Cambridge Do It Again At BUSA – March 2016

In what closely followed the pattern of last year’s event, Cambridge Blue retained their BUSA crown 3-1 over Exeter Black in the 60th BUSA Team Racing Championship Finals held at Grafham Water SC on 29-31 March 2016. Cambridge Black conceded the petit final 1-2 to Cardiff Black in a good fight and so finished 4th overall. Cambridge Yellow sailed very steadily, though perhaps a little below their very best, to finish 18th overall – 5 places ahead of Oxford, who experienced a disappointing BUSA. So Cambridge have now won BUSA three years in a row – this time within the distance after two previous years of ‘last-race-last-beat’ victories.

The event started promptly on the Tuesday in brisk and cold ‘cut-down sails’ weather, but 112 races (8 for each of the 28 teams participating) were completed without major incident. The Wednesday brought warmer weather and perfect sailing conditions, with another 112 races being completed. The final day was sunny with light winds, bringing some race-officer-challenging shifts, with 3 races for each team being completed before the knock-out quarter and semi finals (best of 3) and final (best of 5). Full results are available on the kSail website (opens in a new window) and there is a interesting and amusing mark-rounding video, not involving Cambridge, on the BUSA Facebook page – also, in a larger size, on YouTube (both links open in new windows).

Josh Flack (Cambridge Captain 2012/13), assisted by others, gave a witty and insightful commentary on the final knock-out rounds, which greatly enlivened what can otherwise be somewhat pedestrian affairs. The commentary was very well received by the assembled throng, including no less that 4 senior CUCrC General Committee Members. Prizes were presented by Cambridge Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Virgo, also Chairman of the University Sports Committee, before sailors and helpers headed off to Cambridge for the legendary BUSA black tie Dinner and Ball.

Thanks to Arthur Henderson and others, a good collection of videos covering the knock-out stage of the event are available on YouTube (opens in a new window).

Congratulations to all the Cambridge teams on a great performance, and to the Cambridge organising team who combined so well with Grafham and BUSA to produce a truly memorable championships. The Club is most grateful for your exceptional efforts. And a big thank-you to umpires, start/finish boat officials, and RIB drivers for their sterling work over the three days.

Explore the gallery of photographs below by clicking on the thumbnail that interests you. Use the ‘Leave a Reply’ function at the bottom of the page to submit any comments you wish to make.

Carefree sailors play while more serious knock-out matters get under way in the background

Just 1 of around 530 changeovers during the event - getting into boats was done on the water, from the RIBs

The call-out centre that played a vital role in alerting teams to get into their RIB's for changeovers

Josh Flack (center) gives his inimitable commentary on the final knock-out rounds, while Will Reid (right) departs on another mission

Victorious Cambridge Blue: Daisy Baxter, Cat Wallace, Robbie Gilmore, Tim Gratton, Rachel Tilly, Chris Eames

Cambridge Black: James Pinder, Anna Prescott, Paris Thomas, Chloe Macaulay, Bryan Ormond, Jamie Webb

Cambridge Yellow: Henry Morley, Greg Sale, Cleodie Rickard, Phillip Binns, George Hopes, Duncan Hampshire

Combined Cambridge - sailors and helpers