Article by the International Musto Skiff Class Association
In our latest Musto Skiff sailor interview, we meet Brennan Robinson, who is a regular on the GBR class circuit and getting ready to represent South Africa at the ACO 14th Musto Skiff 2025 World Championships in January.
With the event hosted in Australia, UK-based Brennan recently packed his boat onto a shipping container bound for the host venue, Woollahra Sailing Club, which is perfectly located overlooking Sydney Harbour, where the daily racing will take place.
So, how has Brennan been training for the championship with his boat now halfway across the world, and more importantly, how is this South African native braving the winter sailing months in the UK?
Getting to know Brennan Robinson….
Brennan’s homeland sailing club is Boskop Yacht Club, Noordwes, in South Africa, but he is currently based in Cambridge in the UK and a member of Grafham Water Sailing Club.
Whilst Brennan is currently enjoying his Musto Skiff, Brennan has sailed many other boats over the years, including Dabchicks (a South African junior class), Fireballs, 420s, 470s, and 505s (basically any 3-digit number boat), keelboats of various shapes and sizes, and even the odd catamaran.
In addition to topping the silver fleet in a major regatta in the Musto Skiff class, Brennan has also had some sailing successes on the South African dinghy and keelboat circuits. He also came 2nd in the Cape2Rio Race with his family in 2011, which he was happy to say was “easily my proudest one” when it comes to sailing successes.
When did you first get into sailing?
I vaguely recall sailing a Sprog (local SA 2-person dinghy) with my dad when I was about six years old. However, I started sailing more seriously in Mirrors with my homeboy Sean van Rensburg and then my siblings. I bought my first Musto in 2018, which was my first skiff. I felt I needed a slightly different challenge. There is always more to learn and master on those boats. Being based out of Grafham, I’d say that sailing on the sea in lumpy stuff keeps me on my toes.
What do you enjoy most about being a part of the Musto Skiff class and sailing this skiff?
The class hits that sweet spot of the Venn diagram where competitiveness meets friendliness. It’s a challenging boat to sail, but there is an inexhaustible supply of really good sailors eager to share everything they know. And the downwinds. The downwinds are unbeatable.
The 2025 Worlds is just months away now; what preparations have you made to get ready for this championship, having recently packed up your boat destined for Sydney?
I managed to get my hands on a very reasonably priced second boat, which I’ll use to train on whilst our boats are being shipped. Now it’s just a case of toughing up and getting on the water on those less-than-glam winter days.
Have you ever sailed on Sydney Harbour before, and what are you looking forward to most about sailing there for the 2025 Worlds?
When you grow up watching, in awe, videos of oversized skiffs on the edge of control, pelting down one of the most iconic sailing venues in the world, you tend to imagine yourself in their shoes/boots.
Finally, have you set yourself a target for the 2025 Worlds, and what is your prediction for the top finishers and ones to look out for?
Honestly, I’m more about just getting down to some cracking sailing down there. I’ll leave the guesswork to the pundits, but no doubt it will be hotly contested across the field as usual!
About the Musto Skiff 2025 Worlds
The ACO 14th Musto Skiff World Championship 2025 will be hosted at Woollahra Sailing Club in Sydney, Australia, from 2nd to 10th January 2025. For full event details, see here, or go directly to the host venue website to download the NOR and enter. Standard entry is available until 31st November 2024.
The 2025 Worlds is supported by the main sponsor, ACO, in addition to supporting sponsor J&J Robertson and Sons, in partnership with ANJ Container Services, and event partners Musto, Ovington Boats, and the B14 Class, who will be hosting their own World Championship during the same event week.
Look out for our next class sailor interview with Jono Shelley, who will be representing Great Britain at the Musto Skiff 2025 Worlds in January.
Feature image: Brennan Robinson at the 2021 Noble Marine UK Musto Skiff National Championships (© Tim Olin)
