Mountain Fuel

Team Spitfire success!

RAF Sailors Win at National Sailing Regatta.

A team of RAF sailors participating in Cowes Week, the world’s largest and longest running yachting regatta posted 5 wins and a 2nd    place in a weeks series of racing to secure overall victory with a day to spare. Team RAFBF Spitfire was formed in March 2010 and consists of 6 RAF sailors who have privately funded the purchase and running of their J80 racing yacht with the aim of representing Great Britain at the J80 World Championships in 2012 .  Supported by Mountain Fuel, The team also seeks to promote the RAF Benevolent Fund and during the year has been flying the RAFBF heart roundel on their sails.  Cowes Week is one of the highest profile events in the yachting calendar and with a J80 class fleet of 19 yachts that included the Class National Champion, the regatta would provide a strong indicator as to the competitiveness of the newly formed team.

The regatta got off to a mixed start with Spitfire winning the first days race only then to be disqualified having been adjudged to have started prematurely.  Despite this setback, the Team started day 2 with the confidence that both boat and team were competitive and from then on, the Team  never looked back as they secured 5 wins and a 2nd  in a diverse range of sailing conditions.  Having completed 6 races , the team were able to discard the points attributable to day one disqualification and thus clinched the J80 title with a day to spare.  Team Manager and skipper Wing Commander Simon Ling commented: “We are absolutely delighted with this result which far exceeded our expectation.  Cowes Week is a very challenging regatta that demands the best from both boat and crew so victory at the regatta reassures us that we are very much moving in the right direction . “ The Team were delighted to be supported by Mountain Fuel and found the Extreme Energy Fuel and Ultimate Recovery Fuel the perfect hydration system and one utterly supportive if thedemands of high intensity yacht racing.

Team Spitfire will now have a short break before undertaking a busy schedule of Autumn racing.