Eleven teams to race in National Sailing League Final

UK National Sailing League second qualifier at Scarborough © Jack Fenwick / RYA

The 2016 UK National Sailing League will culminate in the inaugural final this weekend (16-17 July) hosted by Royal Thames Yacht Club in Cowes.

Since its launch at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show in March, over one hundred sailors, representing twenty clubs have taken part in regional qualifiers around the country. The winners, hosts and a number of wild card entries will now battle it out for a spot at the Sailing Champions League final in Porto Cervo, Italy this September and to be crowned UK National Sailing League Champion.

The UK National Sailing League aims to bring keelboat racing to clubs and sailors around the country. Using boats supplied by the host club the costs remain low for competitors, while the short course racing improves boat handling skills and gives everyone a chance at a race win.

The short course, umpired racing in keelboats has been a real hit for sailors across the board, Cardiff University's Harry Derbyshire and team of Emily Peters, Toby Morsley and Jolyon Ferron won the competitive Southern Qualifier hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron in June, drawing on their team race experience: "'As we've all been team racing, the high pressure, short races suits our style well and lots of races makes it interesting.

"We also really like the fact that you're not racing for eight hours solid, you get some time to chat with other teams between races and then again at the evening meal making it a good social event as well," said Derbyshire.

"Our team have all been studying at Cardiff University for the last few years, however three of us knew each other growing up through optimists and 420s. We've all raced together at team racing events during university so know each other well."

As a qualifier winner they will be one of the favourites but they know the standard will be high: "We know the other winners from around the country are going to be really strong but as the south qualifiers were a really competitive region, hopefully coming out on top puts us in good form," concluded Derbyshire.

It will be a battle of the home nation universities as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle are all fielding a team.

The Royal clubs will also be out in force, Royal Torbay and Morgan Peach's team. Peach, who usually sails a 470 as part of the British Sailing Team will be mixing in the ranks. The Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Corinthian, Royal Ocean Racing Club and host club Royal Thames Yacht Club all have a team on the entry list.

Paul Childs from Hayling Island Sailing Club, a wild card entry from the Southern qualifier is looking forward to the final: "We had a great weekend of racing at our first event, the short course racing is something that I hadn't done before and it kept racing really tight with the other teams.

"We have a really strong team for this event so I think we can be mixing it up at the front of the fleet."

Racing will start for at 10.30 on Saturday 16th July with over 20 races planned for the weekend.

Results will be on the Royal Thames Yacht Club website.

Follow the event on the British Keelboat Sailing Facebook page.

Entry list

Royal Thames Yacht Club – Charlie Esse (host)
Royal Torbay YC – Morgan Peach (host)
Scarborough YC - Nick Taylor (host)
Sunderland YC - David Matthews (winner)
Newcastle University - Ben Swyer (wild card)
Edinburgh University - Mark Taylor (winner)
Royal Yacht Squadron - John Thorn (host)
Cardiff University SC - Harry Derbyshire (winner)
Royal Ocean Racing Club - Carlo Vroon (wild card)
Hayling Island SC - Imogen Stanley (wild card)
Royal Corinthian YC - Phil Aspinall (wild card)