Current Alumni Newsletter – April 2023
The Club’s new flight of Fireflies arrive, and success at BUCS Match Racing and team Racing championships!
New boats!
Thanks to the ongoing support of alumni, the club was able to support the purchase of a brand new flight of six Fireflies this year.
The new boats were put straight to use at the annual university team racing championships.
As costs increase, the club relies ever more on the generosity of alumni. To ensure we can continue to provide the best resources for the next generation of sailors at all levels, if you are in a position to make a donation, please visit our page on the CU Philanthropy website to make a single or annual gift. CUDAR provide this service entirely free – all your gift comes to the Club. CUDAR pays the gifts and Gift Aid they collect into our bank account on a monthly basis.
Cambridge Blue win BUCS Gold!
Between 10-12 April Cambridge University hosted the annual university team racing championships.
Two Cambridge teams competed, with red and blue both making it to the top eight. Red had had a great few days – beating most of the top teams and comfortably ranking the highest UK second team. A tough quarters against Oxford saw red place 5th overall, but their achievement is huge and well deserved as an amazing team (big things to come next year!)
Blue, despite having a very strong season this year, had a rocky league stage. However the previous days nerves were quelled with a feisty quarters against last years champions Exeter. In the semis, Blue faced Oxford – three tight races coming right down to the line, decided by who could serve their penalty turns first. This meant the final would be between Cambridge blue and the guest Irish team from University College Dublin – a familiar rematch from the Top Gun finals in February.
Five close races saw UCD take the win, however, coming second, Cambridge Blue was overall highest ranking British team – winning BUCS gold! (For the first time since 2016!)
The team thank all the current students and alumni who helped make the event a success.
BUCS Match Racing
Meanwhile, congratulations to the team of Ollie Dennis, Juliette Kennedy, Luke Bligh and Mattis Prince on getting bronze at the match racing championships the previous weekend. After two days of champagne sailing, the team were sitting on 7/10 wins at the end of the round robin. The team was ranked fourth going into the semis. However, it wasn’t meant to be as the team lost their sudden death semi against the formidable Southampton 1s. The petit final was cancelled due to deteriorating conditions, so the teams finished joint third. Great practice for the Varsity Match, which will also be in Sonars at Island SC later in the year.
Alumni Newsletter Archive
August 2022
While the heatwave might be troubling the nation’s farmers, it’s certainly provided some champagne sailing for those getting out on the water this summer.
Cambridge win the Open Varsity Match for 10th Year!
The 2022 Varsity Match made a welcome return to its normal format with a full complement of matches taking place at Royal Harwich YC in Ajax 23s in July
Cambridge retained the main Open Team Racing trophy for the 10th year running, but Oxford proved victorious in all the other events. Brief results and more photos can be found on the website here. Next year’s event will be held at Itchenor in Swallows.
Open Team Racing: Cambridge 4-3
Women’s Team Racing: Oxford 4-1
Match Racing 1st Team: Oxford 2-1
Match Racing 2nd Team: Oxford 2-1
Alumni Summer Sailing
Meanwhile, CUCrC alumni have been active as always over the summer.
Archie Massey and crew Harvey Hillary won the International 14 Worlds with a day to spare in shifty conditions at Flensburg in Germany. A full report is available on the Sail World website.
And Jeremy Vines has won the Fast Handicap race at the Uffa Fox 50 Celebration Regatta, which is running from 18-21 August in Cowes. This unique event is bringing together a wide range of beautifully restored vintage boats from the illustrious designer. Find further details at www.uf50.org
Please support CUCrC via Cambridge University Philanthropy
And finally, if you have not recently made a gift to the Club and are in a position to do so now, that you use our page on the CU Philanthropy website to make a single or annual gift? CUDAR provide this service entirely free – all your gift comes to the Club and direct debits make life easier for everyone. CUDAR in no way puts itself between the Club and alumni supporters such as you. You will continue to receive newsletters and communications directly from us. In addition, CUDAR pays the gifts and Gift Aid they collect into our bank account on a monthly basis.Keep in touch
Follow news about Cambridge sailors and windsurfers on the website and Instagram.
Best wishes,
Richard Guy
Alumni Administrator
February 2022/2
While some of us might be waiting for the first signs of spring before venturing back onto the water, the university teams have been making the most of some cold but breezy days throughout the winter, including this weekend’s Cam Cup.
Please support CUCrC via Cambridge University Philanthropy
Before going on to general news may I ask, if you have not recently made a gift to the Club and are in a position to do so now, that you use our page on the CU Philanthropy website to make a single or annual gift? CUDAR provide this service entirely free – all your gift comes to the Club and direct debits make life easier for everyone. CUDAR in no way puts itself between the Club and alumni supporters such as you. You will continue to receive newsletters and communications directly from us. In addition, CUDAR pays the gifts and Gift Aid they collect into our bank account on a monthly basis.
Rutland win the Cam Cup
Rutland were victorious in the 2022 Cam Cup, beating Southampton Green 2-1 in the final. Royal Thames Blue beat Sheffield 2-0 in the petit final to take Bronze. Cambridge finished in the Bronze league. Full results and many more photos are available on the club’s website.
With the BUSA Team Racing finals not so far away, the university results will be studied very carefully. Southampton dislodged Exeter from their previous top-dog position. Will the same thing happen at Chew Valley 18-20th April? Cardiff and Sheffield showed that they are forces to be reckoned with. Cambridge performed well below their best, so they should certainly be able to improve.
