Itchenor Sailing Club Schools Championships – Firefly Regatta Overall
by Rebecca Oldfield 2 Jul 2017 19:56 BST
25-30 June 2017
Ben Childerley and Ollie Croft win the final race in the Fireflys at the Itchenor Schools Championships © Jessica Marsh
The ebb tide was strong enough to get the 48 Fireflies to the start area in very still but sunny conditions. A weak breeze set in but it was fitful. Finally a breeze set in from the West and a race got under way.
It soon became apparent that the wind was shifting back and forth through 90 degrees. First to the windward mark was the Tonbridge Firefly crewed by Dom Lewis and Oscar Wright. Then it was Harry Barker and Isaac Pylee in the Burford School boat ominously followed by regatta leaders Ben Childerley and Ollie Croft from Sherborne. Childerley and Croft soon established a lead downwind. The wind shifts were such that boats were close reaching on both upwind and downwind legs.
None of this vexed the Sherborne pair as they showed their mastery of the tricky conditions to take the gun. Charles Elliott and Joseph Bradley from Portsmouth Grammar School took second place and Barker and Pylee third.
Trophy Winners:
Sir Richard Fairey Trophy for the winning school
Sherborne School - Ben Childerley and Ollie Croft
Gavin Anderson Trophy for the school placed second overall
Winchester College – Miles Jones and Tiger Tellwright
Astral Cup for the first boat with an all female crew
James Allen's Girls School – Julai Mellors and Eveline Suer
Nick Prosser Trophey for the winner of the Silver Fleet
Sevenoaks School – Matt Caiger and Alexander Foglu
Mini-series Trophy (Joint Winners)
Sevenoaks School - Dom Lewis and Oscar Wright
Burford School – Harry Barker and Isaac Pylee
Follow @Itchenor1 for live updates throughout the Schools Week Championships or visit www.itchenorsc.co.uk for the full results.