Allen and RB Marine Blaze Scottish Championship report

Allen and RB Marine Blaze Scottish Championship 2026 Report by Andy Wilson

A new era of Blaze Scottish Championships had stumbled into existence in 2024 with a toe-dipping single-day event. The aim had been to rekindle ties between Blaze Class Association and the Scottish fleet which had suffered from geographic separation. Helensburgh SC, just north of Glasgow on the Firth of Clyde, had been seeing a steady growth in Blaze sailing through the energy of local Blazer, Mark Homer, and the momentum generated by their seasonal Blaze series’ had grown the class into the largest fleet in the club and eventually, the UK. So, the stage was set, but the 2024 event turned out to be a 30-knot survival race in lumpy seas for the few that chose to take part. However, with tenacity, it was decided to extend the 2025 event to a 2-dayer aiming to attract more travellers... and that it did! The late summer Blaze Scottish Championship enjoyed the spectacle of 27 boats on the start line, 15 of which flew local colours and the rest travelling from Wales, Cornwall, London and elsewhere. It was decided for 2026 to move the event to a more summery month and, as it turned out, July 2026 was as summery as a Scottish event could get. But along with a spectacularly warm outlook came a poor wind forecast and a week before those who’d committed to attending were staring at numbers that could barely turn the anemometer. Prediction on one day was for a big, fat zero. It didn’t look good. Thursday arrivals could see the ‘Blaze Hellfire’ standard on the club mast fluttering promisingly which flew against the current forecasts. Was Mark Homer right when he suggested the local forecasts should be ignored? Andy Wilson had travelled from London to pitch his tent on the club lawn and was joined later by new-to-class James Nield from Royal Windermere YC and Mike Broadbent from Loch Ryan SC. A gentle evening was spent with beer in hand and by 11pm when the sun finally set to ease us from the heat of the day, the wind had elevated and with it the prospects for tomorrow’s racing. Being woken by fluttering tents was a good sign. The Aberdeen and Stonehaven SC pair had arrived – 2024 Scottish Champs winner, Andrew Grant, and Scottish Traveller Series mastermind, Phil Rose. Local sailors appeared leisurely throughout the morning. Free breakfast baps and tea, courtesy of Odysey Water, were gratefully devoured, with many thanks to Sandy and her catering team. HSC’s James Miller had foregone his Blaze sailing to take a lead landside and opened the briefing with some housekeeping and introduced RO Euan Morrison. It was decided in the light of excellent conditions to run 4 races on the day which suited the fleet. 12 Blazes launched into a high-teens / early twentys steadyish easterly which meant the sea was flat. Game on! Race 1 A conservative approach to the line by all boats had resulted in a clean start into the trapezoidal course. HSC’s Ali Gray took an early lead over to the right on the beat, away from the shore, with James and local Andrew Homer in close pursuit. The trio developed quite the lead over the remaining fleet and finished in that order. Andy Wilson rounded the final mark next but chose to ignore the finish line 20 yards further, giving away 4^th place to Mark Homer before returning to finish the race in 9^th - a definite ‘D**k of the day’ contender! Meanwhile, HSC Blazer, Chris Laverty, had launched without his glasses and after trying to negotiate a fleet of boats on indeterminable tacks he opted to return to the safety of the shore, having to stand and wait at the slip to be rescued by sighted helpers. Race 2 The wind had been gently building and the conditions were perfect. Again, a conservative start. Most of the fleet had decided to go left although this choice had not been an indicator of any particular benefit. The tide was noticeable but not aggressive. Ali, James and Andrew H had kept ahead but had not been allowed the excessive lead of Race1. Mark again slotted into 4^th to keep the scoresheet’s top 4 neatly the same as race1. Race 3 The course was reset into a ‘reverse P’, which was an excellent choice for exciting racing. The ‘P’ course had offered a sharper gybe on the wing mark which caught several boats out. Most boats headed left off the start without significant advantage but the front of the race remained the preserve of Ali, James and Andrew H in a wind touching 22knots. The racing behind was fought hard. Darren Booth pulled a blinder reaching through to 4^th, while Mark Homer was relegated to 8^th after a horribly mistimed start – putting the ‘irons’ into his beloved Irn Bru! Race 4 No changes at the front for Race 4. And, apologetically, the author was too concerned about Allan Lennox (HSC) who’d been threatening midfleet to mentally record the front runners in their endeavours. Finally getting to grips with his borrowed Mk1, the evidently skillful Allan had squirmed his way through to an excellent 4^th. A tired fleet fetched back to the club after a superbly fun day’s racing and were greeted with an energy-sapping expanse of low-tide foreshore. Thank you to the beach team for their relieving of burden. Free tea and cakes were available to replenish depleted reserves while the grins during post-race chat and banter were ubiquitous. A fantastic first day with perfect conditions. The evening brought the fleet together at the clubhouse with the sun still smiling on us and, extending the feelgood of the occasion, a free bar (with grateful thanks to RB Marine) was embraced with vigour. Free dinner (RB Marine) was served with pizza to kill the hunger before the main course of chilli, rice and garlic bread could fill the remaining gaps. D**k of the Day was voted emphatically by the fleet as Chris Laverty for his spectacle debacle and Chris had accepted the pink pyjamas sportingly, wearing them well. An impressive repertoire of upbeat songs from local guitarist, Ali Mitchell, helped the evening on its way. Silently on the telly, Scotland’s rugby team fought valiantly against a winning South Africa followed by England beating Mexico in the footie, which only the author seemed to appreciate! Sunday morning broke to more sunshine and the wind continued where it left off. Another cracking day in the making. All 12 boats returned to the water with the aches of yesterday’s exertions evaporating quickly. Only two races to run.