Conditions were near-perfect over the weekend for the 2022 Cam Cup and faultless organisation meant that every team sailed at least 15 races. The usual black tie dinner and night club excursion were (I’m reliably informed!) as enjoyable as ever. Congratulations to Gordon Sivarajan and Will Adler for their organisation of the event and dinner, and to Jo Sammons for her quiet but very effective running of the racing.
A big thank you to all the helpers, umpires, and organisations that provided boats – and to Grafham Water SC for making their superb facilities available for the event.
Drinks at Royal Thames
Meanwhile a reminder that CUCrC will be hosting an informal drinks event in the bar of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, 60 Knightsbridge on Wednesday 27th April from 6:30pm. There is no charge for this event, drinks will be available to purchase at the bar, and there is no need to book. However, if you do intend to come along, please message Jo Sammons to ensure there is enough space for everyone. Dress Code is smart casual.
Keep in touch
Follow news about Cambridge sailors and windsurfers on the website and Instagram.
Best wishes,
Richard Guy
Alumni Administrator
February 2022/1
You are cordially invited to join other CUCrC members for an informal drinks evening in the bar of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, 60 Knightsbridge on Wednesday 27th April from 6:30pm. This will be an opportunity for members to reconnect following the difficult past two years and hear about each others current activities.
There is no charge for this event, drinks will be available to purchase at the bar, and there is no requirement to book. However, if you do intend to come along, please message Jo Sammons to ensure there is enough space for everyone. Dress Code is smart casual.
Cambridge Women will be competing this weekend at the annual RYA/BUSA Women’s Team Racing Championships at Budworth SC (the aftermath of Storm Eunice permitting!). Next weekend some 20 teams will be contesting the Cam Cup at Grafham. Use the ‘Recent News’ sidebar on the website to stay in touch with Cambridge sailing action!
This coming week (20 – 25 February) we will be running our annual telephoning campaign – contacting around 90 alumni. So do not be surprised if you have a conversation with a current student about what is happening at present in Cambridge sailing and windsurfing.
Best wishes,
Richard Guy
Alumni Administrator
July 2021
Despite the ongoing disruption to university sailing, as to everyday life, from COVID-19, lots of action and successes to report on this summer!
Cambridge take 2021 BUSA Women’s Team Racing
Cambridge were victorious in an excellent BUSA Women’s Team Racing event, held at Rutland Water on 12 & 13 June 2021. It was a glorious sunny weekend with a good wind on the Saturday that enabled a great many races to be sailed for the 8 teams competing.
Cambridge Take Silver and Bronze at Summer 2021 BUSA
Cambridge Blue were 2nd, Yellow 3rd, Purple 6th, and Beige 8th in a very enjoyable though restricted Summer 2021 BUSA at Spinnaker from 12-14 July 2021.
With the Long Vacation in full swing, entries were reduced by last minute cry-offs to 12 teams – though the usual suspects, Exeter and Southampton, were present. Congratulations to all the Cambridge sailors on a great performance.
2021 Cuppers
A brisk northerly wind provided just the right conditions for both sailing and windsurfing, though the sun was noticeably absent. A video of the match racing finals is on Instagram
Varsity Match in Limbo
Sadly the 2021 Varsity Match did not take place as planned at Royal Harwich YC in June due to COVID-19 difficulties at Oxford. It may be possible to organise a match later in the season.
CUCrC Honours Pages
And finally, we’ve been busy compiling details of past glories with a new section of the club’s website dedicated to National and International Honours. We still need help to fill in a few gaps in the club’s history – particularly women’s teams and results in 1999 – 2004; 1988 – 1990; 1980 – 1982; and pre 1975.
Keep in touch
Follow news about Cambridge sailors and windsurfers on the website and Instagram. The students are promoting Cambridge sailing on social media, including a series profiling this year’s committee.
Best wishes,
Richard Guy
Alumni Administrator
August 2020
2020 has been a difficult year for everyone. Sadly this year’s BUCS Team Racing Championship Finals at Grafham, along with the Wilson Trophy and much of sporting life around the world, were cancelled. But as life is tentatively getting back to “normal” around the country, so it is with Cambridge sailing.
Varsity Match
Great news that the 2020 Varsity Match is confirmed for 19/20 September at Farmoor, and will be sailed in Fireflies. If you are within striking distance of Oxford you are very welcome to come and watch the fun. For those familiar with the venue, note that the racing will take place on Farmoor 2; the section of the reservoir to your right as you look out from the club.
Other News
Looking ahead, competitive university sailing looks set to tentatively resume in the coming months, this year’s Freshers’ Fair will be a virtual event, and Cambridge are looking forward to hosting the Championship Finals in 2021.
Alumni Gifting Arrangements
The University Development and Alumni Relations office (CUDAR) has very recently introduced direct debit giving facilities for all CU sports clubs. The facilities are free and CUDAR reclaims Gift Aid where it is due.
Direct debits plus Gift Aid reclaiming greatly simplify the Club’s accounting, and the Committee has decided to use the CUDAR facilities for future alumni gifts. If you have a standing order in place, you need take no action because existing standing orders will continue to work fine. Other ways of giving, such as charity vouchers and GAYE, also remain open.
Should you wish to make a gift, use this CUDAR link.
Club Ties
Club ties are now available again and can be purchased on this website.
Keep in touch
Follow news about Cambridge sailors and windsurfers on this website – Instagram feeds are on the Team Racing and Windsurfing pages. The students are promoting Cambridge sailing on social media, including a series profiling this year’s committee.
Best wishes,
Richard Guy
Alumni Administrator