Happy Birthday Blaze!

30th Anniversary season preview The Blaze dinghy - designed in 1996 by Ian Howlett and John Caig and originally built by Topper, it has evolved through several marks incorporating changes predominantly limited to the deck, materials and construction. All marks, including the modern Hartley Boats Mk4, feature the original hull shape which helps keep all boats equally ready-planing and competitive. Blazes today are cherished by a robust and thriving community which prides itself on racing hard and having fun.

Blaze Class Association is delighted to mark 2026 as the 30^th year of Blaze sailing and this seems a good time to reflect on all that has been great about the boat and the class over the decades. In a challenging dinghy environment where every class is competing for a thicker slice of sailing pie it’s important to acknowledge that most classes have their own niche on the water and your choice of dinghy isn’t necessarily as simple as a preference for one manufacturer over another. No class is objectively ‘better’, necessarily, they just cater to a different personal whim or scratch a particular itch. What the Blaze offers is uniquely Blaze. One of the class association’s major roles is to ensure that those looking for a particular sailing life balance - cost v’s performance, sailing forgiveness v’s technical challenge and serious racing v’s community vibe - are informed about where the Blaze sits on those scales. Our membership will tell you, the Blaze has it just right for them. For its 30^th anniversary the class will be weaving celebrations into every event through the year. The centrepiece of festivities will be the National Championship in June which is set to be the boldest racing and social event in Blaze history. Toasts, talks and commemorative videos will pepper the weekend, including contributions from VIPs from the Blaze’s earliest spark to its contemporary radiance. Giveaways galore and hefty sponsorship from Battle Brewery, Hartley Boats, BCA and others, elevate the event into a land and sea spectacle worthy of the trigintennial.

Having tied down the full season’s programme long before the end of 2025 we now look forward to the formal launch of the racing season in late March able to concentrate on all the fun stuff. The Blaze events calendar features a championship, traveller or open event for each month from March to November and includes some new class racing options for our compatriots in more far flung corners of the Blaziverse. A sizeable - and growing - Scottish fleet have overseen the relaunch of the Scottish Traveller series – the first in over 20 years. The new series should help meld the more geographically isolated club sailors into a more conjoined Blaze community – not only within Scotland itself, but as part of a deliberate lean toward north/south cohesion. The success of the Class’s current drive for unity had been witnessed at the 2025 Blaze Scottish Championships which, with thanks to a very active fleet at Helensburgh and superb organisation, had attracted unprecedented numbers of English and Welsh racers. The championship had blossomed into the year’s best attended Blaze event bar the Nationals. Reciprocally, the already numerous signed-up-and-paid-for summer 2026 Nationals entries boast the highest number of Scottish racers in recent history. It’s a great sign for the class in general and sends an empirically backed message about the attractiveness of the Blaze dinghy and its community. Plenty to celebrate, then, as we press onwards and upwards with a fantastic outlook for the 30^th year in Blazes. But what specifically are Blazes up to in 2026?

Burghfield SC Blaze Open 28th March Burghfield SC has a long history of involvement in Blaze boat development and racing. The unofficial home of the Fire sail, Burghfield remains a popular inland hub for Blazes with a friendly fleet who travel well and offer a warm welcome to visitors. The central-south club with its quirky islands once again opens its gates to travelling Blazes for the annual one-day season appetiser and has also been chosen as the venue for the class training day. An oversubscribed entry list for training was a disappointment for some, of course, but those that committed early will benefit from the skill and experience of 5-times National Champion Ben Harden in a chock-a-block day of learning, sailing drills and exchange of ideas. 2025’s Burghfield Open was extremely competitive with an impressive roster of top-end travellers forcing the whole fleet to raise their game. Entry numbers are likely to be high again this year, bolstered by the ready-formed fleet of limbered-up and tuned-in Blazers fresh from the training. Burghfield Club locals to watch: Mike Lyons (former National Champion, former Blaze rights holder and Blaze builder) Pete Barlow (Great Grandmaster Nationals Champion)

