Win for Wessex Exiles

Katie Archer's crew claims the Ladies National Team Racing Championships

The Wessex Exiles team of Katie Archer, Kate Rooke, Karen Falcon, Kate Fairclough, Katie Haighton and Sophie Esson this weekend won the Ladies National Team Racing Championships, held at Spinnaker Sailing Club, Hampshire. The ex-Southampton University team beat West Kirby Ladies in a three-race final, to take the national title.

Having sailed together while studying at Southampton University between 2000-2006, the Wessex Exiles team beat eight teams who had travelled to the event from as far afield as Scotland. The event, which was run by Race Officer Mike Greenland in squally conditions, is the highlight of the ladies team racing calendar.

Wessex Exiles Captain Katie Archer, who helms a British Olympic Ladies Match Racing campaign, commented: “It’s wonderful to come back to Spinnaker and win the Ladies Team Racing Nationals, with such a close group of old friends. This weekend we have seen a very high level of team racing – far higher than just a few years ago – and it’s fantastic to see so many talented ladies teams competing on the team racing circuit. I’d like to thank Mike Greenland and all of the team at Spinnaker for running a great event in tricky team racing conditions, Southampton University for hosting the event and to congratulate all of the teams involved.”

Top four teams:

1st Southampton Old Ladies
2nd West Kirby
3rd BUSA
4th Southampton Ladies 1st Team