Blaze Class Association 2025 season preview
by Andy Wilson 10 Feb 13:42 GMT
Race start during the Hartley Boats Blaze National Championship 2024 © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com
A full-on Class Association event calendar in 2024 delivered a Blaze of opportunity for the intrepid travellers of the fleet to hitch-up and get stuck in. The compass points of the UK map were well covered - from Helensburgh, to Warsash, Pembrokeshire to Sheppey - and we'd enjoyed the highest number of Traveller Series qualifiers for years.
On the first gun of the season's finale in October (LOMO Blaze Inlands at Chasewater) there were five viable series winners and all of them had turned out and hoisted sails to chase-down the title. Although missing out on the Inlands trophy itself, Class Chairman, Charlie Matthews, had kept his heels clear of snapping Traveller rivals to secure a well-earned series victory.
It wasn't without a certain relief for the travel-weary that the off-season came around, but the tireless behind-the-scenes beavering of the BCA committee continued. The Class hits the 2025 season with another full and enticing calendar. For some championship events this year the Class casts its net beyond the historic Blaze heartland clubs which makes for a refreshing change and an exciting opportunity to enjoy new water and make new friends.
Blaze Class is grateful to all the clubs that have extended invitations to the fleet for events this year - we've been flattered. It's a pity we can't visit them all. The curation of the programme as recounted below relies on the efforts of many people and we thank all involved for helping to piece it together.
For more information on all things Blaze and Fire, contact Blaze Class Association via www.blaze-sailing.org
RYA Dinghy Show 2025 - Farnborough International 22nd - 23rd February 2025
For a pre-season whetting of the dinghy sailing appetite, we couldn't hope for a more seductive spectacle than the RYA Dinghy Show.
With grateful thanks to Hartley Boats for inviting Blaze Class Association onto their stand again this year, the class will be showcasing the Blaze Fire sail - a smaller sail that slips straight on to regular Blaze spars, ideal for smaller, lighter and/or older sailors to experience the Blaze as the heavier of us have enjoyed for decades.
The show provides a great opportunity to bring the class and its past, current and future members together and we all look forward to taking in an eyeful of the array of wonderous other craft from all corners of the dinghy world.
BCA Burghfield Blaze Open - Burghfield SC 29th March 2025
As Blaze alumni goes, it doesn't get more glittery than Burghfield's own ex-National Champion, past Blaze builder and Fire sail designer, Mike Lyons. But he's not alone as a big Blaze name to sail out of this under-exposed inland club. Still a Blaze / Fire stronghold, Burghfield SC has hosted the Blaze season opener for longer than the author has been Blazing and continues to be a favourable venue for this early-season shake-down.
In 2024, Burghfield's gusty Fire Inland Championship unfolded around the reservoir's quirky islands, taking seasoned home-sailor, Pete Barlow, to a deserved win against a cohort of hardy firebrands.
Burghfield is a welcoming, friendly club with great facilities, easy launching and decent inland water. The West Berkshire location has delivered exciting conditions for the Blazes for at least five consecutive years and the class looks forward to more of the same. The Burghfield Blaze Open is the perfect low-stress event to blow out the winter cobwebs in preparation for another busy championship season.
Sailing Chandlery Blaze Eastern Championship - Royal Corinthian YC 12th - 13th April 2025
Since its foundation on the Thames in 1872, Royal Corinthian Yacht Club records a century-and-a-half of world-class helmsmen and women. RCYC received its royal title in 1892 and since 1897 the club has been sited in its current location in Burnham, Essex, taking advantage of the popular sailing waters of the tidal River Crouch.
Blaze Class last visited the Crouch in 2022 for an Easterns launched out of Burnham SC - another club 1km along the northern bank from RCYC. The two clubs combined are home to some of the class' top sailors; most notably, serial National Champion, Ben Harden, 2024 Blaze Traveller Series winner and Class Chairman, Charlie Matthews and Blaze Lady and National Squib Champion, Alex Porteous. Several other neighbourhood names are also likely to feature on the top lines of the scoresheet of this year's championship and it's going to take a quality travelling sailor to keep the prizes out of local hands.
The River Crouch can throw up some hefty winds and as a racing dinghy that thrives in big weather, the Blaze is customarily raced hard. So, BCA is delighted to announce a first sponsorship partnership with locally based Sailing Chandlery for this event. Sailing Chandlery will be a reassuring presence for the class generally, providing a discount code for BCA members and more specifically will help furnish the Eastern Championship prize table with a spread of booty worth competing for.
A new format class-subsidised Blaze training day in 2025 brings 15 Blazes to RCYC on the Friday ahead of the Sailing Chandlery Blaze Eastern Championships to get the jump on their weekend rivals. Taking coaching from local champion Ben, the trainees can channel some of that multi Nationals winning magic - it's sure to rub off!
It's going to be a busy and exciting weekend.
BCA Fire National Championship (during 'POSH') - Paignton SC 10th - 11th May 2025
Paignton SC has always been popular with Blazes, fielding a sizeable fleet of their own, and exists as a venue hub for southwestern and southern-based Blazes, as well as attracting the Welsh and wider fleets. Local Blaze stars include the father/son Ripleys who boast a raft of Blaze, Fire and Aero championship results between them.
With fantastic water, protected from mean westerlies by the spit of Barry Head, a small-but-perfectly-formed clubhouse, forgiving sandy-beach launching and world-class race organisation, it's an easy choice for the Fire Class to piggyback on Paignton's renowned POSH (Paignton Open for Single Handers) for the 2025 Fire Nationals.
