Royal Hospital School Sets Sail to Success with Prestigious Victories
by Royal Hospital School 24 Feb 23:51 NZDT
Royal Hospital School's exceptional sailors have dominated the waters over the last 18 months © RHS
Royal Hospital School (RHS) in Holbrook, Ipswich, is delighted to announce that its exceptional sailors have dominated the waters over the last 18 months, securing an impressive collection of 12 prestigious trophies.
From navigating challenging courses to mastering the art of teamwork, RHS pupils have shown exceptional skill, determination and sportsmanship. Each trophy represents countless hours of hard work and dedication.
Out of 12 total trophies, three major sailing highlights over the last 18 months include:
RYA - Under 19 Women's Team Racing National Championship
The Royal Yachting Association hosts four team racing events each year, including a women's only event. This combines an open competition with a British Universities Sailing Association (BUSA) competition and, for the first time last year, an under 19 competition. In January 2023, six RHS female sailors competed at Rutland Sailing Club. Led by Nicole S, Millie L, Georgie S, Grace CR-B, Audrey F, and Sophia D won the silver league and secured the under 19 trophy with a perfect second day—7 wins out of 7 races.
Ed Sibson, Director of Sailing at Royal Hospital School, commented on this achievement saying: "We are delighted with the fantastic achievement of our women's team. Their attitude to training all year has been exceptional, you can really see their drive and determination to succeed. This result represents a huge success, and I'm sure it will only motivate the team to train even harder and be more focused in the coming months. The team is a huge inspiration to our younger female sailors and I hope many of them will follow in their footsteps and compete at this level in the future."
RYA - Youth National Team Racing Championship
After finishing runners-up last year and third the year before, 2023 RHS won. The purple team, led by Sarah D, won eight of their nine races on day one and four of their five races on day two, including the crucial head-to-head with Rutland Sailing Club that proved to clinch the title. The dominance of RHS in the Youth Competition, with all three teams advancing to the gold league, and ultimately finishing first, third and fifth, showcased the depth of talent at the School.
BSDRA - The Rondar Shield - British School Team Racing National Champions
The pinnacle of school sailing, The Rondar Shield is awarded to the winner of the BSDRA Finals. In 2023, the finals were held at the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club over two days in June. The blue team faced tough competition but finished day one unbeaten. The only team to win all ten of their races. On day two, they progressed to the gold league where they, again, won all their races. In the semi-final they beat Rutland Sailing Club 2 - 0 to progress to the final.
Here they triumphed against Magdalen College School, Oxford, winning the final 2 - 1. The triumphant blue team, led by Thommie G, comprised Harriet G, Nicole S, Millie L, Sebastian K and Daisy C, put the RHS name on this trophy for the first time in its 34-year history.
In addition to these impressive achievements, the Royal Hospital School excelled in various sailing competitions, including the 2023 BSDRA Eastern Region Team Racing Championship where the purple team, led by Sarah D, emerged undefeated to secure the championship. They also demonstrated resilience at the NSSA Lancashire Silver Jubilee Plate, finishing 8th out of 21 teams in the two-day Single Handed Team Racing Championship. The school claimed second place in the Firefly category at the Itchenor Sailing Club and secured the National Schools Championship Firefly Team Prize.
Moreover, they showcased remarkable resilience and skill in the NSSA Match Racing National Championship, finishing third overall. Finally, at the 2023 BSDRA Finals, the dedication of Thommie G, Harriet G, Nicole S, Millie L, Seb K, and Daisy C earned them the highest-placed school award, along with the Rondar Shield and the Whitstable Trophy.