Abingdon win Schools Match Racing Championships

by RYA on 11 Nov 2016 Abingdon’s ‘A’ team emerged victorious at the RYA-hosted National Schools Sailing Association Match Racing Championships, staged this weekend (5-6 November) at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

Superb conditions and some close tactical racing ensured an exciting finish to the weekend. Abingdon A, helmed by Arthur Bruce, and Lucy Mellers-helmed Oxford TRA were locked in a tight final battle with the result in doubt all the way down the last run.

The Championship, staged in Elliot 6ms, kicked off with a round robin series dominated by teams based around Oxford. Abingdon A emerged undefeated with eight wins, followed by Oxford TRA on seven wins and Magdalen College School on five wins.

With three teams – Abingdon B, Royal Hospital B and Claires Court – all tied on four wins apiece, two stages of tie breaks were required to determine the final team for the semi-finals, which ultimately went to Abingdon B, setting up an all-Abingdon semi-final.

Both semi-finals saw straight two - zero victories, with Abingdon A beating Abingdon B and Oxford TRA overcoming Magdalen College School, with the third match used for a ‘winner stays on’ competition to determine the lower placings.

The Petit Final was a clean victory for Magdalen, beating Abingdon B two - zero, but the Final was a much closer affair, with Abingdon A and OTRA levelling the tie one - one before a nail-biting final race. Abingdon’s Bruce narrowly won the start but OTRA, helmed by Mellers, stayed in touch and overtook on the run – a lead which was held until the windward mark.

The two boats were neck and neck downwind with a number of gybes being traded despite using experimental match racing rules. At the finish line it was Bruce and crew Daniel Nield and Giles Oldershaw who took the win for Abingdon A.