Cambridge Blue finished runners-up in BUSA 2019 held at Spinnaker SC 9-11 April 2019. Exeter Blue took the title 3-1, with Southampton Green 3rd and Oxford 4th. Cambridge Black sailed very steadily in the latter stages of the competition to qualify for the knock-out quarter finals and finished 7th overall. There they made their exit to the best of the three Southampton teams at the event.
But Cambridge took revenge on Southampton (Green) in the semi finals, as described later. Cambridge have now appeared in the final at BUSA for the last 6 years, winning three times and finishing runners-up three times. Congratulations to both Cambridge teams on their performance this year! Cambridge team membership follows the photographs below. Detailed results will be available for a time on kSail.
BUSA 2019 Day 1
Slick organisation and moderate winds, though they declined during the day, made for an excellent opening of the Championships on 9 April. Eight rounds were sailed, with Edinburgh Blue leading the pack at the end of the day having dropped only 1 race out of 8. They were closely followed by Southampton Green and Cambridge Blue.
BUSA 2019 Day 2
Similar and sunny conditions on the second day enabled a further 9 rounds to be sailed – 17 races for each team over the two days. There were a good many place changes, with Edinburgh Blue slipping out of the top 8 and Exeter Blue taking the lead – closely followed by the consistent Southampton Green and Cambridge Blue. Cambridge Black had a better day, finishing 9th equal with six others on 9 wins. This left them in a good position the make their final push into the knock-out quarter finals on the last day.
BUSA 2019 Day 3
Good conditions on the last day encouraged the PRO to go for a further 4 rounds. As a result all the 28 teams attending had 21 Swiss League races over the three days. However, the wind went light and variable for the quarter finals, proving a challenge for course setting and competitors, and then died completely. Fortunately, when abandonment seemed inevitable at 4pm, the sea breeze arrived and the semi finals and final took place in perfect team racing conditions.
In the semi finals Oxford sailed very well to take one race off the dominant Exeter Blue team, but made their exit 1-2. The Cambridge Blue vs Southampton Green semi was a rematch of last year’s final – but with a different result. Cambridge forced a Southampton spin at the end of the run and went on to take the first race. Southampton fought hard in the second race, but could not dislodge Cambridge from their 1, 3, 6 winning combination. So Cambridge went through to the final 2-0.
The final provided a feast of close and exciting team racing, much enjoyed by spectators from the natural grandstand that Spinnaker affords. Exeter took the first race, but Cambridge struck back to take the second. However, Exeter mustered all their undoubted abilities to take the next two races and the match, so proving worthy winners of the BUSA 2019 title.
Congratulations to BUSA, Spinnaker, Race Officers, Umpires, and helpers (both student and non-student) for organising and contributing to an exceptional BUSA championships.
| Cambridge Blue | Cambridge Black |
| Alex Smallwood & Michael Smith | Alex Baxter & Oliver Jagger |
| Jamie Webb & Juliette Welham (Capt) | Henry Morley & Laragh Harvey-Kelly |
| Robbie King & Bethan Matthew | Paris Thomas (Capt) & Nina Luckmann |
BUSA 2019 Photos and Teams
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