Whitstable Yacht Club RNLI Pursuit Race 2026
by Steve Gray 26 May 18:08 BST
26 May 2026
Whitstable RNLI B class lifeboat 'Lewisco' with WYC committee boat 'Slotty Dawes' © Andrew Hastings
This year's RNLI 90 minute pursuit race took place on a hot and sunny Bank Holiday Monday with a light breeze forecast and a strong ebb tide. The RNLI's B Class lifeboat stood by the racing and a collection was taken in aid of the local RNLI station.
The race was preceded by the last of our 'Transition to Racing' sessions aimed at bringing improving sailors into mainstream racing. Nearly 20 sailors attended one or more sessions this year with 8 joining the pursuit race in a mix of Toppers and Topaz alongside many graduates of this course from previous years.
Starting first of the 44 entrants was Max Morrison in an RS Tera chased by a good fleet of eight Toppers who were led by Joe Barton. Next up were a pair of ILCA 4s which included Topper ace Ralph Hadley, a group of Laser radials and the large fleet of ten Lasers.
A group of five Tasars enjoyed the increasing wind, perhaps grateful during the long runs against the tide that last year's winning Merlin Rocket suffered gear failure whilst rigging! The late starting Tornado and Nacra 16 seemed to have little chance to overtake the entire fleet in the 40 minutes available - but a sea breeze was filling in nicely and strange happen at sea!
Joe's Topper took the lead but Ralph's lLCA4 wasn't far behind chased by the leading Lasers and the Tasars of Rick and Sarah Perkins and Steve and Mei Baker. As the 90 minutes approached the leaders were about halfway down the run and RO Mike Oliver and his team set a finish line with a gaggle of boats approaching. Rick and Sarah crossed first having sailed through the slower boats with apparently little effort.
Ralph held off Niall Martin's fast approaching Laser for second and third with Steve and Mei's Tasar taking fourth. The Tornado of Robert Govier and David Figgis was rapidly approaching making it through to 11th place, enjoying the better breeze despite sailing for half the time of the Tera and Toppers!
The RNLI crew joined club members at the prize-giving on the club deck with RNLI 'Mayday Mile' medals awarded to the top eight finishes. The collection raised £260 for the RNLI station which is situated next door to WYC and club commodore David Figgis thanked the RNLI crew for their contribution to a great day's racing and hoped that club members would not have to call on their services.
Club results: www.wyc.org.uk/latest-results