Solent Black clinched the Academy Trophy by just one point after a thrilling final-race showdown at the Royal Southern Yacht Club on 17-18 October. The nail-biting finish crowned a superb weekend of competitive keelboat racing on the central Solent.
Twenty-one teams gathered for the club’s final league racing event of 2026, bringing club and university sailors together for two days of racing and socialising. The weekend incorporated the postponed British Keelboat League Finals, featuring 13 BKL entries and 11 University Sailing League entries.
Racing took place in J/70s provided for the event, with teams rotating through a series of short fleet races. With no discards in play, every single result counted, making consistency the defining factor across the weekend.
Saturday began in a moderate, shifty northerly breeze. Solent Black found their rhythm immediately, winning their opening two races. Early racing was fairly spread out, but as the breeze built, the fleet compressed and mark roundings became increasingly congested. Clean manoeuvres and finding space proved essential, with 13 races completed by the close of play.
With stronger wind forecast for Sunday, crews headed out with a reef in the mainsail. The breeze built through the day, delivering challenging conditions and plenty of broaches. Teams who kept their boats under control were rewarded, while a clean start offered the chance to break free from the close-quarters battles behind.
Another 13 races brought the weekend’s total to 26, with the overall title still hanging in the balance heading into the final race. Lightfoot Racing Spirit held a one-point advantage over Solent Black, but Solent’s third place against Lightfoot’s fifth reversed the order, securing the Academy Trophy with 88 points to Lightfoot’s 87.
Consistency was the hallmark of Solent Black’s campaign. They won five of their 11 races and never finished outside the top three. Lightfoot Racing Spirit pushed them all the way, racking up six race wins across the weekend.
Speaking after racing, the newly formed Solent Black team credited Friday’s training session with helping them find their groove. They carried that preparation into the weekend, combining strong starts and good boat speed with relentlessly consistent sailing. Keeping things clean and avoiding major incidents proved the key to their overall victory.
Morgan Reynolds of Lightfoot Racing Spirit said: “We saw extremely tight racing all weekend in shifty conditions, making it a highly opportunistic set of races. While many teams made big gains splitting from the fleet, the real key to keeping a good average was consistency. Solent Black sailed an outstanding regatta with a very clear scorecard. The event win came down to the last race and they were very deserving winners.”
Exeter Blue completed the podium on 80 points, finishing inside the top four in all 11 of their races. A win on Saturday and a strong finish to Sunday, with three consecutive seconds followed by a third, secured third overall.
Just two points behind, Serpentine and Falcon Racing finished tied on 78 points. Serpentine took fourth on countback with five race wins to Falcon’s four. An OCS proved costly for Serpentine in the no-discard series, while Falcon finished on a high by winning the final race of the weekend.
In the British Keelboat League rankings, Exeter Blue took the top spot ahead of Serpentine in second and Marconi in third. Solent Black led the University Sailing League standings, followed by Exeter Blue in second and Plymouth B in third.
With close racing throughout the fleet and plenty of socialising ashore, the Academy Trophy brought the Royal Southern’s league racing season to a lively conclusion.
Jack Fenwick, Sailing Manager at the Royal Southern Yacht Club, said: “It was great to bring club and university teams together for such a competitive weekend. Sunday’s conditions really tested the crews, and seeing the title come down to the final race was a fantastic way to finish our league racing season. Congratulations to Solent Black, and thank you to all the sailors, volunteers and race team who made the weekend possible.”
