Young Sailors Triumph at Prep School Northern Champs, Retaining Trophy and Showcasing Remarkable Talent

On the 16th of June, Windermere School participated in the Northern Prep School Regatta, a prestigious trophy that has been contested since 1997. Our school has only lost six times in this competition, making it an imperative challenge to maintain our title. When we arrived at Killington Lake, the weather was calm and our sailors were excited. We had a team of seven, and since each team needed three sailors, we had extra sailors on the day. As the largest team, we offered some of our sailors to other teams that were short-handed. We were also fortunate to have supportive parents and older sailors who came to assist the regatta and show their support.

There were four different schools competing in the event: Rydal, Penrhose, Sedbergh and Arnside. We did not participate in the first two races, but in the third race, we competed against Rydal in a very close race, with Windermere A narrowly securing the win. The fourth race was between the two Windermere teams, and Windermere B emerged victorious. As the day progressed, the wind conditions strengthened, requiring us to reef the boats and reduce sail sizes. With intense racing and tricky conditions, our original plan to complete a full double round-robin was thwarted by worsening weather, and we only managed to complete one round.

The final results were in favour of Windermere B, who didn’t lose a race and won the overall competition. Rydal secured second place, having lost only one race, with Windermere A closely behind them. The winning team comprised Henry C, George A, and Rafaela G. In 3rd place were Jennifer B, Elizabeth J, and Emily B. Arthur A also stepped in to compete for Rydal School, helping them secure second place as they were short of a player.

Sailing is more than just a race. We were thankful for the sailors who weren’t competing but came down to help at the event. Impressively, a team of supporters, including Faye, Elyse, Ellington, Holly, Archie, Finn and others, contributed to the smooth running of the event with tasks such as manning the pontoon, assisting with changeovers, managing safety boats, and helping with race management. Their support truly embodies the spirit of sailing and is worth recognizing. It was heart-warming to see parents cheering on all the teams and creating a vibrant atmosphere at the competition, showcasing that sailing is not just a sport but a community.

-Mr Chris Brooks, Director of Performance Sailing

Windermere School is an Independent Boarding and Day School for ages 3-18, across Junior School, Senior School and Sixth Form. The school offers holiday courses and a summer school programme, as well as short term immersion courses for international pupils, as well as an award winning IB programme. Join the adventure today >