Blake Batten claimed the Tauranga Cup for the second time at the 2026 P Class Nationals, completing five days of racing to secure a result that places him among the small number of sailors to have won the trophy more than once.
Nine races were sailed in total, with one discard applied to each competitor's scorecard. Batten's results across the series were 4-1-1-(13)-3-2-5-1-1, and he was the only sailor to record more than one race win. That consistency over the full regatta proved the defining factor.
Lauchy Wills finished second overall, with a scorecard of 3-(10)-3-5-1-3-2-3-2. A discounted 10 was the only blot on an otherwise strong run of top placings, and no other competitor accumulated as many second-place finishes across the series.
Third place was settled on the final standings between Luca Blundell and Hamish Brown. Blundell discarded a 15th from the opening fleet race, then posted 6-7-4-2-6-1-2-3 through the remaining races to hold off his rival. Brown remained in contention heading into the final day, but a 10th in the last fleet race pushed him back on nett points, leaving Blundell ahead at the finish.
A scan of the scorecard shows how widely results were distributed through the upper end of the fleet. First, second, and third-place finishes were spread across a range of sailors, often extending as far back as fifth, and no one held a firm grip on proceedings for long. Consistency, rather than isolated standout performances, defined the week.
Several sailors produced moments of strong form that the overall standings do not fully capture. Lewis Snape won fleet race six and finished third in fleet race seven, but those results were not enough to carry him into the leading positions 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.
The P Class has long been regarded as one of sailing's most demanding developmental platforms, unforgiving of mistakes and relentless in its requirement for sound boat handling and decision-making. Past competitors have noted that it remains one of the best environments for building real sailing skill, arguably more so than newer designs. The depth of talent visible throughout this fleet is reflected in how competitive the racing was across the week. Many of these sailors are still early in their racing careers, and the progression shown across the week points to names worth following well into the future.
