Young Hampshire sailor presents Armitage Challenge Cup to Tony Langley
by Michael Ford 6 Aug 2018 07:25 BST
5 August 2018
Jake presents the trophy to Gladiator owner and skipper Tony Langley (l-r) Tony Knight, RSYC Commodore, Lynne Chandler, Jake's mum, Jake, Tony Langley, and Henry Porter, Gladiator crew member © Michael Ford
A 14-year-old Hampshire schoolboy who has been learning to sail with the Royal Southampton Yacht Club has had the honour of meeting one of Cowes Week's most accomplished racing contenders, international yachtsman Tony Langley in an informal but exclusive ceremony at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes.
Jake was selected to present one of the principal yacht racing trophies at Lendy Cowes Week Regatta, thanks to an innovative move by the Royal Southampton Yacht Club.
The Club's Armitage Challenge Cup was presented to Tony Langley as winner of Class Zero racing among some of the biggest yachts at the regatta on Saturday, the opening day of the Cowes regatta, and which is always the scene of some of the most competitive action on the water by international yachtsmen in a quest for honours.
On the water at Cowes, Tony Langley's TP52 Gladiator, led the IRC Class Zero and took line honours and first place on corrected time ahead of Igor Yakunin's Ker 46 Lady Mariposa.
By contrast, newcomer Jake Mitchener, from Romsey, Hampshire has been learning to sail with the Royal Southampton Yacht Club under a special programme through the charitable RSYC Trust to widen opportunities for sailing and focussing on young carers who have taken up the challenge of looking after parents or siblings.
The prize-giving took place on the lawn of the Royal Yacht Squadron on Saturday, the opening day of the regatta, and Jake was accompanied by his mother, Lynne Chandler for whom he has been helping to provide care, during health problems she has suffered, along with family members, as well as members of the Romsey Carers and RSYC Trust trustees Captain Martin Phipps MBE, and Graham Tracey.
The Royal Southampton Yacht Club is one of the nine Solent clubs that run the annual Cowes Week Regatta in partnership and for many years has made a major contribution to the organisation of the event and this year is fielding a larger and stronger team of race officers than ever.
On the water at Cowes, leading IRC Class Zero boat, Tony Langley's TP52 Gladiator, took line honours and first place on corrected time ahead of Igor Yakunin's Ker 46 Lady Mariposa.
Teenager Jake has thrived learning to sail through the Royal Southampton Yacht Club Trust which is sponsoring him at the RYA On Board club at Southampton Water Activities Centre over the summer.
The RSYC Trust's aim is to provide opportunities for all to experience sailing. A major focus is on Young Carers and is working closely with Young Carer organisations in Southampton, and much of Hampshire in the New Forest, Romsey, Eastleigh, Winchester, Gosport, Fareham and Princess Royal Trust for Carers.