, the fleet was divided into Silver and Bronze fleets. Racing in increasingly demanding offshore conditions, Hayden and Lily performed superbly against an exceptionally strong international fleet, doing both themselves and UYC proud.
As always, the experience extended beyond the racing, with sailors enjoying the opportunity to meet friends from around the world before already turning their attention towards preparations for the 2027 World Championships in Garda.
While UYC's junior sailors were making their mark in the Tera and Feva fleets, the club was also celebrating success in the RS400 European Championships.
Ullswater Yacht Club's Justin Denny, sailing with John Reekie of Bassenthwaite Sailing Club, produced a superb championship performance to be crowned 2026 RS400 European Champions.
Justin and John took the overall lead on the opening day and never relinquished it, demonstrating exceptional speed, consistency and tactical decision-making throughout the week. Winning five of the ten races, they built an impressive points advantage against a highly competitive international fleet to secure the European title.
Congratulations go to Justin, John and all of our UYC sailors who represented the club so successfully on the international stage. Their achievements are a fantastic reflection of the strength of sailing at Ullswater Yacht Club, from our developing youth sailors through to our senior championship competitors.
Results
Feva:
Last updated 11:04 on 29 July 2026