Blaze Western Championship North Devon Sailing Club 25th – 26th April In 2018, the Blazes descended on NDYC for a well-attended National Championship, yet no class events have been held there since. In more recent years, the Blaze Western Championship has piggybacked the ready-made POSH (Paignton Open for Single Handers) event, but for 2026 the class wanted a more bespoke competition and we’re chuffed NDYC offered to host. With its huge sandy beaches, pretty villages, traditional pubs and Exmoor nearby, North Devon is a draw for sailors and non-sailors alike. NDYC sits on the estuary of the River Torridge just before it spills into the Bristol Channel and the local waters have some of the largest tides in the world. Devon is reputedly the windiest place in England enjoying unobstructed southwest winds off the Atlantic and strong sea breezes in summer. Local Blazes thrive in the prevailing conditions and it’s no surprise they’re the most active fleet in club. A special setting, then, for those sailors wishing to flex their Blazing muscles at the first Championship event of 2026. An event run by Blaze sailors for Blaze sailors keeps this event fantastically affordable. NDYC locals to watch: Hugh Kingdon (Ex Masters Champion and ex-Travellers Champion) Chris Dyer (former Westerns winner) Paul Tatem (by current form, it’s only a matter of time before the formal credentials start sailing in)

Blaze Eastern Championship Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club 16th – 17th May Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club is a small, friendly, members-run dinghy and multihull sailing club situated on the north Kent coast just 40 miles from London. Technically still on the Thames Estuary you could be forgiven for thinking the clubhouse looks out onto the open sea. Launching is possible at all states of tide from the shingle beach and the prevailing south westerlies offer a steady breeze without kicking up waves, making for breathlessly fast reaching in a Blaze. IOSSC’s fantastically well-drilled race team apparently work best while dispensing good-natured banter. And combining that – as they do - with excellent racing and ever-lively evenings, deliver an invariably uplifting weekend. Well worth the drive wherever you’re coming from. Sheppey Club locals to watch: Russ Wheeler Lee Marriott

Battle Brewery and Hartley Boats Blaze National Championship Lee on Solent Sailing Club 11th – 13th June As the centrepiece of the Blaze’s 30^th birthday, this years Nationals event is an out-and-out celebration of everything that the Blaze Class and its sailors cherish – challenging and inclusive racing, lively (and sometimes raucous) social and with an extra nod to the colourful history and contemporary presence of an inspired and inspiring boat. What more fitting venue, then, than The Solent; the most popular sailing water in the UK known for a reliable south‑westerly breeze and clean, predictable tidal flow. An expansive playground with plenty of room for the Blaze to spread its wings. Founded in 1907, Lee on Solent SC is one of the oldest dinghy sailing clubs on the Solent and has witnessed several reimaginings over the years. Its most recent rebuilding project in 2021 settles back on an earlier configuration of smart clubhouse set back from the sea while the Signal Station bustles with the waterside action. The club has supported strong fleets including Leader, GP14 and RS400 and more recently single‑handed classes in particular have seen growth with active Phantom, Solution, Aero and Blaze sailors. Battle Brewery once again furnish the Blaze’s biggest event with a head-spinning package of evening consumables and prize table goodies. Hartley Boats continue their tradition of backing the Blaze Class with a grand array of prizes lavishing excellent bounty for every level of sailor. Those sailors that clicked their entry links before the end of the Dinghy Show (51 of them in fact!) had landed a fantastic early-bird discount by kind sponsorship from Goodacre Boat Repairs. And many thanks must also go to Off Grid Pro who gift the class two chances to win back early entry fees in the raffle… as if the inclusive dinners, beer, tea and cakes aren’t great value enough….! As part of the 30^th celebrations the class will be sitting down to a formal(ish) dinner on Friday evening and BCA are thrilled to be unveiling the ‘Blaze Beginnings’ video documentary featuring personal contributions, insight, anecdotes, tears and laughter from Blaze designers, builders, sailmakers, sponsors and other key personnel spanning the three Blazing decades. The video should provide a valuable record and resource for future generations to enjoy. Early Saturday evening is earmarked for the BCA AGM and is poised to deliver positive reports from most departments, some exciting personnel proposals, and an opening of the floor to Blaze and Fire sailors for discussion about the things that matter most to them. Oh, and there’s some sailing planned too! For the racing, alongside the main three-day National Championship event, BCA will be running the Blaze Nations Cup, which turns friends into rivals for national pride. Last year, a well-travelled Wales team had driven the trio of understated, but natty Nations Cup mugs home from the Scottish Championship and no doubt Scotland will be smarting. England will be hoping for home-water advantage this year and should surely benefit from a larger field of sailors. With a question mark over attendance by 5-times champion Ben Harden in 2026, there will be some keen eyes on the top spots. It’ll be interesting to see the setting out of racing stalls in the couple of early-season Championship races to determine who’s serious about the Nationals win. From the evidence of last years close and unpredictable racing, no-one paying attention is likely to be sticking their necks out to bet on a particular winner. It’s genuinely all to play for and some very exciting racing in prospect. Lee on Solent club locals to watch: Alex Cory (5^th in 2024 Nationals) Andy Read (Event co-organiser)

