Tasars at Whitstable Week 2025

Who knew that Whitstable Week 2025 would turn out to be such a classic fight on the water with the front two teams shadow boxing, going at it hammer and tongs to see who would come out on top.

Whitstable Week 2025 ran from Wednesday 6th to Sunday the 10th August. 61 teams took part of which 11 were Tasars. Master of ceremonies was R/O Steve Gray, ably assisted by course guru Colin Smith and the team. Four days of trapezoid and one of triangular courses. The wind was to be light bar the last day with top 12 knots in gusts, and at times significant shifts that would come in to play, with the joker being that in at least 3 races the breeze picked up after the faster boats had finished adding spice and throwing the grenade into the numbers and mixing up the results.

Whitstable Week 2025 - photo © Ayhan Betez

The tide would be key on several occasions and the black flag would be shown to bring some into line as they played roulette with the R/O and ended up on the naughty seat.

Within the Tasar fleet we had club sailors up to past multiple champions across a number of fleets. The youngest Tasar competitor being Joe Barton, 14, fresh back from his exploits at the Topper Worlds in the front of Phantom and the oldest being in their 70s but not named or one might be in trouble for divulging.

From the off, it was clear that though the fleet split into 3 groups, all had a team to challenge and do their best to beat their marker over the 10 races.

Whitstable Week 2025 - photo © Ayhan Betez

As the gun called all to arms and the chariots launched up the first beat of the first race, it was going to prove to be a titanic battle between two teams GBR 2629 (Rick Perkins/Sarah Perkins) and GBR 2814 (Mark Barnes/Joe Barton) with several other players in the mix throughout. Race one and place changes were like confetti as the wind came in waves. GBR 2633 (Zanna Gouch/Liz North) for a while carried the batten challenging for the glory only to be sucked in by the following peloton as if in the Tour de France on the last lap. The Perkins having led, managed to carry the dying breeze and escape with Barnsie/Joe in no mans land blanketed by a D18 awaiting their fate. Alas they slowly escaped and avoided the scythe following the Perkins home followed by GBR2908 (Steve Nation/Julie Nuttall). Race 2, with no letup and a little more pressure, the battle resumed over 2 laps. The Perkins and Barnsie/Joe, swapped places, with the leader being tracked all the way. One slip up on one manoeuvre was the difference. At the finish they were overlapped with the Perkins taking the gun by 8 seconds followed closely by Zanna/Liz.

Day 2 and more of the same. Race 3 and the script was set. A race the Perkins led from start to finish gaining a hook through a big shift on the fleet just after the start though the gap varied throughout, never looked threatened leading home Barnsie/Joe and Zanna/Liz. The joker was played and the slower finishing fleets reaped the benefit. Race 4 with sharpened team work, the leading pair jousted throughout over the three laps and after both playing all their cards, the Perkins won by another 8 seconds from Barnsie/Joe and ever improving GBR 2636 (Andrew Thompson/Charlotte Harris).

Whitstable Week 2025 - photo © Steve Gray

Day 3 arrived. Race 5, more of the same. The challenge to be top dog was relentless. Finally after covers were thrown in left and right and with some luck Barnsie/Joe got their first win followed closely by the Perkins and Zanna/Liz. 15 tacks up the beats, the front 2 were put through the ringer and only half way in. Race 6 and with the bit between their teeth Barnsie/Joe went for another. Script someone, the Perkins pulled back another to close out the win by a margin as the rest fed off the scraps led home by Barnsie/Joe and Steve/Julie.

Day 4, would this be a Perkins fest or would the pretenders step up and take it to the wire. Young Joe had a plan, swat up on the manoeuvres overnight and try and outsmart the opposition. 6 down and 4 to go with 2 discards to play with. The other Tasars needed to get high scores on the doors for the Perkins to stand a chance. Race 7 and Barnes/Joe were out of the blocks slick and fast (Joe's homework was working) with the Perkins on the prowl. Close cover set, there was no let up and one of 4 was taken with their second win with the Andrew/Charlotte in 3rd. Race 8 battle lines drawn and for 2 laps Barnsie/Joe extended then held on as they were taken into a tacking duel. Lap 3 at the top of the final beat a double tack saw a change of lead by overlap and the scene was set, but alas the Perkins held on over the next 3 legs to win by 12 seconds as Barnsie/Joe overlapped tacked for the finish followed by the Steve/Julie. Joe was off to reread his crib notes. What could be done better to win.

Rick and Sarah Perkins, overall winners - Whitstable Week 2025 - photo © Steve Gray

Day 5 arrived, sea breeze one asks as the sea was like glass. On queue it kicked in. The arena set with 6 - 12 knots, Master of ceremonies was ready to feast with his scythe. Two titanic races would unfold. Race 9 and Barnsie/Joe got the better of the Perkins who did all to gain another race, losing by 11 seconds followed by Andrew/Charlotte. Race 10 and out of the left at the start came the Perkins on Port and Barnsie/Joe midline on starboard. Barnsie/Joe rolled the dice and loose covered throughout working hard to hang on and close out the last race followed by the Perkins and Steve/Julie. As they say it is not over till it is over or the fat lady sings. Well done to Rick and Sarah on a hard fought win overall.

Rick and Sarah Perkins, overall winners - Whitstable Week 2025 - photo © Simon Hadley

10 races over five days on well laid course and interesting breeze with a few curve balls thrown in. The closeness of the racing was insane, the closest since your author experienced the like in his Firefly days. Throughout the fleet smiles on faces each day on coming ashore. Entertainment each evening and banter in the bar. This is why we do our local sailing weeks to renew friendships and make new. A well-run event form a lot of club members whether afloat or ashore, all important to make it happen. 11 Tasars including 2 visitors, the class is on the up. Practise we had it all and more. With such close racing a great advert for all. Let us hope that Whitstable Week 2026 picks up where this one ended. Cannot wait.

Whitstable Week 2025 Overall Results: