Whitstable Yacht Club RNLI Pursuit Race 2025

 

Whitstable Yacht Club held their annual pursuit race last Saturday June 21st in aid of Whitstable RNLI. There was some great racing with a fleet of thirty-six boats who ranged from experts to seven members of the recent Transition to Racing course and four parent and child double handers.

First away were a brace of Toppers into a shifty and gusty F2, followed by a Lightning, a gaggle of Laser Radials, a couple of Solos, a decent fleet of Laser Standards, an RS200, Tasars, Merlins and eventually a Flying Dutchman, Musto Skiff and a group of Dart 18's.

The Toppers led for the first couple of laps but as stronger gusts came through the writing was on the wall for the slower classes. The Lasers of Christoper Marsh and Harry Newton were the first to overtake with the Tasar of Rick and Sarah Perkins coming through on lap 3. With 15 minutes to go the Merlin of Phil Emery and Pheobe Payne caught the leading Tasar, by then that of Stephen Nation and Theresa Page with the leading Lasers still clear.

With all to play for the last run was decisive with the Merlin going clear - a short fetch and quick upwind saw Phil and Phoebe take the prize from the Lasers of Christopher Marsh and Harry Newton who kept clear of the Tasars of Rick and Sarah and Stephen and Theresa.

A total of £313 was raised for Whitstable RNLI - £133 from general donations and £180 from one cadet member on his own to add to the funds for saving lives at sea!

Thanks to the race team and safety boat crews led my Mike the RO - a difficult day in shifting offshore breeze, and great to see WYC's improving sailors taking on a full 90 minute race with enthusiasm.

Overall Results: -

Pos Sail No Boat Type Helm

1 3816 MERLIN‑ROC Phil Emery

2 216212 LASER Christopher Marsh

3 202316 LASER Harry Newton

4 2629 TASAR Rick Perkins

5 2908 TASAR Stephen Nation

6 213962 LASER Mark Holweger

7 217717 LASER Steve Gray

8 212200 LASER Charles Campion

9 172568 LASER Ollie Low

10 7735 Dart 18 Tony Dod

11 76 RS200 James Martin

12 7429 Dart 18 Richard Ledger

13 58041 LASER Andy King

14 188353 LASER Matt Crockatt

15 47099 TOPPER 5.3 Joe Barton

16 303 LIGHTNING David Connor

17 176744 LASER Matt Low

18 204549 LASER RADI Tony Clements

19 184334 LASER Kelvin Tolson

20 5924 SOLO Mark Fagg

21 186375 LASER Fin Plant

22 3576 MERLIN‑ROC John Gibbons

23 7978 Dart 18 Richard Jones

24 47099 5.3 TOPPER Louise Harnett

25 2924 2000 Sophia Rafeletos

26 190563 LASER RADI Tim Bentham

27 7844 Dart 18 Andy Hockey

28 74 MUSTO SKIF Alastair Gould

29 5552 SOLO Pete Townsend

30 306 FLYING DUT Andrew Provan

31 6070 TOPAZ UNO Dexter Middleton

32 123897 LASER RADI Adam Freeman

33 19A LASER RADI Arlo Bentham

34 170944 LASER RADI Oliver Goggi

35 163109 LASER RADI Tony Ullman

RET 3736 MERLIN‑ROC Jon Bloice