Allen Blaze Scottish Championship Helensburgh Sailing Club 11th – 12th July On the Firth of Clyde just north of Glasgow, Helensburgh Sailing Club takes pride in quoting the dramatic fact that it homes the largest Blaze fleet in the world. And rightly so with its Blaze-worthy winds and water. In 2025, the Scottish Championship was the best attended Blaze event bar Nationals and with dedicated effort to promote the northerly fleets, particularly by HSC‘s venerable and visionary Mark Homer, another spectacular Scottish showcase is very much to be expected. The Scottish Champs in 2026 attracts prestigious sponsorship from Allen Performance Sailing Hardware in validation and reward for the work the fleet have put in to improve class visibility in Scotland and beyond. In a pragmatic approach to organising a well-attended Championship it was decided to preserve the Helensburgh SC venue for a third consecutive year. Travellers and locals alike will also be relieved at the programming of a mid-summer event after a wintry previous two. Yet nothing is guaranteed in a part of the country renowned for its persistent bypassing of weather forecasts and disregard for seasonal norms. What can be relied on at Helensburgh is a warm Caledonian welcome in beautiful surroundings. That, along with the alure of two days of well-organised, competitive racing and an HSC Blaze fleet policy ensuring no sailor goes home empty handed should be more than enough to encourage travellers to hitch up once again. Helensburgh Club locals to watch: Ali Gray (3^rd in Scottish Champs 2025) Dan Challis (1^st Master in Scottish Champs 2025) Mark Homer (Lead organiser and relentless contender)

BCA Fire National Championship Warsash Sailing Club 5^th – 6^th September For 2026, BCA’s Fire Class presents a National Championship run from the ever-popular Warsash SC, chosen for its fantastic club facilities and challenging but enjoyable sailing conditions. Warsash SC had drawn the biggest Blaze fleet ever to its 2022 National Championship and we look forward to more great racing and kicking back on WSC’s high standard of post-race food and drink. Previous visitors to any one of a long list of Blaze events at Warsash will tell you the Solent chop does need some skill to negotiate and the tides may also factor heavily depending on the benevolence of race officer. But if you want to experience the best of what the Blaze/Fire can offer, this is the venue to get your kicks on the water. Another firecracker event awaits…. Warsash Club local to watch: Martin Gillam – New to Blaze in 2025, achieved 8^th at Nationals.

Don’t have a Fire sail? Don’t worry! With many thanks to Hartley Boats for sponsorship of this scheme, BCA is happy to offer trial Fire sails to use for free. Several available for all Fire events. Contact BCA for details.

I know the Blaze, but what is a Fire? The Fire is the most recent addition to the Blaze family, developed in early 2014 and released for production in the Autumn of that year.

