Royal Forth Hoosiers win Wilson Trophy British Open Team Racing Championship

It was a windy edition for the Wilson Trophy British Open Team Racing Championships, with UK team Royal Forth Hoosiers topping the list of 32 teams to take home the 65th Wilson Trophy. The event, known worldwide as one of the elite team race championships, was hosted by West Kirby Sailing Club on May 9-11 in West Kirby, Merseyside.

After windy conditions stopped racing for most of Friday, a full day of racing on the Saturday in strong blustery conditions left the Royal Forth Hoosiers at the top of the league with 10 wins. Also on 10 wins were Paddington Bears and New Forest Pirates.

On Sunday morning, competitors arrived to 35 knot winds, which postponed racing until 10am. The race committee reviewed the conditions and decided to postpone further, and after a frustrating wait it was decided that the current wind conditions and forecast were not offering a sailable window so racing was abandoned.

Sailing for Royal Forth Hoosiers was Tim Saxton, Rob Friend, Mark Powell, Isobel Walker, George Clark, and Emma Lombard.

The championship 3-on-3 team race event uses the 12-foot Firefly dinghy, with racing held on the Marine Lake, otherwise known as the ‘theatre of dreams’. The venue provides a natural amphitheatre where members of the public are encouraged to come and watch the action from the Grandstand on West Kirby promenade (by the old baths).

Teams representing North America, Rhode Island Pistols and Yale Corinthian Yacht Club, finished 7th and 12th respectively.

Rhode Island Pistols:
Helm 1: Ben Greenfield
Crew1: Bianca Rom

Helm 2: Mark Dinneen
Crew 2: Abby Preston

Helm 3: Ben Spiller
Crew 3: Anna Spiller

Yale Corinthian Yacht Club:
Helm 1: Chris Segerblom
Crew1: Charlotte Belling

Helm 2: Graham Landy
Crew 2: Eugina Custo-Greig

Helm 3: Max Nickberg
Crew3: Amanda Salvesen

The date for the 66th Wilson Trophy is May 8-10, 2015.

Final results – Event website – Full report