Rising stars at The Royal Southern

March 24, 2007 0 comments

Royal Southern Yacht Club.2nd – 5th April 2007

Rising stars at The Royal Southern

BUSA National Championships
Hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club
2nd – 5th April 2007



Some of the best young sailing talent in the country will be gathered at the Royal Southern Yacht Club to contest the British Student Yachting Championships. Thirty one teams will battle it out over four days with eight races on tight Solent courses with one long inshore race. Representing universities from all over Great Britain, the teams of eight crew will be in identical boats which is sure to result in close racing and hugely competitive mark roundings.

The venue is the Royal Southern Yacht Club chosen for many major yachting championships due to its world class race management, ample on-site mooring facilities and one of the largest events facilities for sailing anywhere in the country. Highly regarded principle race officer, Tony Lovell, will be in charge of the racing for the event and Olympic and world championship sailing coach, Jim Saltonstall will assist with daily debriefing after racing.



Reigning World Sonar champion and Paralympic Gold medallist, Hannah Stodel will be competing for Loughborough University alongside members of the British Sonar squad, she is a big fan of the event as she explains;

“It’s nice to get a break and do some fun sailing for a change and the Royal Southern is a good venue and incredibly accommodating. The racing was very close last year, I am hoping that our team has improved so we will be making a charge for the top five. Also each team must have two girls in the crew which is a great idea, although some Universities struggle, it does encouraging girlies to take part.”

Nick Cherry is skipper of one of the Southampton University teams, he is only twenty-one but he has already tasted success in a huge variety of boats; last year alone he won the National Match Racing Championships, 1720 Nationals and the Swan World Championships in Sardinia, Nick Cherry explains why he is racing;

“Firstly, it’s good for the University to do well and get more BUSA points, secondly it’s a nice one design fleet where it’s just up to how well you sail not how good your boat is and thirdly it’s a fun event to do with your mates.

The Royal Southern is the best venue around, not only is the racing always run very well but most of the members and officials are really welcoming and good at putting up with students! The racing will definitely be close. All three Southampton University teams will
be on the pace and you can always rely on the Institute to sail well and the Cambridge team did well last year. I think there are probably eight to ten teams who could win the event.”



Mark Bartlett, fresh from the 2006 Volvo Ocean Race will be competing for reigning champions Solent University but these are just a few of the many talented young sailors that will be competing at the Royal Southern Yacht Club. The winning crew will not only be crowned British University Champions but also win the right to compete at the Student Worlds in La Rochelle later this year.

For further information about the event, please contact –
Katie Ashworth
Sailing Secretary
Royal Southern Yacht Club

Tel 023 80 450302