Mike De Courcy (HISC) stormed to victory in the Bosham Finn Open held over July 19 and 20 in the picturesque waters of Chichester Harbour. The regatta was fifth in the North Sails Finn 2025 UK Traveller Series. It was a battle of attrition in the end, with the strong southerly wind on the Sunday narrowing down the field. The racing was ably managed by Rowan Chaplin, who won the Bosham Plate in 1997, and his assistant Charles Cooper.

Saturday started damp and it was slow progress against the tide to the start line. When the first start gun was sounded at 2pm the sun had started to appear and the wind picked up. 15 boats, including 2 who had sailed over from HISC crossed the start line tracking a triangle sausage course North of East Head. Local BSC sailor, Shaun Hopkins, only in his second Finn season, leapt off the line, was first to the windward mark and kept the wolves at bay to take the bullet. Martin Hughes (Warsash SC), sailing his 1958 Jeremy Rogers Finn, also had an excellent start and held on for 3rd place. He could not prevent John Mackie, down from Blithfield, pipping him to second place.

Martin’s Finn, one of only 15 Jeremy Rogers built, is probably the only one left in existence. Martin picked her up as wreck in 2013 and undertook a ten-year restoration, saving the original hull and replacing the deck. It is a testament to his skill that he can be competitive in national fleets whilst still using a 1978 aluminium mast and a 1992 Musto sail.

By the second race the wind was slowly building and so was Mike De Courcy’s dominance. The RO swapped to a trapezoid course and the second mark was still a beat due to the strength of the tide by East Head. Mike lead from the start and was followed home by John Mackie and Matthew Walker (HISC).

For the third race of the day the Race Officer accommodated the wind shift to the East by swapping to a triangular laps across the ever increasing tide. The wind had continued to increase and its strength had sent a few sailors back for an early shower. This time it was Matthew Walker, a past winner of the Bosham Plate, who lead the fleet to the finish closely followed by Mike De Courcy and John Mackie.

The fleet was quickly blown back to Bosham Quay with the majestic vista of the Saxon Church nestling below the South Downs before them as they came up the channel. Thanks to the sponsorship of Treagust Butchers of Emsworth there were free barbecued sausages galore and a drink from the bar for all competitors and the numerous volunteers.

On Sunday, Aeolus, the god of wind, had turned the volume up to 11. The boys from HISC launched and then returned to base as did several sailors from Bosham after poking their noses out of the channel. Rowan reverted to windward leeward laps so beloved by Finn sailors. Impressively Martin Hughes persisted in his museum grade Finn until the mast step screw buckled and he had to limp home. The wind was blowing a consistent 20knots and topped out at 28knots according to Cambermet.

Mike De Courcy lead off the line and this was further extended when John Mackie filled his boat up at the leeward mark. Playing it conservative Jeremy Drummond (BSC) wended round and finished in third.

Thoughts of the legendary Bosham tea awaiting at the club diminished the last race to three committed sailors. Mike De Courcey characteristically lead from the front and even he was wending round the leeward mark. Shaun, the lightest of the three, fought round the beats to take second with Jeremy Drummond in third. At this point the Race team wisely called it a day and there was a fun sail planing up the channel back to base.

With smoked salmon sandwiches in abundance and cakes from the fleet no one went home hungry. All competitors went home with prizes thanks to the generosity of our sponsors Harken UK and Force 4 Chandlery. In the final standings Mike De Courcy (HISC) won the Bosham Plate; John Mackie (Blithfield SC) was second, Shaun Hopkins (BSC) was third and Martin Hughes (WSC) retained the Amoeba Cup as the first Classic Finn. A massive thanks to Richard Lewis, the BSC Commodore and all the BSC team for creating a fantastic regatta at an iconic venue.

Richard Lewis, Bosham SC Commodore, presenting the Bosham Plate to the winner of the 2025 Finn Open, Mike De Courcy, alongside Martin Hughes, winner of the Amoeba Cup for first Classic, Shaun Hopkins, third place and John Mackie, second place. © Paul Thorpe

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