Micro Championships at Stour Sailing Club

by Jenny Pavey 19 Oct 21:08 BST 11-12 October 2025

The weekend of 11th and 12th October saw the eagerly anticipated and hotly contested end of season championships for Micro 18 and Gem yachts on the river Stour, sailed from Manningtree. With a crew of two, these 18ft lifting-keel boats meet the Micro cup rule, one size down from Mini cuppers. They were designed by Stephen Jones and Rob Humphreys respectively.

Ten boats competed in the two days of racing, 8 Gems and 2 Micro 18s, including two new-to-the-club boats, which were ready and launched just in time to take part. Two of the club's Micros were absent due to logistic problems and injury but the others could be seen undergoing feverish bottom-scrubbing and rig-adjusting during the preceding days.

High pressure over the UK meant that the championships were held in light wind, perhaps just favouring the unballasted Gems.

The usual weekend format of passage races out and back to the race area for the main championship windward/leewards provided 8 scheduled races and winners for three categories; windward/leewards (Micro Championships, includes Micros and Gems), Gem Championships and Passage Races, with varying discards and exclusions applying and silverware awarded for each.

Saturday's forecast looked challenging for the Race Officer Martin Pavey and competitors; 4mph from the NW going SE. Four races were completed and for the first time in many years the final passage race of the day was abandoned as the wind dropped to nothing, with 8 of the 10 boats towed back home and the other two choosing to sail and managing to make it back while the club's bar was still open.

Sunday's forecast looked more promising but, although the wind came from the east and at times reached a maximum of 5mph, it was inconsistent, dropping to near zero at times. With the 4 windward/leeward races of the day being held in each of the four 30-minute gusts of 3 to 5 mph, a full Sunday programme was completed.

The tricky conditions produced close racing with concentration needed to find the breeze and tease every bit of speed out of the boats during the lulls.

A well done to all the competitors and it was great to welcome some new faces to an ever-expanding fleet. A big thank you also to our local sponsors who supplied prizes for all entrants.

An invitation to all Gems and Micros to join us in 2026 - easy launching, moorings provided (foc for the event) and pontoon space over the weekend. A new idea for 2026 may be an additional County Championships; Essex vs Suffolk.

Photos and videos of Micro sailing at SSC and the weekend's racing can be seen at www.stoursailingclub.co.uk, www.facebook.com/stoursailingclub and www.instagram.com/manningtree_micro_sailing

Overall Results:

Micro Championships
1st Gemini Cricket - Ellie and Edd Harvey-Bates
2nd Pathogem - Evie and Ed Roberts
3rd Italia - Ed and Nick Evans

Gem Championships
1st Pathogem - Evie and Ed Roberts
2nd Gemini Cricket - Ellie and Edd Harvey-Bates
3rd Italia - Ed and Nick Evans

Passage Race Series
1st Muscle - Ian Pavey and Ray Chittock
2nd Well Done - Ian and Stef Bloomfield
3rd Italia - Ed and Nick Evans