Musto Skiffs at the Stokes Bay Sailing Club Skiff Open 2026
by Dan Vincent 1 May 20:31 BST
25-26 April 2026
Musto Skiffs at SBSC Skiff Open 2026 © Amanda Jenks
Fantastic conditions and excellent race management ensured a superb standard of racing for the 32 Musto Skiffs that competed at the Stokes Bay Sailing Club Skiff Open.
Despite soaring fuel prices and a relatively light wind forecast, the Musto fleet turned out in impressive numbers for what was regarded as the unofficial Southern Championships. In a scheduling conflict, Musto Skiff sailors based in the Midlands faced the decision of whether to travel to the Ullswater Daffodil Regatta or make the journey to Stokes Bay for this event.
Eddie Bridle, the reigning National Champion, dominated the event, finishing first in all but one race - where he claimed second place. Nevertheless, the entire fleet should view themselves as winners.
Saturday saw three races held in winds ranging from 8 to 12 knots, with Eddie being challenged throughout by Ben Clegg, Bruce Keen, and Andy Tarboton, who pushed him closely. At the opposite end of the fleet, several newcomers to the Musto Open Meeting Circuit - including Will Taylor, Duncan Ward, Jason Clarke, Chris Schonhut, and Stuart Moore - tackled a steeper learning curve but appeared to relish the experience.
Sunday brought stronger winds and delightful waves, providing exciting conditions. Boats were fully powered up around the course, even beginning to plane upwind. The leader remained unchanged, though new challengers emerged in each race. Unsurprisingly, Eddie Bridle secured first prize, with Bruce Keen and Dan Vincent, both from the home club, taking second and third respectively.
The next event on the calendar is training at Weymouth in early May. This will offer a valuable opportunity for newcomers and those aiming to close the gap to Eddie's performance ahead of the World Championships in Carnac, scheduled for early June.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 655 | Eddie Bridle | Brightlingsea SC | 1 | ‑2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 2nd | 623 | Bruce Keen | Stokes Bay | ‑8 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 17 |
| 3rd | 622 | Dan Vincent | Stokes Bay Sailing Club | 6 | ‑7 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 20 |
| 4th | 657 | Benjamin Clegg | Brightlingsea sailing club | ‑7 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 23 |
| 5th | 516 | Richard Pelley | Stokes Bay | 5 | 3 | 9 | 6 | ‑16 | 7 | 30 |
| 6th | 616 | Dave Poston | Bewl SC | ‑10 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 37 |
| 7th | 594 | Fred Cudmore | QMSC | 3 | ‑19 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 40 |
| 8th | 561 | Brennan Robinson | GWSC | 4 | 6 | 12 | 16 | ‑19 | 4 | 42 |
| 9th | 629 | Brian Greensmith | Welton SC | 11 | ‑13 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 44 |
| 10th | 615 | Gareth Davies | Stone Sailing club | ‑17 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 46 |
| 11th | 127 | Ben Schooling | Spinnaker SC | 9 | 15 | (DNC) | 11 | 10 | 6 | 51 |
| 12th | 535 | David Annan | Grafham Water SC | ‑24 | 8 | 19 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 57 |
| 13th | 499 | John Piatt | Stokesbay | 18 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 7 | (DNF) | 68 |
| 14th | 626 | Thomas Goodman | Stokesbay SC | 21 | ‑24 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 73 |
| 15th | 568 | Griff Tanner | Queen Mary SC | 12 | 17 | 16 | ‑20 | 14 | 14 | 73 |
| 16th | RSA 1 | Andy Tarboton | Henley Midmar Yacht Club | 2 | 4 | 2 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 76 |
| 17th | 588 | Andrew Whittle | Brightlingsea SC | 19 | 16 | ‑21 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 78 |
| 18th | 632 | Richard Smith | Bough Beech SC | ‑23 | 14 | 23 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 82 |
| 19th | 645 | Will Taylor | Stokes Bay SC | 16 | ‑21 | 11 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 83 |
| 20th | 465 | Alex Sharp | SBSC | 20 | 22 | 17 | 17 | 18 | (DNF) | 94 |
| 21st | 624 | Tom Kyne | Brightlingsea sailing club | 14 | 12 | 6 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 100 |
| 22nd | 539 | Duncan Ward | Lymington Town | (DNC) | 20 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 106 |
| 23rd | 375 | Josh Belben | Stokes Bay Sailing Club | 15 | 11 | 14 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 108 |
| 24th | 583 | Lee Cullen | Stokes Bay Sailing Club | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 18 | 17 | 19 | 122 |
| 25th | 394 | Nigel Walbank | Lymington Town SC | 22 | 26 | 20 | (DNF) | DNF | DNF | 136 |
| 26th | 60 | David Nickalls | Marconi | 26 | 29 | 26 | 21 | (DNF) | DNF | 136 |
| 27th | 641 | Steve Robson | Bough Beech Sailing Club | 13 | 23 | (BFD) | DNF | DNF | DNF | 138 |
| 28th | 351 | Chris Schonhut | WOBYC | 25 | 27 | 24 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 144 |
| 29th | 216 | Stuart Moore | Netley sailing club | 28 | 31 | 22 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 149 |
| 30th | 456 | Jason Clarke | Marconi SC | 29 | 28 | 27 | (DNF) | DNF | DNF | 152 |
| 31st | 323 | Andrew Smith | Stokes Bay | 27 | 25 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 154 |
| 32nd | 543 | Stephen Wright | Stokes Bay Sailing Club | 30 | 30 | 28 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 156 |
| 33rd | 534 | Andy Rice | Stokes Bay | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 170 |