In the last week of July, four Guernsey RS Fevas were part of the British contingency sailing the Allen RS Feva World Championship in Carnac, France. In addition to the four Guernsey based dinghies, Guernsey Yacht Club overseas sailor George Thompson crewed in a fifth boat with Hayling Island’s Harry Bowerman at the helm.

Gorgeous summer weather with the see breeze building throughout the afternoon every day saw 140 RS Fevas from eight nations battle it out for the World Championship crown in excellent conditions over the five-day regatta.

After the qualifying series over the first two days, the fleet was split into gold and silver. Guernsey sailors David Sidebottom and Matt Beck, Graham and Jonathan Beck, Adam Goddard and Hanna Rickards and Harry and George all made it into the gold fleet with Abigail Tanguy and Malin Asplund closely behind in the top end of the silver fleet.

Leading after the qualifying series were British siblings Robert and Emma Loveridge. Several other British boats were also in the running with the strongest challenges coming from the Italian, Irish and Swedish teams.

Eventually, it boiled down to a battle between the British and the Italians. Going into the last day and the final two races in the 14 race series, Jack Hawkins and Chris Thomas were in the lead closely followed by fellow British sailors Owen Bowerman, Harry’s younger brother, and Charlie Darling.

Owen and Charlie came off to a slow start in the first race of the day but pulled it together with a race win in the final race to secure the gold medals just ahead of Jack and Chris completing the British double with Italians Pilati Matteo and Mattia Duch in bronze position.

In the three final days of racing, all five Guernsey boats made it further up the rankings, Harry and George finished 7th, David and Matthew 37th, Graham and Jonathan 46th, Adam and Hannah 62nd and Abigail and Malin, rounding off with a 7th and a 4th on the last day, finishing 13th in the silver fleet and 83rd overall. No doubt, an impressive and unprecedented performance in the RS Feva class by the whole British as well as the Guernsey team.

Back in Guernsey, we look back at a fantastic week with great sailing and an exceptionally friendly atmosphere making the event most enjoyable for sailors as well as support crew. We hope to back for the RS Feva Worlds in Holland next year. 

For full results etc see the event website www.rsfeva.org/worlds. See also the Guernsey juniors blog for daily reports from the event www.gycjuniors.wordpress.com.

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