Marine13 Blaze Scottish Championship 2025 at Helensburgh Sailing Club

The Marine13 Blaze Scottish Championship was held at Helensburgh Sailing Club on the weekend of 6-7th September. Helensburgh SC had hosted a feisty, mostly blown-out one-day event in 2024 and were keen to put on a much bigger, grander event for 2025 - and they certainly did that with bells on!

Helensburgh is home to the largest Blaze fleet in the world (OK, there're not so many Blazes outside the UK, but it's still a fact!). An impressive turnout of 27 boats at the just-north-of-Glasgow venue featured a strong local showing, of course, including event mastermind and HSC stalwart, Mark Homer. Scottish numbers were bolstered by visitors from Aberdeen, Loch Lomond and Dalgety Bay.

Three travellers apiece from England and Wales had been keen to take advantage of the typically excellent Blaze wind and water at Helensburgh and were undoubtedly attracted by the prospect of taking the prizes and bragging rights home from the inaugural Blaze Nations Cup.

Marine13 has been a long-time sponsor of the Helensburgh fleet, providing prizes for their regular seasonal Blaze open series' and had stepped-up in the best possible way to support the most expansive Scottish Championship for decades, if not ever. Cheers Marine13!

The forecast for Saturday was a southerly 15 to 20kts, and with moderate waves - the perfect Blaze conditions. With a very variable forecast for Sunday threatening winds of over 35kts, Race Officer, Euan Morrison announced he intended to run four races on Saturday. The race briefing also included the memorable warning that if you sailed outside the race-course onto the main channel, you would be SHOT!!!

Strange thing to say, we thought... But all became clear when an American nuclear submarine cruised past accompanied by multiple RIBs manned by armed marines.

For the smaller craft on the water, the racing courses were trapezoidal - a Blaze favourite - allowing fast, exhilarating reaches and tactical downwind sailing.

Race 1 was won by 2025 Blaze Nationals top-fiver, Stacey Bray from Porthpean SC, who was clearly relishing the wind and waves. In close pursuit were local boy, Ali Gray, and Pembrokeshire based Traveller Series favourite, Christian Smart.

Marine13 Blaze Scottish Championship at Helensburgh - photo © Dougie Bell

The three laps of Race1 had exceed 45 minutes and the call to shorten subsequent races to two laps was met with relief.

In race 2, again Stacey proved his mastery of the conditions, with Christian - one of the lightest sailors - in second, ahead of fellow Welsh sailor Julian Owens.

By race 3 the winds were moderating slightly. Christian raced neatly to wrestle the win from Stacey while Ali had earned his top three, narrowly forcing industrious clubmate, Mark Homer, out of the individual race medals.

Marine13 Blaze Scottish Championship at Helensburgh - photo © Sandy Homer

By the start of race 4 legs were definitely aching, but with sunshine and a good breeze, the conditions were fantastic. After a steady ascent within the Blaze traveller fleet over several years, Julian finally achieved his deserved first race win. A Welsh 1-2 was ensured by Christian and not without satisfaction to be keeping a frustrated Ali - and the Scots team - without a win all day. Stacey came through in fourth.

Tired sailors headed for shore but spirits and energy reserves were swiftly restored by Odyssey Water's gift of coffee and cake followed by a quick shower and change into smarter attire for the 'Blazers in Blazers' cocktail party on the lawn. Generous sponsorship by Ribs Marine Services meant the drinks flowed freely, accompanied by and an acoustic live band. The bar was well-propped by the usual Welsh suspects until late into the night.

Mark Homer, event mastermind - Marine13 Blaze Scottish Championship at Helensburgh - photo © Dougie Bell

Sunday dawned with light winds, although the sailors and race officer were wary of the still-forecast 30+kts due to blow in around lunchtime. The brave decision was made to launch, and what a great decision! The breeze remained light - up to 12 kts - though coming in from the east carried with it some big shifts.

Christian smoothly took the Race5 win, closely followed by the final member of the Pembrokeshire raiding party, Alan Watkins. The determined and persistent Ali scored his fourth top three.

It was all to play for as we went into the final race. In Race6, Stacey re-established himself at the front to secure the win, proving his skill in a range of conditions. Ali had finally gotten the better of Christian to take second from him. Dan Challis came through in fourth to bolster the Scottish results.

Stacey Bray, overall winner - Marine13 Blaze Scottish Championship at Helensburgh - photo © Dougie Bell

Overall, after one discard, the last race had placed Stacey as the event winner by one point from Christian. Ali, undoubtedly disappointed, had been a dogged contender and can be proud of his weekend's work against resolute displays from the English and Welsh men.

The hotly-contested Nations Cup, calculated on the combined scores of the first three sailors from each Nation was duly won by the Welsh. Congratulations to the Boyos!

Chris Smart, second overall - Marine13 Blaze Scottish Championship at Helensburgh - photo © Dougie Bell

And Bravo to Stacey! The erstwhile Contender sailor upgraded to the Blaze Class only in 2025 and has quickly established himself as a real threat. Great to have new blood shaking things up. Fantastic work to bag a tight and bruising win of the Marine13 Blaze Scottish Championship 2025.

Many thanks to Marine13 for provision of a vast array of race and raffle prizes to make sure no one left Scotland (or HSC, at least!) empty handed.

Ali Gray, third overall - Marine13 Blaze Scottish Championship at Helensburgh - photo © Dougie Bell

Big 'Cheers' to Odyssey Water, and Ribs Marine Services who combined to lay on a fantastic spread of food and drink which always helps make Blaze Class events pop - and this one a highlight of the 2025 Blaze calendar.

And, of course, big thanks to organiser, motivator and Scottish Blaze hero, Mark Homer, and to Helensburgh Sailing Club, for hosting a special event, utterly memorable for its superb racing and high-spirited on-shore celebrations.

Marine13 Blaze Scottish Championship at Helensburgh - photo © Sandy Homer

Extra Prizes:

1st Master - Dan Challis
1st Grand Master - Douglas Clow
1st Youth - Theo Holmes (Rudyard Lake SC)
1st Fire - Bobby McGhee (Prestwick SC)
1st Polyester - James Miller (Helensburgh SC)

Endeavour - Steve Whitton (Loch Lomond SC)
Furthest travelled - Stacey Bray (272 miles)
John Abbott Midfleet - Darren Booth (Helensburgh SC)
Nations Cup Winners - Wales (Christian Smart, Julian Owens, Alan Watkins)

Overall Results:

Stacey Bray, overall winner - Marine13 Blaze Scottish Championship at Helensburgh - photo © Sandy Homer