The final race of the Tauranga Cup brought the 2026 P Class Nationals to an end after five days on the water. The regatta provided a clear snapshot of the class, with strong performances spread throughout a deep and competitive fleet.
After nine races, with one discard applied, Blake Batten retained the Tauranga Cup title. It is his second win at the event, placing him among the small number of sailors to have claimed the trophy more than once.
A scan of the scorecard shows results spread broadly through the top end of the fleet. First, second, and third places are shared widely, often extending to fifth. No sailor remained fixed at the front for long. Consistency, rather than single standout results, defined the week.
Batten finished with scores of 4-1-1-(13)-3-2-5-1-1. He was the only sailor to record more than one race win. Lauchy Wills finished second overall. His results were strong from the start, just a blip, a discounted 10 on his scorecard. He finished with a series of top placings that included more seconds than any other competitor. His scorecard read 3-(10)-3-5-1-3-2-3-2.
Third place went to Luca Blundell, who moved ahead of Hamish Brown on the final standings. Blundell discarded a 15th from the opening fleet race, then posted 6-7-4-2-6-1-2-3 to close the regatta. Brown remained in contention through the final day but a 10th in the last fleet race pushed him back on nett points.
Several sailors produced isolated high results that were not sustained. Lewis Snape recorded a win and a third in fleet races six and seven but finished further back overall. Zofia Wells opened the regatta with a win in fleet race one, then recorded three DNS results on day three and finished 25th. Will Fyfe placed second in fleet race two. Caleb Perano finished second in fleet race four and ended the series 15th overall, one place ahead of Fyfe.
For many readers, P Class racing carries strong memories. It remains a demanding class, unforgiving of mistakes and relentless in its requirement for sound boat handling and decision-making. Several past competitors commented that it remains one of the best platforms for developing real sailing skill, arguably more so than newer designs.
What is clear is the depth of talent coming through the fleet. Many of these sailors are still early in their racing careers, and their progression over the week suggests we will be hearing their names well into the future.
Blake Batten again lifts the Tauranga Cup after another well-contested regatta.
