Five pupils from a Suffolk independent school have been enjoying a summer of international sailing competition.
Royal Hospital School (RHS) students represented their countries at events in the Netherlands and the United States.
Bermudan Sebastian Kempe sailed his one-person dinghy (ILCA 6 class) to second place in the World Sailing Youth World Championships in The Hague, following last year’s victory in Oman.
“Thank you to everyone who supported me in the lead-up to this event,” said Sebastian. “I will not stop pushing my trajectory onwards and upwards.”
Compatriot Nicole Stovell finished 23rd, Thommie Grit came in 28th for Great Britain, while Switzerland’s Boris Hirsch came in 32nd.
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“The racing was intense and required high focus, but those are some of the things I love about sailing,” said Nicole. “I’m proud of my result, and I think it is a big step up for me from the 2021 event six months ago in Oman, where I placed 32nd.”
Meanwhile, in the US, Floridian Audrey Foley secured was the leading female contender in the one-person dinghy class in the USA 2022 ILCA Nationals, held at Brant Beach Yacht Club in Philadelphia,
“The USA Nationals was a great event for me,” said Audrey. “I was happy to have sailed one of my most consistent score lines to date, finishing first female and 10th overall out of 150 sailors.”
The end of July found the same roster of pupils competing at the ILCA 6 Youth World Championship in Texas. Sebastian claimed fifth, Thommie 36th and Boris 54th in the male fleet, while Audrey and Nicole respectively finished eighth and 17th in the women’s fleet.
Main pic credit: Tom Rogers
