IT has been a summer of sailing to remember for Windermere School, with several of its students beginning the new academic year as National Sailing Champions.

Lucy Ferguson, Theo Stewart, Pierce Harris and Alfie Cogger have all been crowned national champions in their various classes, while fellow student, Ethan Leahy, secured victory in the National Schools Sailing Association Regatta, where he was representing the Cumbria Youth Sailing Team.

These achievements follow Teddy Ferguson’s victory at the RS Feva Inland Championships, which took place earlier in the summer at Draycote Water Sailing Club.

Pierce Harris and Alfie Cogger have had a long summer of competition, beginning at the RS Feva World Championships which were held at Medemblik Sailing Club in Holland. After an eventful five days of sailing, Pierce Harris and Alfie Cogger took bronze, while Teddy Ferguson and Ewan Wilson finished in a very respectable ninth place.

This was Pierce and Alfie’s last ever competition in the RS Feva and they went out on a high, finishing first in the final race of the championships. Following their bronze medal, Pierce and Alfie moved up to the 29er Class, a two person high performance sailing skiff, the same boat Ethan Leahy was racing to secure victory at the National School Sailing Association Regatta at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire.

Meanwhile, in Carnac, France, the RS Tera World Championships were taking place, providing an opportunity for some of the school’s younger sailors to shine. Over the course of five days, 104 children from seven nations competed in varying conditions, with Theo Stewart finishing 13th overall in the Pro Fleet (out of thirty-seven entries), and James Johnson finishing 11th overall in the Sport Fleet (out of sixty-six entries).

More recently, Theo and James took part in the RS Tera Scottish National Championships at Dalgety Bay Sailing Club. The first day proved challenging – the combination of lack of breeze and an ebb tide catching out a few of the sailors – but the second day dawned with a fresher breeze which made for some exciting sailing. In the Sport Fleet, James Johnson finished in a very respectable 2nd place, while Theo’s brother, Felix, finished one place behind in 3rd. In the Pro Fleet, Theo finished in 1st place, meaning he became the Scottish National Champion for the second year in succession.

Graeme Rowe, Royal Yachting Association Principal and Chief Sailing Instructor at Windermere School, was delighted with the success the students have enjoyed over the summer.

He said: “Our students have travelled up and down the country and beyond and have earned some valuable race experience, with some outstanding results. To have a number of national champions at the school is a fantastic achievement, but it doesn’t come without determination and sacrifice, from the students, their parents, the coaches and the staff. A huge well done to all of our students who have taken part in these events over the summer.”