Yacht Club Claims National Team Racing Victory on River Thames
Victory at 2025 RYA/UKTRA National Team Racing Championship Secured by Royal Thames Yacht Club
The Royal Thames Yacht Club emerged victorious in the 2025 Prince Philip Trophy, after dominating the 24-team competition at the annual RYA/UKTRA National Team Racing Championship, hosted for the first time by Oxford Sailing Club. The sell-out event, held at Farmoor Reservoir on March 22-23, 2025, tested the sailors' mettle with tricky conditions and fierce competition in Firefly dinghies.
Race Officer Keith Sammons of kSail sprang the contest into action on the Saturday, as teams battled it out through the Stage 1 (HLS) round robin, ultimately completing 102 races. Tuesday's schedule was set for Stage 2 (Leagues), but the fiercely unpredictable weather had other plans.
By Sunday, The scoreboard boasted George Jesters in first place, followed closely by the Royal Thames Academy White, the Rutland Raiders, and Cumberland Sausages. The forecast hinted at a promising 10 knots, but the wind remained elusive at the 09:00 start time. Frustratingly, the breeze made a brief appearance around 10:15, just enough for one race to be completed before the wind died once more.
Keith and his veritable army of volunteers pushed through, relying on the wind to make another appearance and resuming the races. Finally, as the breeze returned, the knockout stages commenced around 14:00, with the winners' trophy within reach for the fortunate few.
A Thrilling Finale
Semi Final 1 saw Royal Thames Academy White outperform Rutland Raiders with a 2-0 victory, followed swiftly by George Jesters ousting Elmside Neighbours in Semi Final 2 in the same decisive fashion. The Petit Final was then claimed 2-1 by Rutland Raiders from Elmside Neighbours, leaving the stage set for an electrifying final showdown between Royal Thames Academy White and George Jesters.
The dramatic final did not disappoint, with top-notch team racing, stunning photo finishes, and enough tension to keep the competing sailors, as well as the spectators on the lake wall, on the edge of their seats. The hard-fought victory ultimately went to Royal Thames Academy White, securing their place in the annals of sailing history with a 3-2 win.
The Winning Team
The Royal Thames Academy White team that took the trophy consisted of James Hammett and Lainey Terkelsen, Tommy Darling and Zoe Nieveen, and Dom Lewis and Cally Terkelsen.
"We had a fantastic weekend at Farmoor," James said after their victory. "A big thanks must go to the kSail team of Keith and Jo, as well as all the volunteers and organizers who made it happen. Despite the wind filling in from almost every direction on Sunday morning, the race team managed to get to almost 150 races before the finals, which was incredible."
The Future of Team Racing
The team now sets their sights on the Wilson in May, eager to build upon their hard-earned success and continue to raise the bar for team racing excellence. Reflecting on the event's migratory tradition, Steve Watson, the Event Director, commends the smooth transition to the host club at Farmoor: "The event broke the regular convention of rotation between three established team racing clubs. With a complex planning task of bringing together a range of resources, the event was oversubscribed, and arguably the top 24 teams in the British Isles participated."
He go on to express his gratitude to dedicated volunteers who made the event a success: "The wind played fickle games, but a round robin determined the top four teams, who fought out the Semis and Finals in strong competitive spirit. Another new name adorns the Prince Philip wheel! Thank you to the small army of volunteers for their time and expertise."
Freya Mason, from Rutland Raiders and the UKTRA Committee, echoes this sentiment: "Huge thanks to Keith and the team at kSail for their help in making the event possible, to Oxford Sailing Club for hosting, to all the umpires and volunteers that helped run the racing, to the UKTRA committee for all the work they put in to organize the event, and to all the competitors for making it such a great weekend!" Be sure to check out the UK Team Racing Association for more information on team racing and the exciting events that lie ahead.
For an inside glimpse into the racing action and camaraderie, show some support and view the amazing photos taken by UKTRA Secretary Nigel Vick.
The Royal Thames Academy White, the winning team of the 2025 RYA/UKTRA National Team Racing Championship, will now focus on the Wilson in May, aiming to build on their success and continue setting the bar for team racing excellence. Freya Mason, from the UKTRA Committee, appreciated the work of all volunteers, umpires, and Oxford Sailing Club for making the event a memorable one filled with competitive spirit and camaraderie, reflected in the stunning photos taken by UKTRA Secretary Nigel Vick.
