Over 40 sailors took to the racecourse with 10 of the 15 boats helmed by women and overall the women outnumbered men for the day when the Virgin’s Cup and Willy T Race took place on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Photo: RBVIYC

Aerin Westlake and her dad Paul took the overall win in the dinghy class. Aerin, at 13 years of age, also picked up the award for youngest skipper. Photo: RBVIYC

Ting a Ling 2, helmed by Candice Nichol, were the first home after 2 hours 22 minutes and 37 seconds in the race for trimarans. Photo: RBVIYC

Scott Meyers in an ILCA7 took line honours for the day. Photo: RBVIYC

Dad & daughter win Dinghies race

The last fleet to start were the dinghies, a combination of 4 RS Fevas, 3 ILCA7’s and 2 ILCA6’s. With the shortest of the three courses, they were to pass Pelican and the Indians to port and finish in the Bight. Scott Meyers fired off the start line and streaked away across the channel with the rest of the fleet chasing hard. With three of the Fevas crossing the start line together the race was on!

After 53 minutes and 15 seconds, Scott Meyers in an ILCA7 took line honours for the day but it was all about how close behind him the slower boats were - the only thing to do whilst waiting for that news is to enjoy the delights of the Willy T! Next home was Colm Crilly, also in an ILCA7, who put in a storming race after a somewhat delayed start due to equipment issues. Tom Merrigan was next to round out the ILCA7s and hot on his heels were the first of the Fevas.

VI Youth Sailing team member Aerin Westlake who is usually found at the helm of her Optimist co-opted dad Paul to sail a Feva with her and was the first Feva to finish after 1 hour and 58 seconds. This was enough for Aerin and Paul to take the overall win in the dinghy class ahead of Scott in the ILCA7. Aerin, at 13 years of age, also picked up the award for youngest skipper.

2nd in the RS Fevas was Briana Boele Van Hensbroek and Sansa Nie who first teamed up for the Back to School Regatta last month, finishing just under 3 minutes behind Aerin and Paul. This was enough to put them in third overall ahead of Colm in fourth. Sarah Latham and Aaron Gardner were the third Feva home and finished in 5th overall. The two ILCA6’s were split by Hugo and Oscar in the final Feva with Yegâne Güley finishing in seventh and Will Barnes in ninth.

Marentia de Villiers takes Monohull win

The first fleet away at 10:35 were the monohulls featuring two boats, Marentia de Villiers Bleue and Miss Piggy helmed by Kelsie Foley. Bleue had a flying start and set off towards Pelican. Their course would take them past Pelican to starboard, rounding Flanagan to port and finishing in the Bight. Emme and Bleue completed the course in 2 hours, 37 minutes and 41 seconds and took the win. Miss Piggy owned by Kelsie Foley and Becca Brannigan, competing in their first regatta were delighted with their day and all goals achieved…finishing the race, not breaking anything and having a lots of fun!

Ting a Ling 2 is Number 1!

The trimarans were set a course to take them up the channel to leave Dead Chest to starboard, a long down wind leg to leave Flanagan to port followed by a loop around Pelican and the Indians to port and finish. Their race got away at 10:50 with birthday girl Ashley Brockbank sailing Lucky 7 with dad Eddie hitting the line ahead of the fleet.

The largest of the four Corsairs, Ting a Ling 2, helmed by Candice Nichol were the first home after 2 hours 22 minutes and 37 seconds. Just as in the dinghy fleet their work was done and it was all about the finishing times of the rest of the fleet. Next home was Ting a Ling helmed by Allie Faulkner but just not quite close enough so Candice and Ting 2 took the win by just 27 seconds.

The Flying Pig helmed by Sam Brown were third by just a couple of minutes with Lucky 7 rounding out the fleet after a challenging day on the water - the summer gremlins showing their handiwork with gear failures.

Results

Dinghies
1. Aerin Westlake & Paul Westlake (RS Feva)
2. Scott Meyers (ILCA7)
3. Briana Boele Van Hensbroek & Sansa Nie (RS Feva)
4. Colm Crilly (ILCA7)
5. Sarah Lathan & Aaron Gardner (RS Feva)
6. Tom Merrigan (ILCA7)
7. Yegâne Güley (ILCA6)
8 .Hugo Rycott and Oscar (RS Feva)
9. Will Barnes (ILCA6)

Monohulls
1. Marentia de Villiers - Bleue - Beneteau First 210 - 1:55:07
2. Kelsie Foley - Miss Piggy - Tartan 10 - 2:55:02

Trimarans
1. Candice Nichol - Ting a Ling 2 - Corsair F31 - 2:30:32
2. Allie Faulkner - Ting a Ling - Corsair 27 - 2:30:59
3. Sam Brown - The Flying Pig - Corsair 27 - 2:32:48
4. Ashley Brockbank - Lucky 7 - Corsair Spring 750 - 2:43:39