Royal Thames Yacht Club Women's Open J70 Championship

Nine skilled women's teams competed at the Royal Thames Yacht Club Women's Open J70 Championship, which took place over the weekend of 19th - 20th September, in champagne sailing conditions.

Race one saw a 1, 2, 3 for the host club RTYC with Sarah Allan taking an early lead followed closely by Katie Greenland, with RTYC Younger members helmed by Isabel Scruby coming in third.

Sarah Allan, Tara Gillespie , Emma Dymock, Cressida Robson during the RTYC Women's Open J70 Championship - photo © James Tomlinson

With competition heating up for race two, three boats were jostling for position and with the strong tide, started early. Two boats returned, however, Sarah Allan didn't and although she crossed the line in 2nd, her OCS earned her 10 points, a costly mistake in a regatta with no discards. Katie Greenland took the bullet with RORC Young members, helmed by Sophia Harper moving into second.

In the excitement, the RORC younger members broached and Zoe Dupuy took an impromptu swim just after finishing. Katie Gatehouse, on her first outing mark laying for the RTYC, sprung into action and swiftly retrieved the woman overboard. Unperturbed, Sophia Harper and team went on to secure 2nd place in the next race. Race three saw boats approaching the start line with more caution...otherwise known as late. Boat 739 wrapped a spinnaker around their forestay marking the end of their day racing and returned to Cowes under tow, not the best way to finish the day, but it did prove the conditions were testing.

Sophia Harper, Perdy Light, Hariett Watkins, Zoe Depuy during the RTYC Women's Open J70 Championship - photo © James Tomlinson

The standings at the end of day one saw Katie Greenland's RTYC team of Katie Ward, Nicky Muller and Jo Elliott in the lead with an impressively low score of 7 points from 5 races. In second place was Sophia Harper with 17 points, closely followed by Sarah Allan with 18 points. Only three points separated the mid-fleet, RSthnYC's Hannah Muskett was in fourth place with 23 point, Clyde Cruising Club's Sophie Taylor in fifth place with 24 points and the RTYC Younger members helmed by Isabel Scruby were sixth with 25 points.

Day two saw four more races sailed in similar conditions to day one. Overnight leader Katie Greenland was hot out of the gate winning races 6 & 7. She finished the day with 3rd place in both races 8 and 9 giving her overall victory with a total of 15 points This resulted in her team winning the Lochan Challenge Cup and some coveted stash from sponsors North Sails.

Katie Greenland, Katie Ward, Nicky Muller, Jo Elliott during the RTYC Women's Open J70 Championship - photo © James Tomlinson

Sarah Allen finished second overall with 5,2,2,2 on day two giving her a total of 29 points to win a month's supply of Kollo, liquid marine collagen; boosting skin, hair and joint health. A scratch crew helmed by Hannah Muskett, showed the greatest improvement over the weekend steadily climbing their way up the fleet to take 4th in both races 6 and 7 and win the last two races to place third overall.

It was exciting to see such competitive racing amongst sailors who were clearly very glad to be back on the water having lots of fun too!

Next year's event will be held in Cowes on Saturday the 18th and Sunday 19th September 2021.

RTYC would very much like to thank our sponsors North Sails, Fud and Kollo.

Particular appreciation to Principal Race Officer and event founder, Jenny Woods for running a top class event which has now become a permanent feature in the RTYC racing programme.

Overall Results: