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 . This year's dates for the Cobnor Camp are 15 - 31st August, 2026.
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 . This year's dates for the Cobnor Camp are 15 - 31st August, 2026.
2025 Entries
Joel Walker and family The weather and tides looked ideal and, crucially, our kids’ enthusiasm could hardly have been higher... Read on...
David Turtle Once I turned onto a run towards Langstone Fairway I was on a fairground ride that wasn't going to end for a while. Read on...
Tom Edom The ground-rules I apply to any relatively small / slow dinghy such as my Mirror … go like this: Read on...
Joe Murphy The damned bridge, my personal Room 101, was as troublesome as ever... Read on...
David Turtle Once I turned onto a run towards Langstone Fairway I was on a fairground ride that wasn't going to end for a while. Read on...
Tom Edom The ground-rules I apply to any relatively small / slow dinghy such as my Mirror … go like this: Read on...
Joe Murphy The damned bridge, my personal Room 101, was as troublesome as ever... Read on...
2024 winners
Hayling Challenge Trophy: Sarah Sorensen in Lune Pilot, Pampootie
Allan Earl Trophy: Paul Pearson in Smacks Boat Marazan and Justin Bennet in Mirror Red Dwarf
Gunter Grail: Tom Edom in Mirror dinghy Scarab
Presentations were made at the South Coast winter social on Saturday 13th April 2025.
Allan Earl Trophy: Paul Pearson in Smacks Boat Marazan and Justin Bennet in Mirror Red Dwarf
Gunter Grail: Tom Edom in Mirror dinghy Scarab
Presentations were made at the South Coast winter social on Saturday 13th April 2025.
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