Nick Craig puts down a marker for the Gold Cup by winning Bosham Finn Open 2024 in style.

The sun shone and the wind blew making the home of UK Finn sailing, Bosham Sailing Club the perfect venue for a summer Open regatta over the weekend of July 27 and 28. The fleet of 22 Finns from across the South of England were a majestic sight in the tricky tidal waters of Chichester harbour. Rowan Caplin, the Principal Race Officer and an experienced Finn sailor himself, masterfully set a variety of courses which gave the fleet legs on almost all points of sail.

It was always going to be a challenge to be ahead of Nick Craig (Warsash Sailing Club) who was gaining time in the Finn after his recent OK Nationals success to prepare for the Finn Gold Cup in Denmark at the end of August.

The first beat to a temporary mark was invariably a test of where to cross the tide. In the first race it was to the right along the Pilsey Sands with Russ Ward (Hayling Island Sailing Club, HISC) leading the way until his blades got caught in the shallows and he was passed by Nick and Matt Walker (HISC). In the next race, Nick showed his dominance and everyone else his transom. Ben Davis (Emsworth Sailing Club) was second and local Bosham sailor Steve Board kept the chasing pack at bay to finish third. 

The third race took the fleet out to the edge of the Winner bank and its associated random chop with Nick clear ahead. What should have been a beat became a reach and what should have been a reach became a beat. Tim Carver (Warsash SC) was second with Mike de Courcey winning the HISC battle to finish third.

Sun and wind continued on the Sunday and the race committee wisely postponed for 30 minutes to allow more water to flood into the harbour with high tide at the end of the day. Race 4 was a classic triangle/sausage. Tim Carver got to the windward mark first having shot off the start line until Nick’s superior boat speed allowed him to pass. Tim held on for his second 2nd place with Martin Hughes (Warsash SC) in his 1958 wooden Classic Finn with an aluminium mast and 1990s Dacron sail, getting an impressive third. In Race 5 it was Ben Davis’s turn to lead the fleet to the windward mark and he got another second place. Simon Pettit, who was consistently at the top of the fleet all weekend finished third.

The Race team then moved very quickly to get the last race off with a minute to spare before the time limit and set a windward/leeward course across the tide. Nick was clearly keen to get back for the salmon sandwiches and cake and left Russ Ward in second and Tim Carver in third trailing in his wake.

With all six races completed, there was one discard. Nick Craig had completed a perfect score to win; Tim Carver was second and Simon Pettit consistency paid off to finish third overall. Martin Hughes in fifth was the top Classic Finn. All regatta participants got prizes from our generous sponsors: HARKEN UK, FORCE 4 CHANDLERY, NORTH SAILS and VIN WINE MERCHANTS of Emsworth.

The regatta benefited from the continuing growth of Finn sailing in Chichester harbour. There are currently over 45 Finns sailing across 6 clubs in the harbour.

Final results:  

Photo credits:  Greg Grant and Paul Thorpe.

Report by Jem Drumond.