A student from Windermere School has become a National Sailing Champion following his victory in the RS Feva Inland Championships, held at Draycote Water Sailing Club in Warwickshire.
Teddy Ferguson, who was racing with Ewan Wilson from Wormit Sailing Club, saw off the challenge of forty-five other crews to take the title. Fellow Windermere School students, Pierce Harris and Alfie Cogger, were runners-up, while Theo and Felix Stewart, also from Windermere School, finished in a very respectable twenty-third place.
The championships took place over the course of the weekend, but very light winds on Sunday meant that no racing was possible. However, in decent conditions on the Saturday, Teddy and Ewan managed to secure first place in two out of five races, along with second place and seventh place finishes, ensuring victory with a net score of eleven.
Teddy was absolutely thrilled with the result, saying, “Today was tough and we were pushed hard all the way, but it’s a fantastic feeling to be the Inland Champions. Well done to everyone who took part in the championships. The conditions weren’t perfect, but we’ve all had a great weekend.”
Pierce and Alfie were quick to congratulate Teddy and Ewan, adding, “They both sailed really well and played the shifts, so many congratulations on becoming the Inland Champions.”
Ian Lavender, Headmaster at Windermere School, said, “I would like to congratulate Teddy for his tremendous achievement and one which demands dedication, not just from Teddy, but from all of those involved. I would particularly like to thank Graeme Rowe, our Chief Sailing Instructor, for his expert coaching, the students for their willingness to learn and get involved and, most especially, the parents for the huge distances they have travelled to enable these students to compete at the highest level.”
Teddy’s success comes off the back of a successful half-term week of sailing, where Windermere School students took part in the RS Feva National Championships in Torbay (27-30 May) and the RS Feva European Championships, which were held at Club Nautique de Versoix in Switzerland (2-5 June).
Some of the younger students at Windermere School have also enjoyed sailing success. Teams from five schools attended the Northern Prep Schools Regatta, which took place recently at Killington Lake. The whole event was very close and provided some exciting racing for the spectators, but it was a team from Windermere School who lifted the trophy.
Tom Johnson, who was part of the winning team, was quick to thank those involved, “Many thanks to Mr Rowe for all the training and advice, and not forgetting all of the support and encouragement from our parents and helpers.”
Graeme Rowe, Royal Yachting Association Principal and Chief Sailing Instructor at Windermere School, was understandably thrilled with these results, “We have had some fantastic results recently, and all of our students who have taken part should feel very proud of their achievements. Huge congratulations to Teddy and good luck to the four students taking part in the RS Feva World Championships in July, and also to the four students who will be competing at the RS Tera World Championships in Carnac later that month. We will be working hard over the coming weeks to ensure they do as well as we know they can do.”