Euan Hurter wins the Musto Skiff Chanonry Open 2025
by Jono Shelley 10 Aug 10:49 BST
2-3 August 2025
As has become tradition, the Scottish and Northern Skiffs migrated to Chanonry Sailing Club on the beautiful Black Isle in early August for their most northerly circuit event.
As has become tradition, the sailing conditions were pretty much perfect with 8-18k in the west quadrant and a healthy dose of sunshine and dolphin spotting. And as always, the volunteer welcome, support, and organisation both on and off the water reminded us why it is such a special place to sail at.
The fleet was made up only of Musto Skiffs on this occasion, and racing was incredibly close throughout the fleet. It represented as near to sprint racing as the skiffs do, with a tight 3-lap course and a requirement to go through the start/finish line each lap, keeping the boats very close together on the course. There were plenty of puffs and shifts to keep the racers on high alert and regularly shuffle the pecking order.
After day 1, the 3 protagonists of Hilton, Hurter, and Shelley were locked together with a 3,2,1 a piece with a number of other scoring ties through the fleet.
The Anderson, another tradition, provided the right kind of entertainment with a fleet dinner on Saturday night, the various beers on tap being responsible for at least one nationals-winning boat name...
On to Sunday, and three more tight races in ideal conditions to decide things. Shelley started well and just had the legs upwind but with a very short first beat always had the whole fleet breathing down his neck. Downhill, Hilton picked the shifts well as always, and Hurter was super quick, but it was Hilton who took first blood as the front boats all finished within a few seconds of each other.
In the second of the day, Hurter sailed a masterful race to take the win, setting up an event decider with Hilton in the third. Shelley led early, but again Hurter showed his slick boat handling and downwind prowess to take the race and event win from Hilton and Shelley.
A few shout-outs:
- With such tight boat-on-boat racing there were a number of boats taking penalty turns and some healthy post-race rules debates - great to see in a self-policing sport.
- Steve Robson for doing what you do. Many, many miles in the van to sail with friends and be the life and soul of the fleet.
- Euan Hurter for a demonstration of boat handling and boat speed against strong competition.
- Ben Yeats and the Chanonry Sailing Club team for upholding one of the very best traditions!
Musto Skiff Chanonry Open Results:
1st - Euan Hurter
2nd - Jamie Hilton
3rd - Jono Shelley
4th - Alistair Kerr
5th - Stewart Walker
6th - Ben Yeats
7th - Steve Robson
Full results can be found here.