Event Sponsored by
Event: Noble Marine UK Musto Skiff National Championship 2024, Filey Sailing Club, 14 – 16 June 2024.
Day 3 Report by Euan Hurter and Mike Matthews
Heading into the last day of the UK National Championship, it was still all to play for. The night before, the sailing club had put on a great BBQ and a good few beers for the fleet, which ran into the early hours for some.
Not everyone was feeling sprightly for the 10.30am scheduled start, but for Sam Barker and Sam Pascoe, there was a battle to be fought, with just one point separating the two. Behind them was a very tight top-10 scoreboard, and an outside chance they could catch them.
There was a fickle south-westerly breeze as the fleet launched into beautiful sunshine on Filey Bay, but the race team was confident the forecast would prevail, and the breeze would increase in time for the 10:30am start. However, with around 6 knots of wind as we headed to the start line, it was set to be another challenging day ahead!
Race 5 of the championship got away clean, but with the Race Officer starting bang on schedule, a few stragglers failed to get to the start line in time and had some catching up to do! The first beat was very challenging for some, with the breeze faltering halfway up and filling back in from the right. Danny Boatman took advantage, leading around the top mark, only to sail into a hole downwind and lose the lead. Mike Matthews and Sam Pascoe capitalised with a gybe set and led around the leeward mark. The second lap was a little more stable, and they ploughed on to the top mark in front but lost out to Euan Hurter steaming through their inside downwind with a good gust to take the win, leaving Pascoe in second and Mike in third.
By race 6, the breeze had increased to 8 knots, but it was still very shifty coming off the land. Some ominous looking clouds had the fleet baffled and split off the start line. The right-hand side paid off by the top. Pascoe took an early lead, with Sam Barker and Bill Maughan not far behind. Downwind was all about trying to stay in the private gusts that seemed to scatter the course, with Pascoe executing it perfectly and leading all the way to the finish. Barker held his position back to the top, but Bill managed to sneak past on the final downwind to take 2nd.
The Race Officer optimistically planned to do 4 races, but race 7 turned out to be the final race of the championship, with a heavy downpour half-way through racing bringing a big increase in pressure for a few minutes before dropping right off and killing the breeze. A big left shift just before the start meant those from the pin end tacking early took a healthy lead, clearing the fleet. Pascoe, again pulling out to lead, with Barker not long behind. By the leeward mark, the ominous clouds had arrived with gusts up to 23 knots, causing carnage at the rounding with plenty of hulls on show. The pressure was short and sweet, almost gone by the top, and made the final downwind a slow-speed drag race. Pascoe taking another bullet, Barker consolidating with second place, and Rob Richardson taking third place.
With the final race done, Sam Pascoe, ever consistent and impressive, took the overall win and the 2024 UK National Champion Title! A huge congratulations to Sam Pascoe, and also to Sam Barker, who finished 2nd overall, and Rob Richardson, who took 3rd overall.
Thanks to Noble Marine for sponsoring this year’s UK Nationals, and to Musto and Ovington for providing all the class prizes. These were all very much appreciated during the event for the daily prize-givings, as well as the final prize-giving ceremony.
On behalf of the GBR class, thanks again to the Race Officer and her team and all the amazing onshore volunteers at Filey Sailing Club for a fantastic championship, both on and off the water! It is a super friendly and well-run club, and the fleet looks forward to returning again in the future.
Overall Results
Congratulations to Pascoe for his UK Nationals Title win! Joining Sam on the podium was Sam Barker is in 2nd, and Rob Richardson in 3rd.
Full results: https://www.sailwave.com/results/MustoSkiffnats2024.html
Top 10 and category places for the Noble Marine UK Musto Skiff National Championship 2024:
Top 1o:
1st – Sam Pascoe
2nd – Sam Barker
3rd – Robert Richardon
4th – Eddie Bridle
5th – Mike Matthews
6th – Euan Hurter
7th – Bill Maughan
8th – Danny Boatman
9th -Jamie Hilton
10th – Ian Escritt
Silver Fleet
1st – Ben Whaley
2nd – Stuart Keegan
3rd – Brennan Robinson
Youth
1st – Rob Richardson
2nd – Ben Whaley
3rd – Tristan Tomlinson
Master
1st – Jamie Hilton
2nd – Dan Vincent
3rd – Richard Smith (WOBYC)
Grand Master
1st – Richard Smith (Medway Yacht Club)
2nd – Brian Greensmith
3rd – Andy Rice
Legend
1st – Ian Escritt
2nd – Ian Trotter
3rd – Serega Samus
Feature Image: Noble Marine UK Musto Skiff National Championships 2024 / © Tim Olin
