Whitstable Yacht Club RNLI Pursuit Race 2025

by Steve Gray 23 Jun 16:30 BST 21 June 2025

Whitstable Yacht Club held their annual pursuit race last Saturday June 21st in aid of Whitstable RNLI. There was some great racing with a fleet of thirty-six boats who ranged from experts to seven members of the recent Transition to Racing course and four parent and child double handers.

First away were a brace of Toppers into a shifty and gusty F2, followed by a Lightning, a gaggle of Laser Radials, a couple of Solos, a decent fleet of Laser Standards, an RS200, Tasars, Merlins and eventually a Flying Dutchman, Musto Skiff and a group of Dart 18's.

The Toppers led for the first couple of laps but as stronger gusts came through the writing was on the wall for the slower classes. The Lasers of Christoper Marsh and Harry Newton were the first to overtake with the Tasar of Rick and Sarah Perkins coming through on lap 3. With 15 minutes to go the Merlin of Phil Emery and Pheobe Payne caught the leading Tasar, by then that of Stephen Nation and Theresa Page with the leading Lasers still clear.

With all to play for the last run was decisive with the Merlin going clear - a short fetch and quick upwind saw Phil and Phoebe take the prize from the Lasers of Christopher Marsh and Harry Newton who kept clear of the Tasars of Rick and Sarah and Stephen and Theresa.

A total of £313 was raised for Whitstable RNLI - £133 from general donations and £180 from one cadet member on his own to add to the funds for saving lives at sea!

Thanks to the race team and safety boat crews led my Mike the RO - a difficult day in shifting offshore breeze, and great to see WYC's improving sailors taking on a full 90 minute race with enthusiasm.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Boat Type	Helm
1	3816	MERLIN‑ROC	Phil Emery
2	216212	LASER	Christopher Marsh
3	202316	LASER	Harry Newton
4	2629	TASAR	Rick Perkins
5	2908	TASAR	Stephen Nation
6	213962	LASER	Mark Holweger
7	217717	LASER	Steve Gray
8	212200	LASER	Charles Campion
9	172568	LASER	Ollie Low
10	7735	Dart 18	Tony Dod
11	76	RS200	James Martin
12	7429	Dart 18	Richard Ledger
13	58041	LASER	Andy King
14	188353	LASER	Matt Crockatt
15	47099	TOPPER 5.3	Joe Barton
16	303	LIGHTNING	David Connor
17	176744	LASER	Matt Low
18	204549	LASER RADI	Tony Clements
19	184334	LASER	Kelvin Tolson
20	5924	SOLO	Mark Fagg
21	186375	LASER	Fin Plant
22	3576	MERLIN‑ROC	John Gibbons
23	7978	Dart 18	Richard Jones
24	47099 5.3	TOPPER	Louise Harnett
25	2924	2000	Sophia Rafeletos
26	190563	LASER RADI	Tim Bentham
27	7844	Dart 18	Andy Hockey
28	74	MUSTO SKIF	Alastair Gould
29	5552	SOLO	Pete Townsend
30	306	FLYING DUT	Andrew Provan
31	6070	TOPAZ UNO	Dexter Middleton
32	123897	LASER RADI	Adam Freeman
33	19A	LASER RADI	Arlo Bentham
34	170944	LASER RADI	Oliver Goggi
35	163109	LASER RADI	Tony Ullman
RET	3736	MERLIN‑ROC	Jon Bloice