Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Dynamic 40 Leaderboard

The first BUSA tour team... 65 years on

by Jeremy Vines 25 Nov 17:50 GMT
The first BUSA tour team.. © Vines family

The British Universities Sailing Team of 1959 gathered together again on 21st November 2024 in the Royal Thames Yacht Club to lunch and reminisce about their tour of the USA. In the intervening years they have mostly swapped Fireflys for walking sticks, but they are still involved with our sport in many ways.

This was the first BUSA tour of the USA which set a precedent, and teams have gone over there every four years or so. Since 1959, over 150 of our top sailors have been lucky to have this amazing experience and hone their skills in many different types of US racing craft.

Back then the major events were the British America Universities Cup and the Lipton Trophy, and the '59 team won both of them in style.... 5 races to 0 in both events. One was in 'Inter Club' dinghies on Long Island Sound and the other in Fireflys on Charles River basin.

Returning home they were feted, in part because it was a British victory following soon after another failed attempt to win back the Americas Cup. The RTYC put on a generous celebratory lunch, and 65 years on they were back in the same room, though with a different menu. Now more abstemious, they still empty a bottle or two.

The five in the 2024 photo are Brian Appleton (Captain), James Grogono, Andrew Green, John Evans and Jeremy Vines. The sixth in the 1959 photo is Martin Hall, who sadly died much too young.

Related Articles

Applications open for Team Racing Championship
Prince Philip Trophy will be contested at Oxford Applications are live for the RYA/UKTRA National Team Racing Championship for the Prince Philip Trophy. Bringing together the top teams from the UK circuit, the 2025 edition will be hosted for the first time in the event's history at Oxford Sailing Club. Posted on 5 Dec
Loughborough Lemming 2024 Team Racing
24 teams and almost 200 sailors descend upon Burton Sailing Club for the event A record-breaking end to the year for Loughborough Sailing saw 24 teams and almost 200 sailors descend upon Burton Sailing Club for the annual Lemming! Posted on 5 Dec
Royal Hospital School celebrates sailing successes
In Eric Twiname Youth and Junior National Team Racing Championships Royal Hospital School (RHS) in Holbrook, Suffolk, is proud to be celebrating its sailing pupils' success at the RYA Eric Twiname Youth (under 19) and Junior (under 17) National Team Racing Championships. Posted on 3 Dec
Selection system for 2025 Team Race Worlds
US Sailing announces the requirements for next year's event US Sailing, the National Governing Body for sailing in the United States, is pleased to announce the athlete selection system and requirements for the highly anticipated 2025 Team Race World Championship. Posted on 21 Nov
Spinnaker Sailing Club Firefly Weekend
Twisted Tube random pairs team racing and final event of the Vines Series The weekend of 2nd & 3rd November saw Spinnaker Sailing Club holding their annual Firefly Weekend, two days of action packed racing. Posted on 4 Nov
Glasgow Grouse and Sheffield Shuffle Team Racing
A double-header over the weekend Both the Glasgow Grouse and the Sheffield Shuffle had the advantage of an extra hour in bed for their Sundays. Posted on 30 Oct
Irish Team Racing Championship 2024
Baltimore Sailing Club hosts 25 teams, organising 130 races over two days Baltimore Sailing Club proudly hosted the 2024 Irish Team Racing Championships, a highlight event in Ireland's team racing calendar, uniting the finest sailors from around the country for a weekend of exhilarating competition. Posted on 30 Oct
European Team Race Youth RS Aero Champs overall
Italy 2 with Alice Sussarello and Filippo Vincis triumph in Cagliari After three splendid days of variable, but mostly sunny weather and wind always between 15 and 20 knots, the third edition of the RS Aero Youth Team Race European Championship ended with an extraordinary victory for Italy 2. Posted on 28 Oct
European Team Race Youth RS Aero Champs day 2
Alice Susarello and Filippo Vincis takes the lead at the conclusion of the round robin An intense second day of the RS Aero European Youth Team Race Championship, held in the picturesque Su Siccu basin (between Luna Rossa's base and the Marina di Bonaria) in Cagliari-Italy, ended today. Posted on 26 Oct
European Team Race Youth RS Aero Champs day 1
37 matches completed out of the 66 scheduled for the round robin The first day of the European RS Aero Youth Team Race Championships in Cagliari opened with 37 matches completed out of the 66 scheduled for the round robin. Posted on 25 Oct