Two RAF teams arrived at Bowmoor Sailing Club in Gloucestershire to compete for the annual Inter Service Team Racing Championship sponsored by Nova Systems. Teams of 3 boats would compete against each other in 3 sets of round robin fixtures to decide who would progress through to the final. After two days of hard training and selection led by respected coach and RAF sailor Simon Greenhalgh the sailors were split into the A & B team and ready for two days of hard racing.

Day one brought a shifty and gusty day challenging the sailors with 14 knot winds gusting up to 20 knots. With the course set, and the first mark set by the club house, spectators were guaranteed a good view of the action. The RAF A team began strongly, opening with a series of convincing victories finishing the first round robins undefeated with 5 victories. The second round robin began in similar fashion with convincing wins against the combined team and RAF B before Navy A handed the A team their first loss. The team pulled together recovering from a difficult position to clinch victory against Navy B before finishing the day with another strong performance against the Army. Thursday night sailors were treated to another excellent social provided by the sailing club with dinner and drinks leading late into the night.

RAF A took the lead overnight with 9 wins, a single victory ahead of Army in 2nd. RAF B had managed to take two victories against the Navy B team.

Day two began with a light 8 knots that would build through the day. A shifty patchy wind would again provide challenging conditions for the teams. RAF A continued their run of strong performances winning their first four races securing a spot on the final early. While their opponent wouldn’t be decided until the final race, where Army managed to beat RAF A forcing a rematch in the final. RAF B managed to fight for two more victories finishing fourth overall for the inexperienced team lead by Captain and reigning Inter Service Asymmetric champion Ethan Miles.

Both teams headed to the start line, watched by their fellow competitors onshore. Army came out the blocks firing, inflicting multiple penalties on all the RAF boats, and taking a convincing victory. This forced the RAF team to regroup. Race two fell the way of RAF in dominating fashion with a strong 1, 2, 3 keeping hopes alive and sending the regatta to a deciding race. After a competitive pre start the RAF were in a strong but not certain position. But excellent sailing by all the RAF boats allowed the team to put pressure on the Army boats. Rounding the final mark in 2, 3, 4 all the pressure was on the lead Army boat to try and hold up the charging Air Force team. But strong sailing allowed the RAF to convert, led home by Rear Commodore Dinghy Ed Dodwell to clinch a 1, 2, 4 and finally end the 15 year wait for Team Racing Victory.

The team of Davies/ Reed, Greenhalgh/ Cook & Dodwell/ Nikoloudakis showed excellent sailing and team work throughout the regatta to take the title. The RAF now holds both the Team Racing and Asymmetric Inter Service Titles. A massive thanks must be extended to sponsors Nova Systems, Bowmoor SC and both the Navy and Army Sailing Associations for an excellent regatta. Attention now turns to the RAFSA Series before the Match Racing and Gold Cup return later in the year.

To get involved with RAF sailing check out the RAF Sailing website. For both racing and beginner lessons available.

Many Thanks

Ben Reed