Carmela Cup Preview

14 teams are entered to compete in the Two-Boat Keelboat Team Racing Championships, the Carmela Cup...

This weekend will see 14 teams from around the country descend upon the Royal Victoria Docks for the National Two Boat Keelboat Team Racing Championships, better known as the Carmela Cup. The event is to be held in the RYA's Beneteau First Class 8s, the small keelboats used for the match racing events held throughout the year.

Originally part of the Royal Thames Yacht Club calendar as an invitational event the organisers have combined forces with the RYA to produce one of the top team racing events of the year. It is therefore no surprise that some of the countries top team racers will be making their way to the confined waters located in the lee of Canary Wharf.

Hot favourites for the event will be the Royal Thames Yacht Club Paget Team of Dom Johnson and Owen Modral, defending champions having won the event as part of the BUSA entry last year. "Quite a lot of the teams have changed. I guess if we can sail well then sure, we've got a good chance," said Modral. With both Johnson and Modral commanding a wealth of team racing and match racing experience from their years at Southampton University, and the recent Team Racing World Championships, the duo will certainly be tough to topple from the top spot.

Representing the BUSA team for the first time, and within a month of starting at the University of Southampton, are top Sevenoaks team racers Paul Campbell-James and Ben Field. Both have many titles under their belts, Campbell-James the Youth Match Racing Championships, and Field a second at the US Team Racing Nationals. Though less experienced than the favourites, Field and Campbell-James are certainly in a position to challenge for the title.

Fresh after a break from team racing over the summer the West Kirby team of Leo Dickson and Mike Hartley will be looking to maintain their dominance over the UK team racing fraternity. After their win at the Wilson Trophy, often referred to as the British Open, earlier in the year they certainly have the ability to upset a few names in the fleet.

Graham Sunderland and Luc Bradley will be sailing under the burgee of the Island Sailing Club, a club who's ties with the Carmella Cup date several years. Though the pairing have limited experience in terms of the dinghy team racing circuit, the pairing should not be under-estimated. Sunderland is an experienced keelboat and match racing helmsman of many years, giving the Isle of Wight based pairing a good chance of a successful event.

With the event based in the notoriously shifty docks, any of the competing teams have a chance to rack up a few race wins on the back of some lucky puffs of wind. Clubs are entered from all across the country, providing a perfect setting for a highly competitive kick-off to the team racing season.