On the weekend of 8-10 October 2023, seven OTs took part in the Arrow Trophy Regatta. This is held each year in the Solent between the Old Boys/Girls Sailing Associations of 20+ schools. Each team races over 2 days in either the Sunsail fleet or the Fairview fleet and all teams in a fleet race the same yacht, which makes for some evenly matched and exciting yacht racing. After the fleet racing on Saturday, the top 4 boats from the Sunsail fleet progress to match racing on the Sunday, while the remainder compete in more fleet racing.

In 2022, we were a little disappointed that we were not able to match the successes of the previous year (when we came 3^rd). In fact our results were such that we were relegated from the Sunsail fleet to the Fairview fleet for 2023. With this in mind we picked up our Oceanis 37' – a boat the OTSA has not sailed before – from Fairview sailing in Port Hamble on the Friday afternoon. We had a delightful cruise across to Cowes – the wind was consistent and the weather sunny – before having a splendid dinner hosted by Ursula and Richard Hollis (MH 1966-71) at their house in Cowes.

On Saturday, 4 races were planned in the Fairview fleet and the team quickly established their roles. Some of the stalwart regulars of the OTSA have retired recently, so we had a new skipper/helm in Fergus Mackay (né O'Neill, HS 2007-12). He was ably advised by Ed Males (WW 1998-01), as strategist and Ursula Hollis, who was our tactician and ringer owing to her in-depth local knowledge of the Solent. Finn O'Neil (HS 2008-13), Rob O'Neill (HS 1973-77) and Artem Vasenin (PS 2012-14) formed the bow team deploying and gathering the asymmetric spinnaker with great efficiency. Alex Masters (WH 1985-90) and Nick Pointon (WH 1984-89) scuttled around looking after the sheets in the cockpit.

The wind was a consistent 15kt winds, which resulted in sailing that was fast, but not too muscular, affording plenty of time to get the best out of the sails upwind and downwind. The conditions were dry and sunny, which was wonderful: sitting on the rail chatting in the sunshine was a great pleasure (although less so for Fergus who was busy helming).

In Race 1, we narrowly missed the very best of starts, crossing the line before the starting gun, and had to go round and cross it again. This meant that we actually started in last place, but by virtue of some good tactical choices, we progressed up the fleet and ended up in 5^th place. We didn't make the same mistake again, and in Races 2, 3 and 4, our starts were competitive, our boat speed upwind impressive and our tactics spot on, such that we finished in 1^st place in each of the three races. Our standing at the end of Day 1 was 1^st place in our fleet, comfortably 7 points ahead of the 2^nd placed crew.

The Arrow Trophy dinner in the evening was great fun: food, wine, watching the World Cup rugby matches and culminating with the largest cheeseboard ever seen: we had to share ours with Cheltenham in the hope that it might slow them down the next day.

On Sunday, there was no wind, so the racing was cancelled. Tonbridge therefore won the Fairview fleet racing and the Bobby Reynolds Trophy. We should be promoted back to the Sunsail fleet in 2024.

Many thanks to the excellent team – Fergus Mackay (né O'Neill, HS 2007-12), Ed Males (WW 1998-01), Finn O'Neill (HS 2008-13), Rob O'Neill (HS 1973-77), Artem Vasenin (PS 2012-14), Alex Masters (WH 1985-90), Nick Pointon (WH 1984-89) and Ursula Hollis – for their hard work and good fun. Many thanks also to Ursula and Richard Hollis (MH 1966-71) for their wonderful hospitality. I look forward sailing again next year.

The Old Tonbridgian Sailing Association exists to encourage and foster the enjoyment of both competitive and leisure sailing amongst Old Tonbridgians. We provide subsidised opportunities for younger OTs to gain experience in sailing and racing on larger yachts, which might otherwise be too expensive. Our principal event is the Arrow Trophy Regatta in October each year. We also organise the Nick Turner Generations' Cup – the annual match between the OTs and the current Tonbridge sailors at Bough Beech in May/June. Other events we have organised include the Round the Island Race and J/80 racing in the Belvedere Cup on St. Mary's Water.

If you would like to join us, and we hope you will, or would like further information, please contact Nick Pointon (WH 1984-89) and also subscribe to this group within Tonbridge Connect.

Skipper Fergus MacKay

Ed Males trimming the asymmetric spinnaker

Relaxing after the races