This event was devised by Cliff Martin in 2008 and it has taken place every year since then, becoming an important fixture in the DCA South Coast sailing calendar. It happens during the Cobnor Camp fortnight and entrants sail, row or paddle around Hayling Island on a day of their choosing, starting and finishing at Cobnor Hard. Over the years the challenge has been successfully completed in all kinds of dinghies and even a kayak.
Some fine cups are at stake. The Hayling Challenge Trophy is awarded for the best circumnavigation over all. The Allan Earl Trophy for the best rounding in a traditionally-rigged boat and the Gunter Grail rewards the best passage under a Mirror-style rig. Follow the links below to read this year’s write-ups, which are both informative and entertaining
The circuit is about 18nm and can be done clockwise or anticlockwise. Passage planning is (usually!) involved as the trip includes two large tidal harbours, two harbour entrances with bars and potentially fast-running tides, a sea passage and a bridge. There is plenty of scope for picnics, pubs and ice cream stops along the way and entrants have been known to go via the Isle of Wight rather than taking the shortest route.
Among those who opt for a direct non-stop circuit, the fastest passages have been made over the years in under 4½ hours. Typical times are somewhere in the region of 6-8 hours, though of course it’s not a race but a rewarding and sometimes challenging day’s cruise (or more if you go to the Isle of Wight).
If you haven’t yet tried the Hayling Challenge, what’s holding you back? It is a deeply satisfying sail in any weather, while planning an efficient rounding takes mental skill. It can be completed on any day of the Cobnor camping rally at which all DCA members are welcome . Next year's dates for the Cobnor Camp are 17 August - 1st September, 2024.
Some fine cups are at stake. The Hayling Challenge Trophy is awarded for the best circumnavigation over all. The Allan Earl Trophy for the best rounding in a traditionally-rigged boat and the Gunter Grail rewards the best passage under a Mirror-style rig. Follow the links below to read this year’s write-ups, which are both informative and entertaining
The circuit is about 18nm and can be done clockwise or anticlockwise. Passage planning is (usually!) involved as the trip includes two large tidal harbours, two harbour entrances with bars and potentially fast-running tides, a sea passage and a bridge. There is plenty of scope for picnics, pubs and ice cream stops along the way and entrants have been known to go via the Isle of Wight rather than taking the shortest route.
Among those who opt for a direct non-stop circuit, the fastest passages have been made over the years in under 4½ hours. Typical times are somewhere in the region of 6-8 hours, though of course it’s not a race but a rewarding and sometimes challenging day’s cruise (or more if you go to the Isle of Wight).
If you haven’t yet tried the Hayling Challenge, what’s holding you back? It is a deeply satisfying sail in any weather, while planning an efficient rounding takes mental skill. It can be completed on any day of the Cobnor camping rally at which all DCA members are welcome . Next year's dates for the Cobnor Camp are 17 August - 1st September, 2024.
2023 Entries
Voting opens in December 2023 - see the forum for details
Pat Ditton “I cut across Pilsey Sands with a couple of scrapes.” Read on...
Alan Moulton “Was a sub five hour time going to be possible? It was going to be close” Read on...
Chris Waite “Mephistopheles was laughing his head off while strumming the controls.” Read on...
Mary Dooley “It turned out it is easy to just walk on the beach under the bridge and carry the mast.” Read on...
Mark Tinkler “Tacking through Hayling Bar I was in my element, singing at top of my voice" Read on...
Justin Bennett “I dropped the yard and rowed under with about 1 foot clearance.” Read on...
Tony Watson “We allowed ourselves a modest G&T at the Ship Inn” Read on...
Mike Marsh “A rounding made under paddle” Read on...
Joe Murphy “A freak waterspout was a contingency I utterly failed to consider.” Read on...
Alan Moulton “Was a sub five hour time going to be possible? It was going to be close” Read on...
Chris Waite “Mephistopheles was laughing his head off while strumming the controls.” Read on...
Mary Dooley “It turned out it is easy to just walk on the beach under the bridge and carry the mast.” Read on...
Mark Tinkler “Tacking through Hayling Bar I was in my element, singing at top of my voice" Read on...
Justin Bennett “I dropped the yard and rowed under with about 1 foot clearance.” Read on...
Tony Watson “We allowed ourselves a modest G&T at the Ship Inn” Read on...
Mike Marsh “A rounding made under paddle” Read on...
Joe Murphy “A freak waterspout was a contingency I utterly failed to consider.” Read on...
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