Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

KSSA Mid-Summer Regatta at Medway Yacht Club

by Jon Bentman 30 Jun 2021 07:14 PDT 27 June 2021

The Kent Schools Sailing Association enjoyed a return to its usual boisterous big-action racing at the Mid-Summer Regatta on the last weekend in June.

The regatta, hosted by Medway YC was the second part of a weekend 'summer camp' for the youth sailors, which started with race training and an Allcomers (youth and adults) race on the Saturday (plus evening BBQ), followed by a four-race regatta on the Sunday. Consistently overcast skies made for grey days but the wind came in on the Sunday to provide an 8-10 knot breeze (with gusts) that made for enjoyable sailing.

A strong tide on the Sunday morning made reaching the racecourse itself a test as the dinghies ducked and dived between the yacht moorings on the Medway estuary. The tide then influenced the layout of a tight Course Four close to St Mary's Island for the first two races, which favoured the single-handers as the double-handers simply couldn't gain their usual speed advantage in the off-wind legs. They also struggled with manoeuvrability on the crowded start line, where Optimists and Terras bravely jostled with the bigger boats.

Whitstable YC's Harry Newton (Laser) came through to win both morning races ahead of Medway YC's Millie Lewis (Laser 4.7) and Broadstairs SC's Lee Windridge (Laser Radial) who were in joint second with 5 points each. Usual front runners, Downs SC's Abbey Mumford and Evie Herrington simply couldn't find the space to let their 420 get up to speed, placing 5 - 5.

After lunch came a new, bigger Course Four off Hoo Island and here at last Mumford and Herrington could power-up their 420 to take two wins, but Newton - a lad who seems to have doubled in size since Lockdown! - kept them in sight and with a 1-1-(3)-2 took a comfortable-ish overall win. The afternoon's wins hauled Mumford and Herrington up to second, just, with Lewis and Windridge only one and two points behind, with Windridge losing out on third overall (to Lewis) in the last race by one-second. A day of close racing for sure.

The Topper fleet was dominated by a group fast becoming known as the Chipstead Four. There must be something in the water at the lake at Chipstead SC as Alex Yeates (5th) led home his club mates Daniel Hebditch (6th), Ed Smith (8th) and Izzy Johnson (9th). These guys are putting on some dazzling sailing, not least of which was the daredevil port end flyer from Smith - crossing the entire fleet - in the third race.

Medway YC's Henry Lewis (Optimist) led home the Oppie/Tera fleet in 13th overall ahead of Erith YC's Harry Mitchell (Tera Sport) and Broadstairs SC's Sophia Kyriacou (Tera Pro).

Special mention, also, to Sevenoaks School who brought seven sailors to the event, highest placed being Mac Raymond (Laser Radial) who placed 7th. Many of these are international students who brought a bit of added colour to the day as American accents sung out across the Medway.

The KSSA sailors are now packing up their kit ready to sail as a team in the National Schools Sailing Association National Youth Regatta at Plymouth Youth Sailing at the end of July.

Full results can be found here...

Related Articles

2025 29er Europeans at Lake Garda Opening Ceremony
More than 500 sailors paraded through the Riva del Garda's beautiful streets The 2025 29er European Championship officially opened today in stunning Riva del Garda, hosted by Fraglia Vela Riva. More than 500 sailors paraded through the city's beautiful streets in a colorful, high-energy opening ceremony. Posted on 2 Jul
The power of tech
What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? Posted on 2 Jul
Jazz Turner Faces Everything and Rises
Non-stop, solo, unassisted British Isles navigation has captivated sailors & non-sailors alike Jazz Turner's Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin Vega 27ft yacht has captivated sailors and non-sailors alike. Posted on 2 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D3
Surprise exits in Marstrand as Quarter-Finalists decided The qualifying round-robin stages at GKSS Match Cup Sweden in Marstrand finished today with the surprise departure of defending champion USA's Chris Poole/ Riptide Racing and Switzerland's Eric Monnin/ Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team from the Open Class. Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais Day 1
Sled sparkle in Cascais' Atlantic surf to lead After seemingly being starved of boisterous top end conditions for some years now Okura's Sled crew have been relishing a return to big breezes and big waves. Posted on 2 Jul
Freestyle Pro Tour Paros overall
The Meltemi winds once again set the stage for the final day As the riders gathered at the event site of the 2025 FPT Paros for one last time and the Meltemi winds once again began blowing strong, the stage for the final day of the event was set. Posted on 2 Jul
CSA commits to collaboration and sustainability
This year's AGM saw participation from a diverse group of stakeholders The Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) proudly announces the successful conclusion of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Regatta Organizers Conference, held from June 25 to June 28, 2025, in St. Maarten. Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race: Offshore classics set to race
IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it. While French round the world race legend Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (aka VDH) isn't competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race, two of his former steeds will be on the IRC Zero start line. Posted on 2 Jul
Four days to start the 5th AEGEAN 600
The fleet has a wide range of sizes and types represented Nearly all 60 teams are assembled here at the Olympic Marine venue getting ready for the start of the 5th edition of the AEGEAN 600, organized by the Hellenic Offshore Race Club (HORC) with co-organizers being Olympic Marine and Region of Attica. Posted on 2 Jul
The Magenta Project unveils new brand identity
As part of its milestone tenth anniversary As part of its milestone tenth anniversary, The Magenta Project is excited to launch a refreshed brand identity and the first phase of its new website, reinforcing its commitment to equity and inclusion for women in sailing. Posted on 2 Jul
V-DRY-XZhik 2024 DecemberArmstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - BOTTOM