Race 5 RO Euan opted to run a trapezoidal course. The wind built slightly. A recall off the start for Ali had given encouragement to his regatta chasers and a cheeky port flyer attempt by Andrew Homer was quashed at the pin with the fleet’s timings on the line evidently more focussed and aggressive. Phil Rose had capsized on a gybe, strangling the mark with his mainsheet. With help required from the rescue boat, that was the end of the race for him. Neat sailing by James to overhaul Ali, had finally earned him his almost inevitable 1^st place. A tenacious Mark had eventually won the lead over his son to take 3^rd. Andrew Grant, enjoying the breezier conditions, cruised in to 4^th. Race 6 RO's decision to return to the 'reverse P' had kept us on our toes, but with no complaints from the fleet. Again, there was no predominant choice of direction off the start and sailors mostly opted for clean air wherever that was. Racing was tight everywhere. AndyW, who’d repeatedly allowed Mark to tack inside him at the windward mark the previous day was determined not to let it continue. Having left his decision to abort the attempt too late this time, the justified protest forced the turns for Mark.

It was, therefore, AndyW that followed Ali around the top mark. However, the superior skills of the regatta’s front-runners quickly reestablished the usual scores for Ali and James in the placings of 1^st and 2^nd for the race. Half a leg behind on the final gybe, Mark had the fractional lead over his son, followed by AndyW a few lengths down. On the dead run with 26knots in the sails AndyW had harnessed a gust to pull abeam of both. Mark and AndyW had gybed onto starboard to wrestle the advantage from AndrewH putting both perilously by the lee. A tense line crossing had invited three hoots within a second. Mark, AndrewH and AndyW finished 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th respectively. If the racing itself wasn’t exciting enough, the reach back to the club was a blast – still in full race-mode, of course. And to be heaving-to at the beach at high tide was a relief under a still hotly shining sun. If wetsuits weren’t awash with seawater from capsizes they were filled with the sweat of racing energy. Another fantastic day on the water and more free tea and cakes for a well-earned lunch. So, congratulations to the new Scottish Champion, Ali Gray – an emphatic win. Credit to James Nield for pushing Ali all the way. We look forward to seeing James again and bringing his worthy challenge at the front to more events. Many thanks to RO Euan Morrison for his deft course setting and to the safety boat teams who’d been kept occupied on occasion. James Miller deserves thanks for giving up his racing for the greater good. And to the galley team for serving up the bacon baps, Saturday food with a smile. A round of applause for Mark Homer who oversaw the organisation of the event and with thanks for his energy in keeping the Blaze flag flying high in Scottish sailing and beyond. Odyssey Water have been a generous friend to Scottish Blazing so we also owe a debt of thanks to them for ongoing support.

A big thanks for fantastic support from RB Marine who’d sponsored the food, bar and music. It all made the whole weekend swing – an event well worth travelling for. Cheers, RB Marine!

And, of course, many thanks to sponsor Allen Performance Sailing Hardware for provision of many excellent prizes for this event and wider Blaze Class support.

Results: 1^st Ali Gray (Helensburgh SC) – 1^st Adult 2^nd James Nield (Royal Windermere YC) – 1^st Master 3^rd Andrew Homer (Helensburgh SC) 4^th Mark Homer (Helensburgh SC) – 1^st Grand Master 5^th Andy Wilson (Island Barn Reservoir SC) – 1^st Mk3a 6^th Andrew Grant (Aberdeen and Stonehaven SC) 7^th Allan Lennox (Helensburgh SC) – 1^st polyester Mk1 8^th Darren Booth ((Helensburgh SC) – Most improved Endeavour – Mike Broadbent (Helensburgh SC) John Abbot Mid Fleet – Allan Lennox (Helensburgh SC) Furthest travelled - Andy Wilson (463miles) Full results here. Photos with many thanks to Mike Heath and Kevin Lynch