Look out for local young-gun, Mark Ripley, who'll be itching to take his podium stand after failing to capitalise on two firsts and a second at last year's Nationals due to mechanical failure.
Firey competition is guaranteed.
BCA Blaze National Championship - Pevensey Bay SC 6th - 8th June 2025
Pevensey Bay SC is currently home to a solid fleet of Blazes and although the plan had been for the Southern Championships to launch out of the club in 2024 an unfortunate cancellation had meant a reschedule. So, the class, still anticipating its first official visit, is delighted to have Pevensey Bay back on the programme for the flagship event of 2025.
Pevensey Bay lies on the eclectic East Sussex coast about a mile to the east of Eastbourne's Sovereign Harbour. The sailing club has a proud habit of exporting racers of high quality including Olympic, Paralympic and European Champion sailors and celebrates a history of hosting major National and European Championships dating back to the 1950s. Blaze Class can see why - the club itself combines all the right ingredients into a top-tier dinghy venue fit for a Blaze showcase 3-dayer.
Sited right on the beach, Pevensey Bay's clubhouse is only a stumble over the pebbles to the open sea. On-site camping, secure boat and car parking is ideal for the travelling masses, and with its large sea-view terrace and a bar long enough to keep up with the customary Blaze thirst, Pevensey Bay SC has all the bases covered.
All that's left is for the wind to blow - not too much of a stretch to envisage over its southeasterly seascape. The prevailing Southwesterlies make for the best race conditions in a blow with shelter from Sovereign Harbour taking the sting out. A more easterly component could kick up the sea state making for challenging launching on a high tide, but a lumpy sea won't spoil great racing for the swell-capable Blaze, most at home spreading its wings on the open sea.
So, another inspiring Nationals event on the cards. Not just a formality to follow-on from a Pembrokeshire 2024 classic, but Pevensey Bay certainly fits the bill and we have every expectation will deliver.
BCA Blaze Western Championship - Porthpean SC 5th - 6th July 2025
Porthpean is a picturesque and popular little sailing club dating back to 1951 and still located on its original site on the westerly corner of St. Austell Bay, Mid Cornwall.
Attractive to sailors with its sandy beach launching, fantastic expanse of sea and very little tide, Porthpean SC has hosted many national championships, including Tasar, Osprey and B14 events in recent years. For 2025, with a rapidly growing Blaze fleet of their own, Porthpean SC welcomes the Blaze Class for the first time for the historically well-attended Blaze Western Championships.
Residing Commodore, Stacey Bray, is a recent convert to the Blaze (he's only human!) and will be keen to expose his club as a go-to championship venue for the fleet.
Of particular interest is the prospect of witnessing Porthpean Blazer, Alan Harris, strive for his long-awaited first Blaze championship prize haul, having been held to fourth place in each of his 2024 championship events. He'll certainly be challenged again, of course, by any (or all) of the well-credentialled Western Championship regulars.
BCA Blaze Scottish Championship, incorporating Northern Championship - Helensburgh SC 6th - 7th September 2025
The long-established Blaze fleet at Helensburgh SC is currently 15-strong - unsurprising considering the excellent Blaze conditions gifted by the Firth of Clyde. It's the most active fleet in the club, fielding a Blaze race series for all four seasons of the year and attracting Blazes from 'neighbouring' clubs despite the distances involved.
A tentative BCA reconnection with the Scottish Blaze fleet in 2024 was met with a howling wind that even the weather-hardened locals had balked at. Yet some adventurous spirits, justifying the journey from the English south had stubbornly set afloat alongside the hardiest of the home fleet and a sole Aberdeen visitor, to carve out an epic survival event. We all had a story to tell!
BCA are chuffed to be invited back to Helensburgh for this year's expanded-format 2-dayer and we look forward to a more raceable outlook. We're likely to see a strong showing from the other Scottish Blaze fortress of Aberdeen and Stonehaven SC, home to heavy-weather specialist, Blaze Scottish and Blaze Northern Champion, Andrew Grant. Further Scottish Blazes are spread widely across the country and this championship will be a draw for them with the prospect of racing in a big fleet and being a part of 2025's Scottish Blaze highlight event.
Helensburgh SC's usual lively après sail will be fun for all, too, jollied along by the Marine13 Blaze Raffle to make sure everyone takes their smiles home with some goodies.
Helensburgh makes for a rewarding trip if you want a warming Caledonian welcome, competitive racing on fantastic water, the most reliable Blaze-worthy winds you'll find in the UK and the best of eye-popping Scottish breakfasts to keep you fuelled all week.
Certainly, a great excuse to make a holiday of it.
LOMO Blaze Inland Championship - Bala SC 27th - 28th September 2025
Bala Sailing Club, situated at the northeastern end of Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) offers visiting sailors access to the largest natural lake in Wales, renowned for its picturesque setting within Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.
Bala had been a regular venue on the Blaze circuit in the past but this great piece of water has been overlooked by the Class since 2015. With Blaze numbers at Bala on the rise once again, this year's LOMO Blaze Inland Championship presents an exciting opportunity for class newcomers - both home and away - to connect with golden Blaze history and a long overdue reestablishment of ties between club and class.
As the finale of the Blaze season in recent years and more-often-than-not decider for the Travellers Series, the Inlands attracts good numbers of travelling Blazers. We're told to expect a decent breeze at Bala in September and with ongoing Inlands support from LOMO Watersports, it's an event that will continue to attract many.