61st Schools Sailing Championships at Itchenor Sailing Club

2012 Schools Sailing Championships at Itchenor © Nick Vine / www.mindthegapyear.com

2012 Schools Sailing Championships at Itchenor © Nick Vine / www.mindthegapyear.com

First-timers lose by a point in thrilling climax

Sailing for the first time in Firefly dinghies, visiting American duo Nathanial Johansson and Natalya Doris came within one point of winning the Richard Fairey Trophy, adding a thrilling climax to the 61st annual Schools Sailing Championships, held at Itchenor Sailing Club.

The three day event on Chichester Harbour saw 62 boats in action, representing 23 prominent British schools and one from the United States. For the seventh consecutive year, the championships was supported by Mind The Gap Year (MTGY), an online resource for gap year travellers and young backpackers. It helps them to prepare for their trips, travel safely and obtain MTGY's specialist travel insurance.

After leading the field at the end of the first day's racing at Itchenor, the Americans were beaten into second place (with 12 points) by the Magdalen team of Sam Jenkins and Owen Hallett (with 11 points).

Johansson and Doris were part of a six-strong contingent from Ransom Everglades School in Florida. Their team-mates Alex Swerdlow and Sonora Medina took fifth place.

Third place went to Magdalen's Guy Dixon and Joe Gough, fourth to Sevenoaks' Massimo Mazzolim and Nick Yau, and sixth to Campbell Manzini and Alex Smith of Millfield.

Imogen Smith and Amy Swinglehurst of Sevenoaks took the Ladies' Prize for first all-girl crew, while James Redshaw and Jasper Freeman of Dulwich College won the Nick Prosser Trophy (Mid Fleet Trophy).

The championships also featured International 420s. Parkstone Grammar's Rosie and Midge Watkins impressed, winning the Gavin Anderson Plate by a five point margin and collecting the Astral Trophy for the first all-girl crew.

Bournemouth's Max Moyles and Nathanial Gordon were second, followed by Abby and Harry Gilchrist of Hurstpierpoint and Katie and Isabel Davies of Surbiton High. Just seven points separated the top four boats.

The British Schools Dinghy Racing Association Prize (Mid Fleet Prize) went to Alex Bibby and James Rigby of Rugby School.

Event co-ordinator Charles Hyatt says the championships was a great success, despite difficult wind and tide conditions. "As usual, the competitors had plenty of fun, but at the same time they learnt a lot about themselves and each other – and the importance of making decisions that are both quick and correct," he says.

MTGY Managing Director Michael Pettifer, who is also a keen sailor, says: "We saw some very impressive skills this year – definitely the cream of future British sailing."

More photos can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/mindthegapyear

Overall Results:

420

Firefly