Emma Nettleship Regatta at Bough Beech Sailing Club
by Alastair Moppett 25 Sep 2025 07:59 BST
20 September 2025
On Saturday 20th of September, Bough Beech SC hosted a youth handicap open meeting for the first time in many years. It incorporated the club's own annual youth event, the Emma Nettleship Regatta, and saw a total of 53 young sailors racing between two fleets.
The day started with the reservoir like a mirror, despite the forecast promising perfect conditions. By mid-morning there was enough wind for the seven-strong regatta fleet to head out for some training, ahead of six short races around a triangle course. Two moved to the main fleet for the afternoon and two decided to call it a day after some impromptu swimming.
All the participants did extremely well in some very gusty conditions that led to an unscheduled break in proceedings while Dave, the RO, waited for the wind to abate. The regatta fleet was won by Robin from Bough Beech SC in a Topper, with Cameron and Raff second and third (also Bough Beech SC) in their Toppers.
The main fleet saw 34 boats by the final race, including Fireflys, RS Fevas, Topper Argos, Toppers, RS Teras, ILCAs, a Laser 2000, and a brace of Optimists, as club members and visitors were joined by strong competition from pupils from Sevenoaks School and Tonbridge School's sailing teams. Four afternoon races were sailed on a trapezoid course, won by Harry Whelan from Weir Wood in an ILCA4.
The club was delighted to award the Emma Nettleship memorial trophies to Scarlet as first home under 19, Harry as first home under 17, and Amelia as first home female singlehander.
Having 53 youth sailors racing at Bough Beech is tremendous, and we are very grateful to our visitors this year; you have given our own sailors something to aim for, and we hope you'll come back and bring your friends! Huge thanks as well to Mike and Dave our race officers, Kate and Nick our assistant race officers, safety boat teams and support boats for making the event happen.