Black Knight sweeps 2025 Euro Circuit in Plymouth finale
by Tom Cave 6 Oct 11:14 PDT
25-28 September 2025
The final leg of the 2025 European 18ft Skiff Circuit wrapped up in Plymouth on Sunday 28th September, with the Royal Western Yacht Club hosting nine boats from the UK, Germany, and Hungary for four days of fast, close racing.
Conditions tested crews across the fleet, with light airs on the opening two days seeing all teams opting for their No.1 rigs, before day three delivered a punchy 20 knots that forced the switch down to No.2s. By the final day, the breeze eased again and the big rigs were the choice for the whole fleet, setting the stage for a finale where teamwork and sharp decision-making proved decisive.
A vibrant mix of established outfits and freshly assembled teams kept the racing tight throughout, with boat-handling and strategy often proving the difference. Plymouth Sound delivered classic skiff sailing, with some high-speed downwind duels and tightly fought mark roundings. Despite the variety of experience levels in the fleet, the competition remained close across the board, underlining the growing strength and appeal of the European 18ft Skiff scene.
In the overall standings, Black Knight stamped its dominance on the circuit, sealing victory in Plymouth and completing a clean sweep of all four Euro regattas in 2025. Hungary's be light!, claimed second after a consistent performance, while Germany's Hoefle Haus secured the final podium spot. Special thanks go to Anthony and Adrian for organising this event, and to the teams who travelled such long distances to make this finale a true celebration of the class. With the circuit growing in depth and competitiveness each season, this year's conclusion confirmed that the 18ft Skiff class continues to deliver some of the most exciting sailing on the continent.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Nat | Team | Helm | Club | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | GER | Black Knight | Heinrich von Bayern | Bayerischer Yacht Club | 11 |
| 2 | HUN | be light! | Miklos Ujhelyi-Gáspár | Spartacus SC | 17 |
| 3 | GER | Hoefle Haus | Holger Höfle | Diessner Segel-Club | 32 |
| 4 | GBR | GOAT | Luke Goble | Netley SC | 33 |
| 5 | GBR | Allen | Anthony Godwin | UPYC | 40 |
| 6 | GBR | TheTimeGenie | Graham Bridle | Brightlingsea | 47 |
| 7 | GBR | Rooster | Edward Skeith | Calshot SC | 54 |
| 8 | GBR | MD Racing | Mark Watts | Weston SC | 56 |
| 9 | GBR | English Braids | Adrian Howe | Hayling Island | 79 |