ACO Musto Skiff World Championship 2026 at Yacht Club de Carnac - Day 4
by Jamie Hilton 11 Jun 12:06 PDT
8-12 June 2026
Another crème de la crème type of day in Carnac has given us three superb races under the Breton sun and with up to 20 knots blowing over the Quiberon Peninsula.
That, coupled with an excellent race track, one that makes us think, with gains to be had all over the course via best management of shifts, pressure, and waves, all configured in such a way that each leg was never the same as the previous, made for some of the best championship racing the fleet has seen in my 17 seasons of joyous Musto Skiffing.
Today it was Eddie Bridle's turn to steel the day with two bullets with some stellar upwind lanes and his trademark "drive it like he stole it" downwind aggression, to bring him within two points of second place overall; currently held by his Brightlingsea playmate in Ben Clegg, despite him chalking a very respectable 3,4,5. Jamie Hilton was also finding form with two second places, clearly wishing the championship could start now.
This was enough to lift him into fourth overall, narrowly ahead of Euan Hurter, as they fight it out for Dalgety Bay and Scottish bragging rights.
Championship leader, Rob Richardson, took the other bullet of the day, also picking up a 2 and 3 to all but cement the World Championship, pending confirmation or not of two or three races tomorrow.
Richard Smith deserves a mention for leading the fleet round the top mark after ringing the left corner bell in the second race of the day. And had it not been for a fickle wine glass as he hoisted for the second lap downwind, he might have scored a top three.
But, like I said at the top of this report, we've had a superb day on the water, planing over waves upwind and hopping over them downwind. Some lairy lay line calls also saw some hairy moments for those trying to climb their way out.
A top day of racing and enough danger to make it interesting; where a few swims were observed, including a windward mark melee resulting from someone's failed hoist, and even Rob was seen to spill it on a tack.
Back ashore, the fleet are enjoying hydrating under the evening sun with the usual daily banter and prizes, brilliantly delivered by Chairman, Brennan Robinson, and generously supported by our Musto sponsor. Tonight, we'll enjoy our Gala Dinner, which will start with a champagne reception hosted by our event sponsor, ACO Group, before we go again tomorrow to battle it out for our final standings.
The start for tomorrow will be earlier, with the first race at 11.30am local time.
SailRacer GPS Tracker: enter.sailracer.org/musto-2026
Results so far: mustoskiff.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Overall-Day-4.pdf