London 6 Pack University Team Racing

16 teams including 2 teams from Dublin enjoyed two days of demanding racing at the Welsh Harp reservoir (Wembley) at the weekend. Saturday saw English autumn weather at its worst, while Sunday brought strong winds and glorious sunshine. With 40mph gusts promised the organisers decided sailing on cut-downs would be the way forward for the 90 races in the Round Robin.

An interesting draw placed Royal Thames against Spinnaker in the first race. Royal Thames dominated from the start to leave the UKTRA Champions to finish 4-5-6. Impressive sailing by Durham and Oxford gave them the other two places in the semi finals while the team to watch must be Magdalen College School, Oxford who took many fine scalps and was the only team to threaten Royal Thames. The Semis were both fought brilliantly with the results rarely clear until the last beat.

The first race of the finals between the Thames and Spinnaker saw the Thames dominate the start and hold a controlling combination until half way up the final beat, when suddenly Spinnaker grabbed second, then drove a reeling Thames down to a 1-4-6 defeat. The second race of the finals again saw the Thames dominating the start but in the shifty conditions Spinnaker seized each opportunity, took the lead to finish with a comfortable 1-2.

Oxford won the 3-4 play offs to end a great weekend of racing. London University who hosted the event under the leadership of Jack Sheldrake are to be complemented on the faultless preparation and running of a top class weekend.

Thank you to all the teams that came.