The annual keelboat race for the Pottership Trophy took place on the morning of Sunday 12 October, with 26 boats racing in four classes, each with a separate start at 4-minute intervals – XOD, Lymington Adjusting Handicap, J80 and IRC.

The weather gods shone and the gentle Easterly breeze built from 6/7 knots to about 10 knots during the approximately two-hour race sailed in a moderate ebb tide. All boats sailed the same course, with the slowest boats completing two laps and the fastest boats completing four laps and results being based on average lap time, adjusted for handicap. The well-set course included a beat, broad reach, run and tight reach in an attempt (largely successful) to give each type of boat it’s moment of glory – thanks go to the race team for delivering an excellent race.

Handicaps are always a source of debate, but the handicap team did an excellent job, with the top ten boats finishing in less than ten minutes on corrected time and three classes in the top five overall. After a convivial lunchtime gathering back in the clubhouse, trophies were awarded for the top three in each class, with the overall winners being Nordic Folkboat ‘Mistral’ sailed by Claire Sowry, Julian Sowry and Mike Cowan.

Top five overall and class winners

Class Boat Entered by

• 1 LAH Folkboat ‘Mistral’ Claire Sowry
• 2 XOD Mayfly Rory Paton
• 3 XOD Annex Martin Sellars
• 4 XOD Tortoise Carol Dunning
• 5 J80 Mojo Peter Saxton & Simon Dabson

10 IRC ¼ tonner ‘Black Fun’ Tim Wright

Full results available here

Overall winners of the 2025 Pottership Trophy race

(l to r) Mike Cowan, Julian Sowry, Claire Sowry, with Gillian Poole – RLym Sailing Manager