Solent Scow Championships 2024 at Bembridge Sailing Club

Although sadly the days of thirty plus entries for the annual Solent Scow Championships are long past, this year's entry of thirteen boats at least made it worth running them.

With a 6-10 knot Southerly breeze on Saturday morning, the start line for both races programmed was Nainby. With the course for the first race as Special Course 1 (triangle, sausage, triangle) with a laid inflatable as the windward mark, Garland as the wing mark and Nainby as the leeward mark.

Solent Scow Championships at Bembridge - photo © Mike Samuelson

Bruce Huber (625) lead the way, however him winning was certainly not a foregone conclusion with Oliver Morgan (638), Jodie Spence (619) and Francesca Morgan (646) hot on his heels.

Indeed it was certainly all to play for and lower places changed regularly, however after a close fought race, the finishing order was Bruce, Oliver, Jodie and Francesca. Will Squibb (222) was fourth having caught up a lot during the final round.

The second race used the same windward inflatable with Drum as the leeward mark and the finish at Pepe.

The first two legs saw the same front four leading the way, however on the long beat from Drum into the finish at Pepe, Anne Barlow (637) decided to risk all and was the only one to take the offshore route (almost as far as Garland); a tactic that paid off in spades and resulted in her finishing first nearly four minutes ahead of Bruce with Jodie in second; Chris Wilkinson (595) was fourth.

With both races counting, Bruce was the overall winner on 3 points; Jodie was second with 6 points and Anne was third after a countback with Francesca.

Overall Results:

Solent Scow Championships at Bembridge - photo © Mike Samuelson