Waldringfield Wasps crowned British Keelboat League champions
by British Keelboat League 3 Oct 12:57 UTC
27-29 September 2024
Close competition for the final of the 2024 British Keelboat League saw the Waldringfield Wasps claiming victory after the results went down to the wire.
Twelve teams battled it out hosted by the Royal Southern YC, racing the club's fleet of J70 keelboats on the central Solent over the weekend (27-29 September).
Having qualified for the final at events across the country, the competition did not disappoint, with different teams topping the leaderboard across the three days.
Day one on the Friday provided a blustery and challenging day but the top-level teams managed to tame the conditions to kick off the championship with six races.
While the spinnakers only came out of the bag for one of these races, they were then flying all day on the Saturday, with sunshine and lighter but shifty winds allowing for a busy day on the water off Warsash.
The Solent was buzzing with activity and the race committee did a fantastic job led by RO Imogen Gibb, fitting in as much action as possible for the teams and 17 more races ahead of a big breeze forecast.
All change
With an eye on the weather stations along the south coast, it was decided to launch the fleet half an hour earlier than planned on the Sunday.
Overnight it had been Burnham SC in the lead but right down to sixth it could all still change and there would be more shuffling of the pack.
At one point on the Sunday, Ryde School's team of under-18s were winning overall, then with a third and final race fitted in, it was all change again at the top.
The Waldringfield Wasps team of Archie Penn, Cameron Harris, Connor Line, Hattie Collingridge and Matt Taylor took the last bullet and with it the British Keelboat League 2024 title. Second and third in the last race - Royal Thames YC Academy and Marconi SC respectively - likewise reflected the final overall placings.
Cameron Harris, captain of the winning team from Waldringfield SC, said: "We are thrilled to have won this event! Huge thanks to everyone who supported us and made this possible. It was a tough weekend of racing. Going into the final day's racing we knew the points were very close but were determined to give it our all and get some good results in. We were really surprised to have won it to be honest."
Commenting on the team of twenty-somethings who came through Waldringfield SC's Cadets as young sailors, Commodore Anne Spalding added: "We are so impressed with the sailing our club's juniors go on to do. Many congratulations to the team on their excellent victory!"
BKL Final Results:
1st Waldringfield Wasps
2nd Royal Thames YC Academy
3rd Marconi SC
4th Solent University
5th Burnham SC
6th Ryde School (1st school team)
7th Lymington Town SC (1st women's team)
BKL 2024 Coordinator Peter Ward said: "The 2023 final was extremely close and this year's edition was even more so! The fact that it came down to the very last race, which again shuffled the leaderboard, was truly remarkable and showed just how evenly matched the teams were in terms of competitiveness.
"On the Sunday it was incredible to see the fleet all coming to the short start line together and the racing was really exciting. Every mistake had an effect on the final positions. All the teams were hugely competitive while at the same time very friendly and enjoying the weekend, it was a brilliant event."
The fast turnaround format of the British Keelboat League saw 26 races in total across the weekend and all teams completed 12 to 15 races each.
SAILING Champions League
At the prize-giving, with presentations by Royal Southern YC Vice Commodore Matthew Richardson, the overall winners were announced along with the teams now invited to compete in the SAILING Champions League 2025.
Winning places to compete in Europe were Waldringfield Wasps, Royal Thames YC Academy, Marconi SC and Burnham SC. Also selected were Solent University as the top youth team, and all-women's team Lymington Town SC, who beat Women's Open Keelboat Championship BKL winners EmRob's Smash Mob.
Of the selected teams, Royal Thames, Marconi, Solent and Lymington Town competed in the SAILING Champions League this year after taking part in the 2023 British Keelboat League, and will now be looking forward to further developing their experience.
Thanks were given to the club's volunteers and committee/hospitality boat owners Steph Merry, Chris Bodine and Chris Jones; Race Officer Imogen Gibb and umpires Mike Butterfield, Tricia Nerry and Paul Robson.
Lainey Terkelsen, bow for the Royal Thames YC team, said: "A great weekend of close racing at the BKL finals hosted by Royal Southern YC. The RTYC Academy team really enjoyed the close racing and practising our skills in some heavy winds. We're excited to represent the club and the RYA in the SAILING Champions League for the second consecutive year."
As Marconi helm Dan Nickalls summed up: "The competition was really tight with any of the top six capable of winning the regatta. Thank you to all the organisers and facilitators for putting on such a great show."
Take part
Event dates for the 2025 British Keelboat League will be published soon, giving more teams an opportunity to begin their own journey towards competing in Europe with the SAILING Champions League.
Qualifiers usually begin in spring but this year there will also be winter dates. Find out more about the British Keelboat League and SAILING Champions League and keep up to date with all the news @britishkeelboatleague on Facebook and Instagram.
Results Summary: (Rank on Average Points, teams have completed a different number of races)
| Pos | Team Name | No Rs | Total Points | Avg Points |
|---|
| 1 | Waldringfield Wasps (W) | 15 | 66 | 4.4 |
| 2 | Royal Thames YC Academy (T) | 13 | 57 | 4.38 |
| 3 | Marconi SC (M) | 14 | 60 | 4.29 |
| 4 | Solent University (S) | 12 | 51 | 4.25 |
| 5 | Burnham SC (B) | 12 | 50 | 4.17 |
| 6 | Ryde School (R) | 12 | 49 | 4.08 |
| 7 | Lymington Town SC (L) | 12 | 41 | 3.42 |
| 8 | Strathclyde Sailing (C) | 13 | 41 | 3.15 |
| 9 | EmRob's Smash Mob (E) | 13 | 40 | 3.08 |
| 10 | Royal Hospital School (H) | 14 | 39 | 2.79 |
| 11 | Ex‑Sherborne (X) | 12 | 32 | 2.67 |
| 12 | Team Jersey (J) | 14 | 18 | 1.29 |