Tongue Twister Triumphs in Concours d'Elegance at the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show 2025
by Mark Jardine 24 Feb 05:00 NZDT
23 February 2025
Albacore 'Uffa Fox Sake' owned by Matt Thompson wins Concours d'Elegance at the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show © Paul Wyeth / RYA
The Concours d'Elegance for the boat of the show at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show 2025 has been won by Matt Thompson's Albacore 'Uffa Fox Sake' after judges Mark Jardine, joined this year by the voice of SailGP, Stevie Morrison, spent an enjoyable morning perusing every boat on display.
Stevie, who has sailed nearly every class of boat under the sun, has a penchant for wooden boats, but also a love of high performance dinghies, being a World and European champion, and Olympian, in the 49er class, so where his head and heart would go in judging was very open.
After a long browse, Stevie and Mark settled on four boats in their shortlist, with the B14 two-man skiff, the foiling Switch One Design dinghy and the A Class Catamaran eventually decided as runners-up, as the Albacore stood head and shoulders above the others in the judges' eyes.
Owner Matt Thompson was ecstatic to finally get his hands on the trophy after a 'near miss' a few years back when his boat hadn't been sailing yet, so was ineligible:
"Absolutely fantastic! I thought my chances had gone after my first attempt in 2019. I could have perhaps claimed the boat had been on the water, but it was pretty obvious it hadn't back then. I thought there's a lot of other lovely looking boats around here, but it's always worth persevering. And here we are again, six years later. Finally, the reward has come to me, and it's fantastic."
On keeping the boat looking in Concours condition Matt added:
"I probably don't sail it hard enough, truth be told. It does take a lot of patience and a lot of care. It does get wrapped up and put away in the winter. It has actually just had a little bit of a makeover by James Jarvey. There was a little bit of accident damage - not my fault, I hasten to add - which he's dealt with. This boat shouldn't need varnishing probably for ten years, but I'll get it done maybe every three or four years."
The quality of presentation of boats always impresses, and the 2025 show has proved no different, making the judging as hard as ever. The buzz around the show and on the class stands makes for an enjoyable visit for everyone, be they a seasoned dinghy campaigner or someone entirely new to the sport, and having the boats presented in their best light, reflects sailing in the best way possible.
Previous Concours d'Elegance Winners: