Five days of high-speed racing are getting under way at what organisers call their "perfect venue" on the waters off south-west Scotland. The Scottish Fin and Foil Championships will take place on Loch Ryan until Sunday, with more than 100 competitors expected at the event near Stranraer.
It is the fourth consecutive year that the site has hosted some of the "UK's finest windsurfers, wing foilers and hydrofoil sailors". The championships combine elite competition with community engagement, and competitors will take part in four to six races each day.
The racing will provide continual action that can be watched from the shore and from designated viewing areas on the water.
How will local people get involved?
Alongside the championship racing, the event will include a range of opportunities for the local community to take part. Stranraer Water Sports Association (SWSA) will host taster sessions designed to introduce newcomers to wind sports.
New for 2026 is the "Groms" programme, which is aimed at young and aspiring windsurfers and wing foilers taking their first steps into large-scale competition. The programme adds to the event's effort to combine top-level sport with participation from local people and younger entrants.
Why do organisers say Loch Ryan is ideal?
Danny Hawthorn, who chairs the Scottish Fin and Foil Association (SFFA), said:
"Loch Ryan is the perfect venue.
"It is centrally located within the UK, easily accessible from Ireland, and offers consistently reliable wind conditions that create excellent racing opportunities."
The event is being delivered with support from SWSA, which is currently developing a new watersports facility on the harbour. The championships rely heavily on volunteer support, with about 50 to 60 people helping to deliver this year's event.
The competitors make for a striking scene on the waters off south-west Scotland.
SFFA's Jenni Hopley said:
"We have probably doubled the number of competitors from when we first started, and we have probably doubled the number of volunteers.
"The support that we are getting from the harbour and the harbour officer and the surrounding area has been incredible.
"I think what we are doing is we are putting our Scottish Fin and Foil event on the map.
"We are drawing in people who are travelling from as far London, from Weymouth, from Wales just to come and participate in what is a really exciting and energetic event here in Stranraer."
The championships have become a major event for the area, combining elite racing with community activity and drawing competitors from across the UK and beyond. The organisers say the combination of reliable conditions, access and volunteer support has helped establish Loch Ryan as a regular fixture on the calendar.
