Light winds were forecast for Torquay during the BUCS Fleets weekend, hosted by Exeter University Sailing Club, but the race team pulled off an incredible event – managing to complete the six-race series in especially tricky conditions.
The event saw 95 boats and 182 sailors competing across two courses: the Firefly fleet and the handicap fleet, each racing on windward-leeward courses. Despite wind speeds barely climbing above 8mph all weekend, the race committee expertly identified the few windows of opportunity for racing, earning the admiration of all competitors.
Saturday's Racing:
The day started early with a 9:30 briefing (a tough ask for university students!), followed by launching and Race 1. The morning saw a steady breeze, but by the final lap, Torbay was becoming glassy, and the Firefly fleet had a close yet slow-motion finish. Race 2 looked unlikely with low-speed drifting dominating the scene, but the race committee persevered. The wind filled in up the first beat, saving the race after a challenging start. Race 3 followed, starting just in time to finish the fleet before the wind completely disappeared, leaving competitors to sail home.
By the end of Day 1, the competition was fierce at the front of the fleet, with Will Pank and Dan Malickis (UEA) leading, followed closely by Jamie Tylecote and Jamie Elder (Exeter), and Ben Tylecote and Lucy Cox (Loughborough).
Saturday Evening:
The Saturday night dinner was a highlight, with special mention to Natascia Lillywhite for her amazing decorations and to Freya Lillywhite and Toby Hebblethwaite for organising a highly entertaining evening of dinner and dancing, followed by a night out in Exeter.
Sunday's Racing:
Sunday began slowly, with competitors launching late (no prizes for guessing why). Initially, zero wind made getting to the racecourse look unpromising. However, the race committee once again nailed their timing, with the wind filling in across Torbay, allowing three more races to take place. The patchy breeze meant finding gusts was key, and the Tylecote teams demonstrated exceptional skill (perhaps honed from their shifty reservoir experience), securing all the day's race wins between them.
Final Results:
- Slow Handicap Fleet: Ollie Meadowcroft and Harvey Godel (Exeter) dominated, counting only first places in their National 12, a fantastic boat for young sailors.
- Fast Handicap Fleet: Hazel McDonnell, crewed by Laura Hantrais (Exeter), sailed an RS200 superbly in the light winds, counting all firsts and one-second place.
- ILCA Handicap Fleet: Luke Anstey (Surrey) won in an ILCA 7, fending off strong competition from James Curtis (Southampton) and Paris Olympian Charlotte Webster.
- Firefly Fleet: Jamie Tylecote and Jamie Elder (Exeter) put together an impressive series of only top-three results in a fleet of 66 boats.
Acknowledgements:
The event wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of Exeter University Sailing Club volunteers, who invested significant time into planning, organising, and arranging Fireflies borrowed from Sevenoaks School and RGS Guildford. Special thanks go to Robin Alexander (Event Director) and Matt Shaw (Exeter Commodore), the key organisers, and Louise Sanders for managing media.
A massive shoutout also goes to the 42 Royal Torbay Yacht Club members who gave up their weekend to ensure the event's success, assisting with trolleys and managing the organised chaos of hundreds of university students. Particular thanks to PROs Bob Penfold and Mike Johnson for their tireless efforts, enabling the completion of a full series.
Overall Results:
- Team Results:
- 1st: Exeter (70 BUCS points)
- 2nd: Southampton (32)
- 3rd: UEA (28)
- Open Teams:
- 1st: Southampton
- 2nd: Exeter
- 3rd: Warwick
- Women’s Teams:
- 1st: Exeter
- 2nd: UEA
- 3rd: Bristol
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