The 76th Leander Trophy, the R Class National Championship, was decided in classic Canterbury fashion at Naval Point Club Lyttelton from 12 to 15 February 2026. Heavy breeze defined the opening stages before a picture-perfect sea breeze finale, with Paul Roe and Malcolm Snowdon defending their title aboard 607 The Virtual.
The Leander Trophy is the most prestigious award in New Zealand R Class sailing and is presented annually to the winner of the R Class National Championship. First introduced in 1951, the trophy commemorates the New Zealand sailors who lost their lives while serving aboard HMNZS Leander during the Second World War. The award features the ship’s crest mounted on a kauri memorial base, reflecting both the class’s competitive legacy and its enduring connection to national history.
The R Class traces its roots to 1950s Canterbury, evolving from the 1930s T Class. At just 3.9 metres and governed by minimal prescriptive rules, it has always attracted designers and tinkerers. Hull length and sail area set the framework. Almost everything else remains open to interpretation.
That design freedom remains central to the class. Within the rule box, you can find ultra lightweight carbon foam hulls lining up alongside more conventional builds. Some boats explore evolving foil concepts, while others remain loyal to traditional centreboard and rudder configurations. Rig plans vary as well, from highly tuned carbon spars to different spreader and sail arrangements.
In conditions like those experienced over the opening two days, control and balance more than outright speed were central. Boats that stayed flat, accelerated cleanly out of manoeuvres and handled gust response efficiently gained ground quickly.
Day one opened in 20 to 25 knots and built beyond 27 knots before racing was abandoned above the club wind limit. The breeze was steady but demanding, and clean boat handling separated contenders early. Day two was similarly robust, peaking near 33 knots. The Collett brothers sailed impressively into second overall after two days before other commitments curtailed their regatta. Through both heavy air days, Roe and Snowdon were composed and efficient, posting a string of race wins that created a buffer few could challenge.
Conditions shifted on day three. The overnight southerly faded and a building Lyttelton sea breeze filled in after lunch. Three back-to-back races followed in balanced, fast conditions that rewarded sharp starts and clean first beats. New combinations on 601 Rampant and 567 Raptr showed genuine pace, particularly in race five, but consistency across all conditions ultimately defined the podium.
Roe and Snowdon secured the title on 666.667 points, winning five races and never finishing lower than third. Second overall went to 565 GreyR, sailed by Steve and Mark MacIntosh, who delivered a steady series of seconds and thirds to finish on 520.000 points. Third place was claimed by 589 Merde, sailed by Dave Pairman and Vaughan Snowdon, whose regatta featured early DNFs but a late race win that lifted them to 319.048 points overall.
The Sprint Series Supercup, marking more than three decades since the format began in Wellington, was scheduled to conclude the weekend but was abandoned due to unsafe rescue boat conditions.
Full results and class information, including the complete Leander Trophy write-up, are available at: https://www.rclass.org/leander/2026
