UK News Archive

EU/UK Grand Prix Round 3 - Sandbanks, Poole Day 4

 "Heads or Tails" - rig decisions for the final day pay off

The final day of the European 18 foot skiff Grand Prix at Sandbanks saw a split in rig choices as some teams opted to rig for the dropping breeze forecast while others rigged for the stronger gusts. Ultimately, there was a slight upwind advantage with the smaller rigs however the huge big rig sail plan allowed for heavier teams to sail deeper downwind.

The fight for first was between team Pica and team Be Light. Both teams pushed each other hard however Pica had the best score sheet with a 1,5,1 securing them the event win with Be Light in second. The race for the final podium spot was hotly contested between Chameleon I and Original Chia. Experience in overpowered big rig conditions paid ultimately with the Danes holding off a strong charge from Chameleon I to secure third.

The event has also been a great opportunity for newcomers to the class two of which added the following. "Fergus Kelley and Samuel Curtis would like to thank and highly recommend every sailor to try an 18ft skiff at some point in their sailing careers. Great racing and fantastic socials. Looking forward to coming along again".

The UK 18 foot skiff class is very lucky to be able to hold an event from Sandbanks beach and ultimately its thanks to both the Watersport's Academy in Poole for providing the venue and Parkstone Yacht Club for providing all of the on water event management. The UK class would also like to thank title sponsors Chameleon I and support sponsors VRsport.tv, Zhik, C-Tech and English Braids.

18ft Skiff Euro Grand Prix at Sandbanks, Poole - Day 3

Day three of the 18 foot skiff European Grand Prix in Sandbanks proved to be as eventful as the forecast indicated with a building breeze and sea state testing all of the teams.

The day dawned with moody grey skies and every team opting for their smaller, No2 rigs which when powered up provide the spectacles 18 footers are so well known for with boats jumping fully out of the water on a regular basis.

The first two races were held in 16 - 20 knot wind but the large waves made for a very tricky racetrack with many boats visiting the mine as they got to grips with the conditions. Team Pica were casing Chia for the first lap after a strong start from the Danes. Pica gained the overlap just before the windward mark and held the lead for the rest of the race with Chia in second.

The second race saw a strong return of Be Light to the front of the fleet with Pica leading until a nosedive on the first downwind leg. Be Light, Chia and Union Rose lead the charge for the rest of the race however Pica did sail back into third in the end. With Be Light winning another race positions at the top remained tight.

The final race of the day proved the most challenging with gusts occasionally hitting the high twenties and the biggest waves of the day. Quite often downwind the sea would simply open up as boats tried to maintain control in the top end conditions. For most the conditions proved too much however team Pica sailed conservatively to take the win with Chameleon I in a strong second.

After the final discard kicks in tomorrow, Be Light will still be within two points of Pica ensuring close racing between the teams. Likewise the fight for third will also be very tight between Original Chia and Chameleon I.

EU Grand Prix Round 1 - Lake Ammersee, Germany

Two British boats travelled to Lake Ammersee this weekend to take part in the first round of the 18ft Skiff European Grand Prix. ChameleonI and The Rutland Chandlery joined the 9 boat fleet on the huge race area the lake had to offer, set in dramatic surroundings at the foot of the Alps. The event was 3 days of racing in definite No1 rig conditions.

The first day started with a wait for the breeze to fill in, but when it did, the wind was as straight as an arrow, making the starts crucial. ChameleonI had a good first day and The Rutland Chandlery struggled to make inroads to the front runners.

The second day also started with a wait ashore for the wind to fill in. When the wind finally came in, a slight change in direction meant massive variations in wind strength and direction across the course. Both British boats managed to pull through to get a second place each. The wind did heat up to some fresh conditions in the third race which caught a few boats off guard and resulted in some swims in the 'refreshing' 6 degree water.

The final day's breeze came from a third direction, meaning all teams were fresh to the course for the one race of the day. A few gusts landing off shore at the top mark allowed a lot of snakes and ladders in the leaderboard, with the British teams maintaining their overall positions on the leaderboard.

ChamleonI were first British boat in 5th and The Rutland Chandlery finished 8th with both boats learning about their big rigs in low range conditions. A look across the results showed all boats had their flashes of brilliance, but the German boat of Magic Marine managed to string enough of them together to receive the first place prize. The event was incredibly welcoming and friendly and the British boats would like to thank The German 18ft Skiff class for running such a fantastic event.

The next event for the European fleet is Campione, Garda (13th to 16th May). Follow 'UK 18ft Skiff Grand Prix' on Facebook for updates of how the fleet get on.

Try an 18 Day at Grafham

This weekend saw a couple of skiffs travel to Grafham Sailing Club for our 'Try an 18' Day. The weather couldn't have been better to get new sailors out and enjoying what these boats have to offer.

All the sailors got on really well with having a go and quickly managed to get the most out of the skiffs. There were even a few occasions where normal helms found themselves having to put some effort in at the front!

Here's what a few of the sailors had to say;

"The fleet was very welcoming and happy to talk about skiff sailing in the UK and beyond, and the boats themselves are just incredible! So much power and speed, yet easier to handle than you might think, it's really showed that owning and racing these machines isn't as difficult as it might seem!"

Sam Knight

"It's not everyday you get to sail an 18ft skiff, let alone at the age of 15. The guys from the association are awesome, friendly, and happy to give advice. I came off the water smiling from ear to ear, and now I'm working on the bank of dad"

Dan Patten

"My wife and I had the chance to try middleman on Awl Grip with her No1 rig on and settled right into it. I also had the chance to drive and found it to be a challenging but forgiving boat. Most fun was sailing in a three. Something new to us, but the teamwork and communication needed gives a rewarding sense of achievement. With a positive, determined attitude, it can be achievable."

Joe Bird

The day has definitely given a few sailors something to think about and we're sure we're going to see a few new faces in the fleet very shortly. We have had a great turnout for this event and may organise another this season. If you missed out this time, please email tryan18@uk18footer.org to show your interest.

UK 18ft Skiff Class at the RYA Dinghy Show

The class had a really busy weekend at the RYA Dinghy Show. It was great to show off Nick Murray’s immaculate example of an 18ft skiff to the sailing community.

The show team meet many faces, old and new. There was a really good turnout from sailors of all ages and it was great to talk to you all and how you can get involved with these awesome boats. Lots of people we spoke to have signed up for the 'Try an 18' Day at Grafham on the 2nd April. There’s still some spaces, so get in touch if you’d like to get involved.

It was great to be back at the show after a few years of being out of its limelight. If you didn't get a chance to come and see us, feel free to drop us a line at secretary@uk18footer.org.