RHS sailors have been crowned UK Under 19 Team Racing Champions 2023! We are only the 4th school in the championship's history to have claimed the title, a massive achievement. Well done to the purple team of: Sarah D (Capt), Ciara M, Poppy L, Sam G, Toby S and Merryn A.
The RYA Youth and Junior Team Racing Championships took place over two days in October, with over 500 races sailed.
In the Youth Competition, alongside the success of RHS purple, teams pink and blue were up against 25 other schools/sailing teams. After day one of racing all 3 teams qualified into the gold league (top 6 teams). To finish with 3 teams in the top 5 in the country is a real testament to the school's in-depth high-quality training programme.
Our blue team came 5th – Charlotte A (Capt), Millie D, Daisy A, Harriet G, Christopher M and Tom Th.
Our pink team came 3rd – Georgie S (Capt), Audrey F, Sophia D, Kate W, Oscar O and Devon L.
Both of our junior teams qualified for the silver league. Sailing against 20 other sailing teams: our yellow team came 10th overall – Joel S (Capt), Will G, Beth M and Freddie L; our orange team came 7th overall and won the junior silver league – Scarlett M (Capt), Jameson H, Sonny S and Florence O.
Mr Ed Sibson, Director of Sailing comments: “This is an outstanding achievement, not only by the victorious team but from all the RHS youth teams.
During my time at RHS we have steadily improved from a 12th place finish in 2018 to runners up last year and finally, this year, to champions! Toby and Merryn, in particular, have completed the astonishing combination of winning the junior competition in 2021 and now the youth competition in 2023.
Our junior teams also competed really well, winning the silver league in this incredibly tight competition was a great result and shows a bright future for our younger sailors coming through.
I'm incredibly proud of the performance from all our sailors, they represented the school with the highest levels of excellence and sportsmanship throughout the weekend and look forward to supporting them through the next competitions.”
Sarah purple team captain comments: “As we were one of the youngest teams in the youth competition that weekend, we are exceptionally pleased with our results as the teams were extremely fierce competitors. We are very proud of the victory and claiming the title for RHS as this is the first time that we have won this competition. We are certainly looking forward to attempting to defend the title next year.”
Upcoming competitions:
NSSA Double Handed Team Racing, RYA Women's Team Racing National Championship and RYA Open Team Racing National Championship in March 2024.
