Welcome to the latest instalment of the MPS newsletter. Well, what can I say, we have had a blinding start to the year with loads of new boats and many more on order, we have new fleets in the UK at Thorpe Bay and Stokes Bay. I would like to welcome all of the new faces to the class and hope to see you all on the circuit very soon. I have just taken delivery of my new boat which has already seen some serious sailing in last weekends squalls!

It's probably time that we had a weekend training event very soon to ready people for the Nationals, I will be looking into this in the very near future probably to take place in early August, Ideally at Rutland. It would be very beneficial for you all to come and take part. Not only will you learn all the top tips from Sten, Trotter and Kev but you will get the chance to meet and drink copious amounts of beer with your new compatriots

The Nationals at Sunderland is almost upon us and it looks like it's going to be a blinder, there has been loads of interest and at last count we were through the 30 mark on people who are known to be competing. Being from Sunderland originally, I know that they will put on a fantastic show and we have some of the best sailing water in the UK to play on. Go on, you know you want to .....

Good sailing, Graeme Oliver Musto Performance Skiff Class Chairman

Nine Musto skiffs were invited by Ovington boats to take part in an event which was held in front of the 2004 annual North Shields Fish Quay Festival on the 30th and 31st of May.

Local pubs, restaurants, and businesses sponsored all of the boats and each sail carried the sponsor's sticker.

Hundreds of people lined the bank to watch some incredibly close racing and they were not disappointed.

Read the full report....

With boats spread far and wide Ovington Boats felt it was time to develop a comprehensive rigging guide for the Musto Skiff.
This is a 90 step rigging process, one photo per step. Sounds a lot but it's just got all the details you need to ensure you are rigged up correctly

Read the guide ... »

This year's series will take a different format than last years but by using a more simple scoring system we hope it will be easier to follow and give a true reflection of the racing on the water over the season.
We are operating a low points scoring system identical to that of an event, so if you finish 4th overall you score 4pts in the series. The person with the least points at the end of the season wins. There will be 1 discard for every 3 events sailed, this will allow you to drop your worst results from your scorecard and should keep the series close and competitive.

If you do not attend an event you will score the number of boats entered +3pts, this gives a clear incentive to turn up and keep those scores down. If there is a tie it will be decided again by using an event format so the person with the most firsts, seconds, thirds etc will win.

Finally the decision has been taken to make the National Championships count double so hopefully we will see you all there competing for those valuable points. Well done to Martin Boatman for sorting this all out!! See who is top of the table...

See who is top of the table... »

Mark has been booked to run the 2 day training camp prior to the Gold Cup at Lake Garda. This training is focused on those who are in the second half of the fleet. Hotshots will no doubt be joining in and assist with the training but this is very much about helping those at the back of the fleet to improve their performance. SO, even if you know you are not going to win the Gold Cup it is still worth attending to have a great time improving your standard.
Marks Sailing CV Championship successes include: 1720 European Champion, 2000; 1720 national champion Laser 5000 Euro cup and national champion; Lark national champion (*3); Firefly national champion (*2); Mirror national champion; Sportsboat RTI Winner; Manager and sailor in "Panther" Tour voile team (4th overall, 2002) and Mainsheet on top Inshore boat in 2002 Commodores Cup

Coaching track record includes; Coach to British 420 team, world champs, 2003 and 2004; Coach to British 470 team, ISAF worlds, 1994; Invited coach for SB3 nationals, 2003 and 2004; Invited coach to National 12 nationals, 2004 and RYA international coach.

Mark is also a Freelance journalist, professional sailor, project consultant and coach. So don't miss out on what is set to be a fantastic event!

UK Sailors: Have you booked your Garda Flights?

OUTWARD Saturday 18 / 9 / 2004 Ryanair Flight No. 314 Departs 7.30am London Stanstead Coach to pick up from Verona Brescia on arrival

RETURN Sunday 26 / 9 / 2004 Ryanair Flight No. 317 Departs 22.15 Verona Brescia Coach will pick up from Piccolo Hotel in time to take the flight to the UK

BOOK NOW!! »

The very first Scottish Champion in the Musto Skiff class is Ian Trotter from Derwent Reservoir SC. He won a close-fought regatta in wonderful conditions at East Lothian Yacht Club over 5th & 6th June, with 3 races each day.
Saturday provided a stiff force 4, gusting 5, and the sailors revelled in the fresh sea conditions. In the first race Ian Trotter and Ian Turnbull rounded the first windward mark together, closely followed by Ian Renilson. Turnbull pulled a lightening-fast hoist and powered away, only to spoil it by capsizing in a careless gybe, which left Trotter to sail away to Ovingtonsy. Turnbull recovered well and fought back to take second place from Renilson on the next run.

Read the full report to find out more and thanks to Ian Renilson for all his efforts in running the event.

Read the full report ... »

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