FRENSHAM Sailing Club, which is just entering its 64th year, has retained its status at the top of its sport.
Andrea and crew Saskia Tidey raced for Ireland in the women’s 49er class, an extreme racing yacht that combines skill with athleticism. The pair finished their event 12th out of 20 in a top international field.
Frensham has always been the ‘nursery of champions’ and club members again made their mark at the Cadet Dinghy World championship in Argentina, where the very young pair of Megan Fergusson and crew Yasmine Sfaxi scored an eighth place in a fleet of nearly 60 boats.
As their skills increase, great things may be expected of this pair.
Frensham’s regular top helms also secured honours. Roger Gilbert became national champion in the Merlin Rocket class and claimed second place in the International 14 class Prince of Wales Cup, one of the oldest and most prestigious events in the calendar. Nick Craig won the Devoti D and B 14 nationals.
Once again, Frensham Sailability for the disabled retained the Ben Ainslie Travelling Trophy. Lindsay Burns took the 2.3 Hansa class title, Margaret Foreman won the single-handed Hansa 303 design and, to complete a resounding success story, Paul Philipps was a winner in the Hansa Liberty class.
Another top result was Ian Gregory’s victory in the Laser Class European Masters Trophy.
Frensham Big Pond is a very small lake in sailing terms, but were there a Premier League in small-boat sailing, Frensham SC would have to be up there.