The Fire sail is approximately 8.8m² and like the Blaze main (10.4m²) is a manageably powerful semi-battened rig. The intended users are the young(er), the old(er), the light(er) and ladies.  The performance is crisp and it’s hardly slow, but somewhat less demanding than the Blaze would be in higher winds. As a small but keen class in its own right, the Fire maintains a core of activity and continues to find traction with sailors looking for easier boat management. That’s not to say that the Fire has to be a separate class; many in the class hold both Blaze and Fire sails to choose from as conditions dictate. Every BCA Blaze event can be sailed on either sail and, such is the efficiency and high-wind forgiveness of the Fire, the consensus is that no aggregate racing benefit exists either way and handicapping is therefore unnecessary. This certainly lends a unique angle to inclusive sailing that isn’t a feature of other classes. That said, faithful Fire sailors still enjoy exposing and promoting the class as a discrete project and relish the increasingly popular Fire National and Inland Championship events.

Lomo Blaze Inland Championship Draycote Water Sailing Club 3rd – 4th October Draycote Water was RYA Club of the Year in 2024 and it’s sailing academy regularly churns out young sailors of excellence, particularly focusing on Topper world and national championships. Draycote also honours its olympic 29er sailor, Matt Gotrel, who for good measure crews SailGP and Americas Cup boats and rowed his way to back-to-back Olympic golds too. There must be something in the water! The 650 acre reservoir last hosted Blaze Inlands in 2022, during which a large fleet raced into a gloriously windy Saturday and an awkwardly shifty Sunday – all pretty standard for the central English location. For many years the Blaze Inlands has been staged as the final championship event of the Traveller Series and with so much at stake there are always races-within-races at the front. For everyone else, a last chance to squeeze an improved race average out of the season. Or, just an excuse to have some fun…! Blaze Class is delighted to retain sponsorship by Lomo Watersports who’ve generously stamped their name on the Blaze Inlands since 2024. Lomo’s cosy kit will certainly be welcome insulation to sailors at an event pushing well into the late-season chill.  But who knows - we could be relying on Lomo for sunnies and sunscreen instead! Draycote club locals to watch: Richard Botting (former Class Chairman)

BCA Fire Inland Championship Draycote Water Sailing Club 21st – 22nd November Blaze Class will be seen twice at Draycote Water this season with both Blaze and Fire Inlands taking advantage of the central location. Quick access from M1, M6 & M45, should help draw sailors from every compass point. This year’s Fire Inlands will be run as a hybrid event combining one day of fleet racing and one day of pursuit racing within the multi-class Sailjuice race series. An unusual proposal, perhaps, but mixing up the format makes for a refreshing change and offers something for everyone over the weekend. November conditions at Draycote can vary between cold and windless to full-on stormy so there’s no guessing which way it’ll go. But what we can be sure of is Firey competition in the season’s final fling, expected to be equally as ferocious as the Blazes will enjoy.

BCA Blaze Scottish Traveller Series For the first time in over 20 years, Scotland enjoys the return of the Blaze Scottish Traveller Series, running throughout 2026. Curated by Phil Rose of Aberdeen and Stonehaven YC and with grateful thanks to all hosting clubs, Blaze and Fire sailors of any standard are welcomed and encouraged to make the most of some of the UK’s most beautiful sailing venues. Scottish Blazes are spread far and wide but with an eye on inclusion, fun and value we’re hoping to keep the fleet mobile and entertained throughout the year. The Scottish Champs at Helensburgh will be the crown of the events providing the hub for what’s likely to be the biggest ensemble of north and south Blazes ever. The most northerly Blaze club in the UK – ASYC – have a well-founded Blaze pedigree themselves and there’s no doubt they’ll be itching to reestablish their name on the national Blaze map. As a championship venue, though, it was considered that such an epic drive from south of the border for most sailors would not deliver the best outcome for the class. Maybe next year when the tartan bug has truly bitten, and with potential further Allen support, Blazes will be encouraged further north. In any case, ASYC remains an important venue on the traveller circuit and reciprocal travelling by all club sailors will help bring the series alive. 2026 Blaze Scottish Traveller Series events Loch Earn SC 2^nd – 3^rd May Helensburgh SC 11^th – 12^th July Aberdeen and Stonehaven YC 15^th - 16^th August Loch Lomond SC 5^th – 6^th September Dalgety Bay SC 19^th – 20^th September

A grand season awaits. Happy Birthday Blaze and fair winds to all!