Endeavour Trophy and Gold Fleet placings for boys at RS Feva National Championship

Tonbridge’s Sailing Club boys put in excellent performances in the RS Feva National Championship, which took place between Saturday 25 and Tuesday 28 May.

A total of 107 boats and 214 competitors took part, across four days of qualifying and racing at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy.

First Years Jack Womersley Smith (PH1) and Chigoziem Molokwu (JH1) won the Endeavour trophy at the event, an especially fine achievement given the pair have only been sailing for the past five months.

Following the qualifying series, the fleet was split into the top half (Gold) and second half (Silver) for the final series. Two Tonbridge boats made the Gold fleet – William Smith (Sc2) with Kai Guan (JH2), and Charlie Simmonds (WW2) with Archie Bates (PS1), for which they all earn the School’s sailing tie. Tonbridge’s four other boats finished towards the front of the Silver fleet.

William and Kai went on to gain some impressive top ten results in several of the races in the final series, finishing in the overall top 20 nationally.

The School’s Head of Sailing, Jonny Moss, said: “The boys were up against sailors from around the country who have been competing since their early years, many on their way to becoming future Olympians.

“We also faced strong winds, and to get through the event without retiring from racing or breaking something was an achievement in itself. It was an experience the boys will never forget. We’re now ready for our final event, Itchenor Schools Week, before heading to the RS Feva World Championships in late July. I cannot wait to see what they can achieve.”

Many parents visited the boys in Weymouth and lent their support: they were also able to get close to the action from a spectator boat. Jonny added: “Being out there in the elements, watching their sons from the sidelines, gave parents a unique perspective on what the boys were up against – and they were certainly very proud of their achievements.”